Senator David Vitter (LA) has introduced legislation to dramatically expand offshore drilling in the U.S. The Energy Production and Project Delivery Act would double the amount of offshore oil and gas leases allowed under the Obama Administration’s current Five Year OCS Leasing Plan. This would effectively open up drilling along all U.S. coastlines and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The measure would also streamline federal permitting, prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating CO2 under the Clean Air Act, and expand revenue sharing for coastal states from offshore energy activities. The bill currently has 22 co-sponsors and has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Add your voice to the grassroots movement to protect our coastlines from offshore drilling! Sign up to participate in Hands Across the Sand on May 18, 2013!
Hands Across the Sand is an international grassroots event that brings people together to oppose new offshore oil drilling and promote a clean energy future. The Surfrider Foundation is an official sponsor of the event and our participation is a cornerstone of our Not the Answer campaign.
Photo Credit: Volusia/ Flagler Chapter
The premise of the event is very simple: on May 18 at 12pm local time people will join hands for 15 minutes on beaches around the world to champion clean energy solutions to our filthy fuels problem. All events are organized locally by volunteers and the event website provides most of the resources that you will need.
So visit the Hands Across the Sand website today and sign up to organize an event at your local beach! (Many beaches go quickly, so don’t delay!) www.handsacrossthesand.com/
With Congress considering legislation to expand oil and gas development off our coasts, now is the time to join the grassroots movement to protect our coastlines from risky drilling practices!
For more information on organizing a local event, please contact Pete Stauffer at (503) 887-0514 pstauffer@surfrider.org.
See you on the beach on May 18th!
Representative Lynn Woolsey and Senator Barbara Boxer have asked President Barack Obama to establish a marine monument to protect the northern California coast from offshore drilling. The monument would cover about 2,800 square miles off the Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin coasts, and provide protection for the region’s outstanding habitats, marine life, fisheries, and recreational areas. Woolsey, who retires from Congress in January, has tried for years to pass legislation that would achieve similar protection through expanding the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. However, HR 192, which is supported by Surfrider chapters in the region, has failed to move forward in the House, despite broad support from stakeholders and community leaders in northern California. To read a recent editorial from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat in support of the monument designation click here.