Press Conference Held to Announce Opposition to Oil & Gas Drilling Off California´s Coast
California Political Desk
September 12, 2008
Sacramento, CA -Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security was joined by Environment California, Sierra Club California, and the Natural Resources Defense Council to announce opposition to renewed efforts by Congress and the President of the United States to open up the coasts of the United States to offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling. The Congress is considering an energy proposal this week that places in jeopardy the coastline of many states, including California´s.
"We must send a loud and clear message to the Congress and the President that California does not want oil and gas exploration and drilling," said Nava. "The California coast is a national treasure and is not for sale. My Assembly Joint Resolution 51 that passed the legislature is very clear. Congress must not lift the offshore oil drilling moratorium in federal waters. Lifting this moratorium places all our coastlines at risk, endangering tourism, fisheries and coastal recreation for generations to come."
Said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Clean Energy Advocate, Environment California," "Offshore oil drilling is a giant scam intended to exploit the public´s desire for energy solutions. Yet, unlike true solutions like efficiency and renewable energy, oil drilling threatens California´s billion dollar coastal economy and our irreplaceable and invaluable coastal environment."
"California and the nation need a comprehensive solution to our energy problems; expanding off-shore oil drilling will put our coastline at risk without providing any real relief from high gas prices," said Bill Magavern, Director of Sierra Club California.
"Increased drilling will increase our addiction to oil and risk irreparable harm to our coast without giving consumers relief at the gas pump," said Ann Notthoff, California advocacy director with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). "We need to end tax breaks for Big Oil and invest in clean fuels instead. We need clean, homegrown alternative energy sources to give people more choices, reduce Americans´ fuel costs and help fight global warming."
Last weekend, the California Legislature passed Assembly Joint Resolution 51, authored by Assemblymember Pedro Nava. AJR 51 expresses the legislature´s strong opposition to any new federal energy policy and legislation that opens up the California coast to offshore drilling.
President Bush recently rescinded the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling, overturning a policy that was implemented and expanded by his father, former President George H.W. Bush. President Bush´s actions if Congress follows suit this week, could lead to new offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling around the country. A congressional moratorium on new oil and gas drilling has been in place since 1981, and has been approved every year by the United States Congress.
In addition, in 1994, the California Legislature established the California Coastal Sanctuary Act, creating a sanctuary stretching from the Oregon to the Mexican border. This sanctuary prohibits future oil and gas leasing in state waters in perpetuity.
This year marks the 39th anniversary of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill. More than four million gallons of crude oil choked 35 miles of California´s coastline causing a path of destruction never before seen in our nation´s history. The carcasses of dolphins and seals washed ashore and countless birds, fish and other wildlife wore black shrouds. The spill and its aftermath galvanized the country, raised environmental awareness and was the catalyst to the modern environmental movement in the United States.
"We must send a loud and clear message to the Congress and the President that California does not want oil and gas exploration and drilling," said Nava. "The California coast is a national treasure and is not for sale. My Assembly Joint Resolution 51 that passed the legislature is very clear. Congress must not lift the offshore oil drilling moratorium in federal waters. Lifting this moratorium places all our coastlines at risk, endangering tourism, fisheries and coastal recreation for generations to come."
Said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Clean Energy Advocate, Environment California," "Offshore oil drilling is a giant scam intended to exploit the public´s desire for energy solutions. Yet, unlike true solutions like efficiency and renewable energy, oil drilling threatens California´s billion dollar coastal economy and our irreplaceable and invaluable coastal environment."
"California and the nation need a comprehensive solution to our energy problems; expanding off-shore oil drilling will put our coastline at risk without providing any real relief from high gas prices," said Bill Magavern, Director of Sierra Club California.
"Increased drilling will increase our addiction to oil and risk irreparable harm to our coast without giving consumers relief at the gas pump," said Ann Notthoff, California advocacy director with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). "We need to end tax breaks for Big Oil and invest in clean fuels instead. We need clean, homegrown alternative energy sources to give people more choices, reduce Americans´ fuel costs and help fight global warming."
Last weekend, the California Legislature passed Assembly Joint Resolution 51, authored by Assemblymember Pedro Nava. AJR 51 expresses the legislature´s strong opposition to any new federal energy policy and legislation that opens up the California coast to offshore drilling.
President Bush recently rescinded the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling, overturning a policy that was implemented and expanded by his father, former President George H.W. Bush. President Bush´s actions if Congress follows suit this week, could lead to new offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling around the country. A congressional moratorium on new oil and gas drilling has been in place since 1981, and has been approved every year by the United States Congress.
In addition, in 1994, the California Legislature established the California Coastal Sanctuary Act, creating a sanctuary stretching from the Oregon to the Mexican border. This sanctuary prohibits future oil and gas leasing in state waters in perpetuity.
This year marks the 39th anniversary of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill. More than four million gallons of crude oil choked 35 miles of California´s coastline causing a path of destruction never before seen in our nation´s history. The carcasses of dolphins and seals washed ashore and countless birds, fish and other wildlife wore black shrouds. The spill and its aftermath galvanized the country, raised environmental awareness and was the catalyst to the modern environmental movement in the United States.