Offshore Drilling: Overview
Interest in expanding offshore drilling into previously protected areas peaked in 2008. While moratoria prevented oil drilling on most U.S. coasts for more than 25 years, the bans were lifted by President Bush and Congress in 2008.
In the 11th hour of President Bush’s administration, he proposed a new, five-year drilling plan which would allow drilling in the areas that were previously protected.
Thankfully, when President Obama took office, his Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, put a hold on the plan to allow appropriate time for comments from all sides of the drilling debate.
Currently, Congress is also considering legislation that would require leasing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico despite a 2006 agreement that was made to protect the eastern gulf until 2022. There is also great concern that Congress may include new offshore drilling in pending climate legislation.
Offshore drilling is not the answer
Offshore drilling harms the oceans. Almost one million gallons of oil enter the oceans of North America every year through extraction activities alone. Oil is particularly damaging to marine mammals, seabirds, and turtles, which can ingest and become coated in oil.
The emissions from the continued use of oil will contribute to climate change. Coral death from ocean acidification and coral bleaching, more frequent and stronger storms, and increased sea level rise are all severe threats to low-lying coastline and marine resources.
The threat to our oceans and marine life is not theoretical; it happens and it happens often. A recent Shell pipeline spill in the Gulf of Mexico covered 80 square miles of Gulf waters with oil sheen. It was one of two spills in waters off Florida’s coastline and seven spills in U.S. waters this year. A new rig, installed in 2007, has leaked more than a million gallons of oil into the Timor Sea off Australia, proving that even Big Oil’s new, “safe” technology can create disasters.
