Huffman reintroduces stop Artic Ocean Drilling Act

March 29, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) reintroduced the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act, a detailed bill that would make the Arctic Ocean off-limits to any future drilling proposals by banning any new or renewed leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas or any other minerals that are in the Arctic Ocean Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf.

This legislation's reintroduction comes a day after President Trump's Executive Order designed to expand coal, oil and gas leasing on public lands.

The bill acknowledges that global climate change is occurring due largely to human impact on emissions of greenhouse gases and recognizes that the U.S must, in part, keep fossil fuels in the ground to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.

There is an estimated 75 percent chance of one or more big oil spills as a result of Arctic Ocean drilling. If a spill does occur, between 44%-62% of spilled crude oil would remain longer than 30 days, according to the Department of Interior.

Huffman’s bill is supported by multiple organizations such as, the Alaska Wilderness League, Center For Biological Diversity, Chukchi Sea Watch, Defenders Of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environmental Investigation Agency, Environment America, Eyak Preservation Council, Friends Of The Earth, Greenpeace, League Of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Ocean Conservation Research, Sierra Club.


Source: by Geneva Peppars