On Thursday the Trump Administration announced its plans to open virtually all U.S. waters to offshore drilling. It’s time to speak out. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Deepwater Horizon
Following the theme of sacrificing the public’s favorite natural areas for the benefit of oil and gas companies, the Trump administration has just announced plans to expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Arctic Ocean. This drastic proposal opens over 90 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf to new drilling and puts our nation’s coastal communities, beaches, surf breaks, and marine ecosystems at risk of a catastrophic oil spill.
The Proposed Offshore Oil & Gas Leasing Program for 2019 – 2024 would open thousands of miles of U.S. coastline to oil drilling, including regions such as the Atlantic and Pacific that have been protected for decades from this dangerous practice. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will open a 60-day comment period for citizens to provide feedback on the proposal, and the agency is also planning public hearings in affected communities in the coming weeks.
In response to the news, Surfrider Foundation’s CEO Chad Nelsen issued the following statement:
“Our ocean, waves and beaches are vital recreational, economic and ecological treasures to our coastal communities that will be polluted by new offshore oil drilling, regardless of whether or not there is a spill. Without a massive mobilization by coastal communities around the country in opposition to new offshore drilling, our voice will be drowned out by the lobbying power of Big Oil in Washington, D.C.”
Surfrider Foundation is determined to prevent this plan from being finalized, but we need your help. It’s time to make your voice heard! Please join us by submitting comments to BOEM and contacting your federal representatives. We also urge those in affected communities to attend an upcoming public hearing to provide testimony against new offshore drilling in our oceans!
Now more than ever, we need to protect the places we love and #defendourcoasts.
Sign this action alert to tell federal representatives to oppose the plan to expand offshore drilling.
Visit Surfrider’s campaign page: click here
Contact your elected officials: take action
Submit comments to BOEM: coming soon
Read our fact sheet to learn about the impacts of offshore drilling
