Bill Text: NJ SR117 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Opposes President's Plan to allow oil and natural gas drilling in Atlantic Ocean.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [SR117 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SR117-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL
District 10 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Opposes President's plan to allow oil and natural gas drilling in Atlantic Ocean.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution opposing the President's plan to allow oil and natural gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
Whereas, On January 27, 2015, the Obama administration proposed opening areas of federally owned land in the Atlantic Ocean, which includes areas of offshore Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to oil and natural gas companies for future offshore oil and natural gas drilling; and
Whereas, If just one state chooses to begin offshore drilling activities in the Atlantic Ocean, an oil spill would threaten both the ecology and economy of the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, For over 300 years, the State's fishing industry has sustained local economies and attracted the tourism dollars of snorkelers and divers, while providing countries with high quality "Jersey Seafood" from the Atlantic Ocean; and
Whereas, State and local governments utilize the Atlantic Ocean's resources to provide residents and millions of tourists each year with aesthetically pleasing places to visit, where they may enjoy their favorite coastal activities, such as sunbathing, boating, whale watching, and surfing; and
Whereas, Many popular tourist destinations in the State border the Atlantic Ocean, including Atlantic City, Cape May, and Ocean City, attracting millions of tourists from across the nation and world to enjoy the State's resorts, boardwalks, and coast; and
Whereas, New Jersey's tourism industry generates approximately $36 billion or seven percent of the State's economy each year, with Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean counties responsible for almost half of the State's tourism industry; and
Whereas, Opening these waters in the Atlantic Ocean to offshore oil and natural gas drilling, which are roughly 100 nautical miles from the State's southern coast, would put at risk the many industries, such as fishing, shellfishing, and tourism, that contribute many millions of dollars to the State's economy and are priceless contributors to the quality of life and enjoyment for Jersey Shore communities; and
Whereas, Any oil spill or accident that contaminates the Atlantic Ocean during the drilling for or transportation of oil or natural gas off the State's coast would seriously harm, if not destroy, many of the State's natural treasures, resources, industries, and travel destinations; and
Whereas, If oil waste reaches the State's shoreline it will interact with sediments such as beach sand and gravel, causing erosion as well as contaminating the State's beaches; and
Whereas, Oil is toxic to the plants and microscopic animals that form the basis of the marine food chain, potentially poisoning birds, mammals, fish, and humans that rely on these food sources; and
Whereas, The impact of a single oil spill would be disastrous to the State and would be similar to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, which flooded the Gulf of Mexico with five million barrels of oil, permanently damaging the ocean's ecosystem, and causing economic harm to the states that border the Gulf of Mexico; and
Whereas, New Jersey's tourism and fishing industries are continuing to recover from Hurricane Sandy and cannot afford the risks associated with offshore drilling for oil and natural gas; and
Whereas, Despite the potential for oil and natural gas reserves in the Atlantic Ocean, it is important that the United States government take into account the lessons from disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and that it take the necessary steps to protect its citizens and the environment from the hazards associated with offshore oil and natural gas drilling; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper and in the public interest of the State of New Jersey to oppose the President's plan to allow for oil and natural gas drilling off the Atlantic coast; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House opposes the President's plan to allow oil and natural gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, and every member of the United States Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution opposes the President's plan to allow for oil and natural gas drilling off the Atlantic coast.
On January 27, 2015, the Obama administration proposed opening areas of federally owned land in the Atlantic Ocean, which includes areas of offshore Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to oil and natural gas companies for future offshore oil and natural gas drilling. If just one state chooses to begin offshore drilling activities in the Atlantic Ocean, an oil spill would threaten both the ecology and economy of the State of New Jersey. State and local governments utilize the Atlantic Ocean's resources to provide residents and millions of tourists each year with aesthetically pleasing places to visit, where they may enjoy their favorite coastal activities, such as sunbathing, boating, whale watching, and surfing.
Opening these waters in the Atlantic Ocean to offshore oil and natural gas drilling, which are roughly 100 nautical miles from the State's southern coast, would put at risk the many industries, such as fishing, shellfishing, and tourism, that contribute many millions of dollars to the State's economy and are priceless contributors to the quality of life and enjoyment for Jersey Shore communities. Furthermore, any oil spill or accident that contaminates the Atlantic Ocean during the drilling for or transportation of oil or natural gas off the State's coast would seriously harm, if not destroy, many of the State's natural treasures, resources, industries, and travel destinations. The impact of a single oil spill would be disastrous to the State and would be similar to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, which flooded the Gulf of Mexico with five million barrels of oil, permanently damaging the ocean's ecosystem, and causing economic harm to the states that border the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite the potential for oil and natural gas reserves in the Atlantic Ocean, it is important that the United States government take into account the lessons from disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and that it take the necessary steps to protect its citizens and the environment from the hazards associated with offshore oil and natural gas drilling.
