[treawittelf]

Jersey officials trash U.S. offshore oil drilling plan

Posted by The Star-Ledger April 30, 2007 8:32PM
Categories: News

A federal plan to explore for oil and natural gas off the Virginia coast is drawing fire from New Jersey environmentalists and lawmakers who say the Garden State -- which fought offshore drilling for nearly three decades -- could be next.

U.S. Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne today outlined an initiative that he said could result in 10 billion barrels of oil and 45 trillion cubic feet of natural gas over 40 years for the United States. Most of the exploration would be in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

But one site in the plan that has New Jersey lawmakers and environmentalists rattled and ready to do battle is 50 miles off the coast of southern Virginia -- too close for their comfort. The plan could open the door to drilling off the Garden State's coast and oil spills that could mar the Jersey Shore, they argue.

U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg (both D-N.J.) criticized the Interior Department's plan. They said the drilling would occur less than 100 miles from the New Jersey coast -- close enough for currents to carry oil spills to the state's beaches -- and could be the first step toward further drilling in the Atlantic.

"This (Bush) administration has proposed one reckless drilling plan after another that threatens our environment and risks harm to New Jersey's economy," Menendez said.

"Allowing drilling off the coast of Virginia puts New Jersey's shores and wildlife at risk of contamination from oil spills and leakage," Lautenberg said.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.), a Shore lawmaker, vowed to vote against any measure that would provide funding for the plan.

"For the past 25 years, Congress has consistently opposed any activities relating in any way to offshore drilling," he said. "The Bush administration is clearly violating that intent."

A presidential order now prohibits offshore exploration in the Atlantic region. The order -- put in place 25 years ago by President Bush's father and renewed by President Clinton -- is scheduled to expire in 2012.

Additionally, Congress has put an annual moratorium on offshore exploration by prohibiting any money to be used for exploration or drilling.

Kempthorne has stressed the plan balances the need for domestic energy resources with the need to protect human, marine and coastal environments.

"This program gives great weight to the desires of coastal states regarding oil and gas development near the shores, and environmentally sensitive areas were removed .¤.¤.," he said.

Contributed by MaryAnn Spoto and Robert Cohen

[dmoiknlasd]

We can alway's just buy the oil from the Arabs.

[stoneeZef]

Kempthorne has stressed the plan balances the need for domestic energy resources with the need to protect human, marine and coastal environments Balances my arse.

What it does is puts an undue weight on the exploration and exploitation of any reserves that may be out there.

Instead of passing a fuel efficiency bill or trying another route, Bush is selling out to his oil buddies again.

And Mike, your statement was just plain idiotic and inflamatory. You might as well have said "well you can object to drilling off the shore in teh atlantic, but remember 9-11!!!"

Come on!