West Coast Senators Move to Ban Drilling of Their Coasts

All six west coast senators introduced a resolution in the Senate Thursday to ban any new offshore oil drilling in the Pacific Ocean. There is a companion measure in the House of Representatives introduced by Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA).

The bill arose out of fears that the tragedy of the Deepwater Horizon spill may happen again in the Pacific. 094237 In the words of Environment and Public Works Cmte Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA), “We know this can happen again. We feel it will happen again…. The risk of a spill is too great.”

Sen. Boxer said that a protection in the Kerry Lieberman energy bill unveiled Wednesday that allows states to opt-out of drilling up to 75 miles off their shores wasn’t strong enough. “What we support is what we outline,” said Boxer, “No new leases.”