NJ’s Law sets National Chain Reaction - Federal and State Officials Unite in Opposition to Offshore Oil

January 8 was a great day for the ocean. Nine states announced their intention to use state legislation, similar to New Jersey’s STOP Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling, to combat the Federal Government’s attempt to expand offshore oil and gas developments. Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island have introduced laws. South Carolina is considering legislation, as well. Once passed they will join New Jersey, California, Delaware, Florida, and Maryland that will create a blue wave targeted at blocking the Trump Administration’s attempts to expand offshore oil drilling.

On the same day, seven Federal Representatives introduced seven bills aimed to block offshore oil and gas drilling in at least one or more regions of the OCS. The action taken on the Federal level included the reintroduction of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act by Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06). That act would ban offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.