by Jennifer Fontaine – The Interior Department announced yesterday that it wants to allow drilling in nearly all U.S. waters, the single largest expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing ever proposed by the federal government.
The agency said it will hold 47 lease sales in every region of the outer continental shelf but one between 2019 and 2024. The updated five-year plan, required by President Trump in an executive order in April, puts regions that were long off-limits to oil and gas development back in play.
Planning areas in the Pacific Ocean and the eastern Gulf of Mexico are included in the new plan, as well as more than 100 million acres in the Arctic and along much of the Eastern Seaboard. However, some of the lease sales and new exploration considered in the draft plan come with sizable challenges. The Atlantic Seaboard is one of them. There is strong opposition to opening the coastline to oil and gas development, with more than 1,200 local, state and federal officials having raised concerns that it could jeopardize fishing and tourism.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is accepting comments on the proposed plan through March 9th. Submit your comment here!
THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO NOW!
1. Contact your federal representatives:
Members of Congress need to hear from constituents opposed to offshore drilling. Call your representatives in the House and Senate. Not sure who your reps are? Check here to find our who your representative is and find your senator here.
2. Submit comments to BOEM:
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has a public comment period open until March 9th on its draft offshore drilling proposal.
3. Attend a public hearing: see below for dates and events near you
ATTEND A PUBLIC HEARING:
Link to full schedule
January 16 Annapolis, MD
Double Tree by Hilton
210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, MD 21401
January 16 Jackson, MS
Jackson Marriott
200 East Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201
January 18 Dover, DE
Holiday Inn Dover – Downtown
561 North Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901
https://www.facebook.com/events/1963394087256442/
February 3 California Day of Distributed Action, CA
A statewide event occurring separate from the BOEM Public Hearing
Coastal towns include San Diego, Laguna Beach, Ventura,
Santa Monica, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz. Get details here.
February 6 Austin, TX
Embassy Suites by Hilton
5901 North IH-35, Austin, TX 78723
https://www.facebook.com/events/161845094543965/?ti=icl
February 6 Salem, OR
Red Lion Hotel Salem
3301 Market Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
https://www.facebook.com/events/824231827782016/
February 8 Tallahassee, FL
Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown
316 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301
https://www.facebook.com/events/745033842354348/
February 8 Sacramento, CA
Tsakopoulos Library Galleria
828 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
https://business.facebook.com/events/1754774281233684/
February 13 Hartford, CT
Hartford Marriott Downtown
200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103
https://www.facebook.com/events/159712931421589/
February 13 Columbia, SC
Doubletree by Hilton
2100 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29210
https://www.facebook.com/events/142047229825291/
February 14 Trenton, NJ
Hilton Garden Inn, Hamilton
800 US Highway 130, Hamilton, NJ 08690
https://www.facebook.com/events/1761807877192324/
February 14 Smithtown, NY
NY state is hosting its own hearing against new offshore drilling, separate from BOEM.
William Rogers Building
725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, NY 11787
https://www.facebook.com/events/138684046804158/
February 15 Albany, NY
Hilton Albany
40 Lodge Street, Albany, NY 12207
February 21 Richmond, VA
Four Points by Sheraton Richmond Airport
4700 South Labumum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23231
https://www.facebook.com/events/149023762542525/
February 21 Anchorage, AK
Dena’ina Center
600 W. Seventh Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501
February 22 Washington, DC
Hilton Garden Inn
1225 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
https://www.facebook.com/events/156936081606948/
February 26 Raleigh, NC
Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown
3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609
https://www.facebook.com/events/135797467216772/
February 27 Boston, MA
Hyatt Regency Boston
One Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111
https://www.facebook.com/events/967293473423325
February 28 Atlanta, GA
Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel
One Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30354
https://www.facebook.com/events/1308497029295454/
February 28 Providence, RI
Marriott Providence Downtown
1 Orms Street, Providence, RI 02904
https://www.facebook.com/events/406115786485073
March 5 Concord, NH
Holiday Inn Concord Downtown
172 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301
https://www.facebook.com/events/155531068567140/
March 5 Olympia, WA
Hotel RL Olympia by Red Lion
2300 Evergreen Park Dr SW
https://www.facebook.com/events/387337368382789/
March 6 Baton Rouge, LA
Crown Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge
4728 Constitution Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
March 7 Augusta, ME
Augusta, Civic Center
76 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330
https://www.facebook.com/events/172134343518985/
March 8 Montgomery, AL
Hilton Garden Inn Montgomery – East Chase
7665 Eastchase Parkway, Montgomery, AL 36117
More info: https://www.boem.gov/National-Program-Participate/#meeting
Leave a Reply