The Obama administration dropped plans to allow oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. Watch video
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Interior Department said Tuesday it would drop plans to allow offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
The area was put off limits in the 2017-2022 oil and gas leasing program, which originally had proposed allowing drilling off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.The department initially proposed selling leases to drill for oil and gas at 14 new sites; besides the Atlantic Coast, the others would be in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Alaska.
"We heard from many corners that now is not the time to start leasing out the Atlantic Coast," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said on a conference call with reporters. "It simply doesn't make sense to move forward."
The department cited local opposition, the current oil market, and conflicts with the Defense Department and commercial interests among the reasons for dropping the Atlantic Coast from the leasing program. The Interior Department earlier scrapped a 2010 proposal to allow Atlantic oil drilling.
Booker, Menendez blast drilling proposal
"That proposal was incredibly shortsighted, and would have threatened the ecology and economy, and public health all along the Atlantic Coast, including our New Jersey coastline," said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Pallone and U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) helped lead efforts to block the Obama administration's proposal to open part of the Atlantic Coast to oil drilling.
"I'm pleased the administration heard our voices and put the values of New Jerseyans ahead of the financial interests of the oil industry," Menendez said. "Standing together, we proved we can beat Big Oil and protect our Jersey Shore for generations to come."
Lawmakers cited the potential damage to New Jersey's economy. The state's tourism industry generates $43 billion annually and supports 500,000 jobs. The fishing industry adds $7.9 billion a year to the state's economy, responsible for more than 50,000 jobs.
"We fought hard to protect the Jersey Shore from the potential devastating effects of a catastrophic oil spill and New Jerseyans' voices were heard loud and clear - this is our shoreline and we stand united in protecting it from any and all threats," Booker said.
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.), whose district included Atlantic City, has introduced legislation to ban offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
"Protecting these areas means a great deal to the local residents and coastal communities who rely on our tourism economy," he said.
Opponents were also aware of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the worst in U.S. history. BP, which owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. pleaded guilty in January 2013 to 11 counts of felony seaman's manslaughter, two pollution violations and one count of lying to Congress, and agreed to pay $4.25 billion in criminal and civil penalties plus claims to individuals and companies who suffered damage due to the spill.
"The Atlantic Coast - and the Jersey Shore - should never have been potential sacrifice zones," said Doug O'Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. "As summer beckons, the president ensured his legacy will not include a future BP-like disaster oil-slicking our beaches."
The American Petroleum Institute, the Washington-based trade association for the oil and gas industry, said states benefit from offshore drilling and should share in the royalties.
"Keeping federal offshore acreage off limits to development is not in America's interests," said Erik Milito, director of upstream and industry operations. "The revenue generated by offshore oil and natural gas production can help state and local governments afford to develop or upgrade tourist attractions, infrastructure and beach projects."
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook