[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 167 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 167

     Commending the Georges Bank Review Panel on the recent report 
recommending extension of the moratorium on oil and gas exploration on 
  Georges Bank, commending the Government of Canada for extending the 
 moratorium on oil and gas exploration on Georges Bank, and urging the 
        Government of Canada to adopt a longer-term moratorium.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 27, 1999

 Ms. Collins submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Commending the Georges Bank Review Panel on the recent report 
recommending extension of the moratorium on oil and gas exploration on 
  Georges Bank, commending the Government of Canada for extending the 
 moratorium on oil and gas exploration on Georges Bank, and urging the 
        Government of Canada to adopt a longer-term moratorium.

Whereas the unusual underwater topography and tidal activity of Georges Bank 
        create an almost self-contained ecosystem, unique within the ocean that 
        surrounds it;
Whereas Georges Bank is one of the most productive fisheries in the world;
Whereas people of both Canada and the United States harvest cod, haddock, 
        yellowtail flounder, scallops, lobsters, swordfish, and herring from 
        Georges Bank;
Whereas significant economic sacrifices have been made by fishermen from both 
        Canada and the United States to work toward sustainable and healthy fish 
        stocks;
Whereas hundreds of small communities in New England and the maritime provinces 
        of Canada depend on fish from Georges Bank for economic support and 
        their maritime-based way of life;
Whereas an oil spill on Georges Bank would have catastrophic effects on the 
        Georges Bank ecosystem and the economies of the coastal communities of 
        New England and the maritime provinces of Canada;
Whereas Georges Bank experiences some of the most severe weather in the world, 
        and the frequent storms, strong currents, and high winds would cripple 
        any post-spill cleanup effort;
Whereas many scientists, fishermen, and other persons concerned with and 
        knowledgeable about the unique ecosystem of Georges Bank have urged the 
        Government of Canada to extend the moratorium on oil and gas activity;
Whereas the Georges Bank Review Panel issued a report recommending an extension 
        of the moratorium on oil and gas activity; and
Whereas the Government of the United States has established a moratorium on oil 
        and gas activity in Georges Bank until the year 2012: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the Georges Bank Review Panel on the recent 
        report recommending extension of the moratorium on oil and gas 
        exploration on Georges Bank;
            (2) commends the Government of Canada for extending the 
        moratorium on oil and gas activity on Georges Bank through 
        1999; and
            (3) urges the Government of Canada to extend the moratorium 
        until the year 2012.
                                 <all>