I wrote her after the gulf oil disaster expressing my concern about any drilling on our coast. Even though our present Governor said there would be none, I asked her what assurance would we have of no drilling if a new big oil friendly Governor came into office. This is her reply.
Thank you for writing to express your concerns about drilling off our nation's coasts. I appreciate the opportunity to hear your views on this crucial issue, which has become particularly pressing in light of the recent devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
As you know, on April 20, 2010, an explosion aboard the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon resulted in 11 deaths and caused a massive oil spill, releasing an enormous volume of crude oil every day into the Gulf of Mexico. This catastrophe is a harsh reminder of the dangers of offshore oil drilling, and I am working to ensure that this kind of tragedy doesn't happen again.
I am proud to report that on May 13, 2010, I introduced a bill to permanently prohibit offshore drilling along the Pacific coast. I was joined by all the Senators from the West Coast - including my colleague from California, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) - in offering this critical legislation to protect the 570,000 jobs and $34 billion coastal economy of our three states. President Obama has not included the West Coast in any new offshore oil and gas development plans through at least 2017, but we need permanent protection.
As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), I recently held the first in a series of oversight hearings to examine the issues surrounding the oil spill in the Gulf, including the causes, economic damages, and environmental impacts of this horrific incident. Once the causes of this incident have been fully explored, I believe that those responsible should be held fully accountable for all damages to the Gulf's fragile ecosystem and coastal economy.
In my efforts to ensure a comprehensive investigation, I wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder on May 17, 2010, calling for a civil and criminal inquiry into this incident, including a review of possible false statements made by British Petroleum (BP) to the federal government regarding its ability to respond to oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. I also wrote to BP requesting video footage of the spill, which the company has agreed to provide. As EPW continues its oversight proceedings, we will continue to provide new information to the Department of Justice.
On May 25, 2010, the Department of Justice responded to my letter, and I am pleased to know that it is serious about committing the resources required to ensure justice is done. The Department assures me that it is taking the necessary steps to hold the parties responsible for this appalling disaster fully accountable.
I support suspending new offshore exploration, development, and production activities until a thorough investigation of the Deepwater Horizon incident has been completed and protections against future disasters have been implemented, and I have already joined Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) in co-sponsoring S.3308, a bill to set that policy into law.
We must also ensure rigorous federal oversight of offshore oil drilling. That is why I support moving safety and environmental review functions that currently reside in the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the federal agency that oversees offshore drilling, into a separate and independent agency. Separating leasing and royalty collection activities from safety, inspection, and environmental review responsibilities is an important first step in preventing a similar disaster in the future.
While the devastating consequences of the current oil spill are being addressed, it is imperative that we keep working to revise our domestic energy policy to make renewable clean energy a priority and sharply reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Expanding offshore oil and gas development would jeopardize our priceless marine environment as well as the 2.4 million jobs and $130 billion economy that depend on ocean tourism, recreation, and fishing - a risk we simply cannot afford to take.
Additional offshore oil development along the Pacific shoreline would needlessly endanger irreplaceable natural resources and our vital coastal economies. Be assured that I will keep working to safeguard our entire coastline from harmful offshore drilling.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me about this important issue. Please know that I will continue my efforts to protect our nation's vulnerable coastlines while working toward a secure, sustainable, and clean energy future.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
I love that Barbara thinks enough of her constituents to answer personally our concerns with no need for a form letter and it seems that our progressive Senators are on the ball to try to do something about this for the future.
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