NY/NJ Elected Officials Take Action Against Drilling

NY/NJ Elected Officials Take Action Against Drilling

Many regional elected officials of all political stripes are fighting back against the Trump Administration to open 90% of U.S. Coastal Waters to Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling —especially in the Atlantic Ocean. This is just the tip of the melting iceberg...here are some highlights:  

New Jersey:

• Breaking News: Assemblyman Wirths switches vote in favor of Assembly Bill A839: Bill is now 72 to 1 – almost unanimous! The STOP (Shore Tourism Ocean Protection) from Offshore Oil and Gas introduced by District 1 and co-sponsored by many, would prohibit drilling and infrastructure in NJ waters and would also allow NJ to review any proposals beyond our waters that could cause harm to NJ resources. The bill has already passed the Assembly. An identical bill (S29) is moving.

• Breaking News: Atlantic Coast Republicans, including LoBiondo, Lance, MacArthur and Smith met with Zinke on February 27th. Mr. LoBiondo and Mr. Smith continued by encouraging Zinke to exempt not only NJ from the plan, but the entire Atlantic coast. While, the Congressmen left feeling optimistic the final result is still unclear and we need to keep the pressure on! Submit your comments to BOEM by March 9!

• Over 23 towns, 4 counties and 2 Chambers of Commerce in NJ have passed resolutions opposing offshore drilling.

• About 25 elected officials at the federal, state and local level rallied in Ocean City, NJ, to oppose drilling. The effort was led by Vicki Clark of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.

Congressman LoBiondo speaking at the Cape May Press Conference

 New York:

• NY Assembly Members Anthony D’Urso, Steve Englebright, Christine Pellegrino, Fred Thiele, Steve Otis and Jaime Williams held a state hearing in Long Island in defiance of the BOEM meeting held in Albany which is hundreds of miles from the coast.
   
• 26 Members of the NY’s Congressional delegation signed a letter to oppose drilling off New York waters. 
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• Gov. Andrew Cuomo opposes the plan and calls it “yet another federal assault on our environment"