Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross announced introduction of the Defend Our Coast Act, which prohibits the Department of the Interior (DOI) from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in the mid-Atlantic, including off the coast of North Carolina.
This bill was introduced in a package of legislation to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. Introduction comes days after the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.
“As Donald Trump slashes critical environmental protections, we must do everything in our power to protect our natural environment in North Carolina and from coast to coast,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Our state depends on a pristine coastline and a clean and healthy marine ecosystem to support robust tourism, recreation, and fishing economies—the lifelines of our coastal communities. I’m proud to reintroduce the Defend Our Coast Act to prevent offshore oil and gas drilling along the mid-Atlantic seaboard and I will never stop fighting to protect North Carolina’s priceless environmental heritage for future generations. We will not let Donald Trump and his allies destroy our environment for personal and political gain.”
“It's time to end the threat of expanded drilling off America’s coasts forever,” said Joseph Gordon, Oceana Campaign Director. “Oceana applauds these Congressional leaders for reintroducing pivotal legislation that would establish permanent protections from offshore oil and gas drilling for millions of acres of ocean. Earth Day is an important reminder that every coastal community deserves healthy oceans and oil-free beaches. This bill is part of a national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. Congress must swiftly pass these bills into law and reject any expansion of drilling to protect our coasts."
“Protecting these waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”
Congresswoman Ross also led introduction of the Defend Our Coast Act in the 118th Congress. Bill text is available here.