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Threats
In 1981, Congress protected America's coasts, beaches, and marine ecosystems from the threats of oil and gas development by adopting the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Moratorium. The moratorium prevents the leasing of America's coastal waters for fossil fuel development. In the twenty-five years since, Congress and successive presidents have recognized the value of America's coasts and have continued to ban new drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Following the devastating Exxon-Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1990, President George H.W. Bush, signaled a commitment to continue the moratorium by calling for ban on new offshore drilling leases until the year 2000. In 1998, President Clinton extended the ban for an additional 10 years, halting lease sales until 2012. Each year, Congress has voted to continue the ban as part of the annual appropriations process. Currently, the entire Atlantic Coast, most of the Pacific Coast and Gulf of Mexico are protected by the ban.
America's coasts and marine ecosystems continue to play an important role in shaping the natural legacy we leave for future generations. Yet they are in jeopardy. Attempts to dismantle decades of important federal shoreline protections and industrialize America's fragile coasts continue with renewed vigor.
Alaska's Chuckchi and Beaufort Seas—The Polar Bear Seas—could be open to oil drilling as soon as February, thanks to the Administrations 5-year leasing plan. This area is important to the Pacific Walrun, Polar Bears and the Bowhead Whale. Drilling in the Polar Bear Seas would create a hostile living environment for the polar bear, exposing it to potentially catastrophic oil spills. Cleaning up a spill in the Arctic's broken sea ice would be next to impossible.
When President George Bush lifted the executive withdrawal for Bristol Bay in January 2007, he stripped away the last remaining layer of protection for this globally-important marine ecosystem. If no action is taken, leases the Minerals Management Service has proposed in 2010 and 2012 could become reality all too soon. Drilling for fossil fuels in ecologically sensitive and economically important areas of our oceans is not smart energy policy for our nation.
At a time when the whole world is turning to clean energy in order to fight global warming, it doesn't make sense to drill our oceans for more oil. We don't need to sacrifice our beaches and coastlines to meet America's energy needs. Our nation is already embracing new, clean energy solutions that cut global warming pollution and reduce the need for oil–renewable resources like solar and wind power and technologies that make a car go farther on a gallon of gas.
Stay tuned for the latest facts and updates on what's happening.
More about Alaska'a threatened coasts.
- Myth behind oil spills and Hurricane Katrina and Rita
- 'Future of Oil' testimony of Athan Manuel, director of Lands Protection Program to the Select Committee on Global Warming
- Oil drilling will not lower gas prices
- Harmful Effects of Seismic Surveys
on Our Nation's Coasts and Marine Ecosystems
- Offshore Gas Drilling:
Environmental Impacts are Substantial, "Gas Only" Leases Not Realistic
- Testimony before the US Senate regarding: Oil and Gas Resources on the Outer Continental Shelf
and Areas Available for Leasing in the Gulf of Mexico (pdf)
- Our Offshore Drilling Cheat Sheet (pdf) is a round-up of what's happened on offshore drilling legislation in recent years.
- Myth of "Locked Up" Offshore Oil and Gas Resources
- Pollution, Hurricane Risks of Offshore Drilling
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