 Sen. Arnie Roblan joins effort to block offshore drilling
(Sen. Roblan represents Central Coast from Tillamook to Coos Bay
SALEM – Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, jointed legislators from seven other states today in a united effort to protect our coasts from offshore drilling.
More than 225 legislators from coastal states raised their voices in opposition to the Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program announced in March of last year. Now, the state those legislators represent are taking action by introducing legislation that would limit any new offshore drilling capabilities off the coast.
“Expanding offshore oil drilling is not economically practical for Oregon workers,” Roblan said. “This short-term experiment to drill and inventory offshore oil will put jobs at risk that are critical to our fishing economy and pose potential for environmental harm. We should be looking for ways to move away from fossil fuels and advance the development of wave energy conversion technologies and other forms of clean energy sources.”
Participating states include Oregon, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. These legislators understand that an oil spill anywhere impacts not just their constituents, but also everyone who depends on their coasts for income and recreation. Offshore drilling means more carbon emissions, exacerbating the effects of climate change that is affecting sea levels and ocean acidification.
States are taking action to regulate drilling activities and infrastructure within state waters. Coastal tourism, fisheries, shipping and defense are the underpinning of all coastal states’ economies. Expanding offshore drilling is a risk these states can’t afford to take.
“These state legislators are committed to protecting the coastlines of the United States, and the safety and livelihood of their constituents,” National Caucus of Environmental Legislators Executive Director Jeff Mauk said. “They understand the economic and environmental importance of our coasts and are standing together against this proposal.”
###
| 
