Administration’s Drilling Plan Protects Virginia, Creates other Concerns

Media Contacts
John Rumpler

Clean Water Director and Senior Attorney, Environment America

Environment America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar unveiled the Department of Interior’s offshore leasing plan for years 2012 through 2017. The plan reaffirmed the Obama administration’s December 2010 announcement to protect the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as to limit expansion of drilling leases in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The plan additionally removed an area off the coast of Virginia from consideration for drilling. 

While the administration plans not to allow leases along the Atlantic Coast, Secretary Salazar did announce plans to permit companies to conduct seismic testing along the mid to south Atlantic Coast. A 90-day public comment period is now open on the DOI’s draft environmental impact statement.

Environment America’s Preservation Advocate Nancy Pyne released the following statement:

“We are pleased that the Obama administration is adhering to its intentions, announced in December, to protect the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and to limit new drilling leases in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. 

“We also applaud the administration’s prudent removal of the area off the coast of Virginia from considerations for drilling leases.

“Unfortunately, while we celebrate protections for coastal waters around the continental U.S., the precious waters and ecosystems of the Arctic continue to be imperiled. Three leases are being considered in the Arctic despite an assertion by Michael Bromwich, head of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, that drilling in the Arctic presents special challenges.

“We also have serious concerns about allowances in the administration’s plan for companies to conduct seismic testing along the Atlantic Coast. Seismic testing represents a profound threat to marine life. It affects the ability of species like whales and dolphins to communicate and navigate which in turn negatively impacts their ability to find food and to reproduce.   

“Beyond the environmental consequences of seismic testing itself is the potential for the next drilling disaster. The BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico showed us that more drilling will lead to more spills, oil dependency, and threats to our wonderful beaches, coastal economies, and marine wildlife.

“Environment America urges the Obama Administration to focus instead on the smart transportation and energy policies that will end our dependence on oil, and will use the public comment period to continue to persuade the Department of Interior to further limit the expansion of oil and gas exploration and drilling.”