Washington, DC, June 14, 2006 - Backers of reversing a 25-year ban on offshore drilling got a helping hand from the House Resources Committee. The House is steaming toward passage of a bill that allows states to opt-out of the ban, but what it really does is allow states to opt-in for trouble. The ban on offshore drilling has been in place for 25-years for good reason, it protects America's coastline from oil spills and pollution. In our view, opting out of the ban means opting in for enormous risk.
Catastrophic spills can spoil beaches, ecology, real estate values and tourism for generations, and would pay no heed to state borders. A state opt-out is a sham, since oil spills pay no heed to whether a governor opted to put his state at risk or not. When one states opts-out, several could be at risk. Audubon urges lawmakers to reject this risky proposal.
The bill under consideration, HR 4761 has been criticized by conservationists because it ends a bipartisan offshore drilling moratorium in sensitive waters, pre-empts state jurisdiction over ocean pipelines in state waters, and pits states against one another in drilling decisions. HR 4761 is centered on a state opt-out provision that would immediately revoke a moratorium that has protected America's coasts for 25 years.
House Resources Chairman Pombo has scheduled a hearing on the bill for 11:00 AM EST today in 1324 Longworth House Office Building. The bill is expected to be taken up by the full House by the end of the month.
