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Groups Resist Calls for Offshore Oil Exploration Expansion

Opponents, specifically Defenders of Wildlife, voiced their disapproval this week towards the proposed offshore oil drilling, with over 44,000 public comments being submitted during the initial comment period.

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Groups Protest Plans to Expand Offshore Oil Exploration
Groups Protest Plans to Expand Offshore Oil Exploration

Groups Resist Calls for Offshore Oil Exploration Expansion

Sounding the Alarm on Offshore Oil Drilling

Here’s the lowdown on Defenders of Wildlife shaking things up this week: they’ve thrown their hat in the ring against new offshore oil drilling plans. In response to the Eleventh National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, they’ve joined over 44,000 other voices - from the public, officials, and green groups - to speak out against this move.

This program, run by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, looks to select coastal waters for oil and gas exploration and drilling. Now, Defenders are making their stance clear: any plans for offshore drilling in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Alaska coasts would be a major no-no. According to Dan Moss, senior government relations rep at Defenders of Wildlife, these regions are teeming with ecological diversity and vital for lively maritime activities. Oil and gas drilling? Disaster.

And it’s not just talk. The risks that oil and gas development poses to communities and ecosystems are one heck of a concern, especially when it comes to oil spills and seismic testing.

Now here's where the story gets even more interesting. Currently, the Pacific, Atlantic, and Alaska coasts, as well as the Gulf of Mexico, are all on the chopping block for future oil and gas leasing. So, during this 45-day comment period, it's all about speaking up and making sure people and nature aren't left hanging out to dry.

Remember, drilling in these sensitive waters is a big no-no when it comes to existing protections safeguarded by the Biden and Trump administrations. Ecosystems that house endangered creatures like sea otters, Florida manatees, sea turtles, and North Atlantic right whales are under threat. Stakeholders are making it crystal clear: we won't let you mess this up.

Once Monday's comment deadline is up, it’s time for the review and proposal-making phase. Comments will be analyzed, a leasing proposal will be drafted, and then there'll be another 60-day comment period for the public to have their say.

Oh, and did we mention Defenders of Wildlife? They’ve been hard at work since the 1940s, standing up for wildlife and wildlife communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and activists under their belt, they're a powerful voice for safeguarding our precious wildlife for future generations. Intrigued? Check them out at our website.org/newsroom. Or follow them on X (@Defenders).

Insights:Defenders of Wildlife's recent comments on the Eleventh National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program reflect their firm opposition to offshore oil drilling along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Alaska coasts. Their concerns center around the vast ecological, economic, and legal risks associated with oil and gas development in these areas[1][2]. This stance mirrors the strong regional resistance that has historically emerged against such proposals[1][3][4]. Defenders actively encourage public opposition and have lobbied for conservation priorities over political efforts to expand resource extraction in these sensitive coastal regions[4][5].

Media Contact:

Jay Petrequin

References:[1] Defenders of Wildlife. (n.d.). We oppose Risky plan to open U.S. coasts to offshore oil drilling. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from Defenders of Wildlife website: https://www.defenders.org/wildlife-news/press-releases/defenders-wildlife-opposes-risky-plan-open-u-s-coasts-offshore

[2] American Petroleum Institute. (n.d.). Remote Offshore Moratorium Maps. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from API website: https://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas/production/offshore-exploration

[3] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from NOAA website: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/-/media/3611f9a35815952d692578725bf27a97/NR_Atlantic_Offshore_Wind_Energy_Consortium_Fact_Sheet_2022.pdf

[4] National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Alaska Oil and Gas Development. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from NWF website: https://www.nwf.org/Destinations/Pacific-Region/Alaska/What-We-Do/Alaska/Impacts/Alaska-Oil-and-Gas-Development

[5] Defenders of Wildlife. (2022). Stand with wildlife: Defend whales, sea otters, coral reefs, and more from offshore drilling threats. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from Defenders of Wildlife website: https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=7867&autologin=true

  1. The environmental science community, with Defenders of Wildlife at the forefront, has raised alarm bells against offshore oil drilling due to the potential risks it poses to the environment and ecological diversity along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Alaska coasts.
  2. Given the vital importance of these regions for lively maritime activities and endangered species such as sea otters, Florida manatees, sea turtles, and North Atlantic right whales, the finance and energy sectors, especially the oil-and-gas industry, need to reassess their plans for future oil and gas leasing.
  3. With the Eleventh National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program considering the Pacific, Atlantic, and Alaska coasts, as well as the Gulf of Mexico, for future leasing, there is a pressing need for the industry to prioritize environmental concerns and conservation efforts over oil and gas development in these sensitive coastal regions.

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