[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 39--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
THE MORATORIUM ON NEW OIL AND NATURAL GAS LEASING ACTIVITY ON SUBMERGED 
        LAND OF THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF SHOULD BE MAINTAINED

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources:

                            S. Con. Res. 39

       Whereas during the last 8 years, the Federal Government has 
     operated robust offshore and onshore oil, gas, and coal 
     leasing programs that matched or exceeded production levels 
     during the administrations of former President Reagan and 
     former President Bush;
       Whereas offshore, the United States has leased and 
     currently manages more than 44,000,000 acres of outer 
     Continental Shelf land;
       Whereas proposals to provide more access to currently 
     protected Federal land for development by the oil, gas, and 
     coal industries ignore the quantity of land that is already 
     available for that purpose;
       Whereas it is not necessary to drill in sensitive areas to 
     meet the energy needs of the United States;
       Whereas since 1982, there has been in effect a statutory 
     moratorium on new leasing, pre-leasing, and related 
     activities on submerged land of the outer Continental Shelf;
       Whereas in 1990, former President Bush used his authority 
     to declare areas of the outer Continental Shelf along the 
     coastlines of Washington, Oregon, California, Bristol Bay, 
     Alaska, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and more than 100 
     miles off the Florida coast, off limits to new drilling 
     through calendar year 2000;
       Whereas in 1998, former President Clinton extended the Bush 
     limitation through June 2012;
       Whereas citizens of California, Florida, and other States 
     affected by the outer Continental Shelf drilling moratorium 
     are overwhelmingly opposed to new oil drilling off their 
     coastlines and are concerned about plans to open the Florida 
     Gulf Coast to new leasing;
       Whereas a majority of people of the United States are 
     growing increasingly concerned about the environment and 
     believe that protecting the environment should take 
     precedence over economic development;
       Whereas the people of the United States have made a 
     decision to protect the coastlines of the United States from 
     oil development, because the people know that far better 
     alternatives exist; and
       Whereas there are many other worthy options before Congress 
     that could increase energy independence and reduce reliance 
     on foreign oil, such as reauthorization of the Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve, incentives to improve energy efficiency, 
     research into renewable energy and alternative fuels, and 
     full funding of energy conservation and efficiency programs 
     (including programs for solar and renewable energy, 
     weatherization, and other initiatives): Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     moratorium in effect as of the date of adoption of this 
     Resolution on new oil and natural gas leasing, pre-leasing, 
     and related activities on submerged land of the outer 
     Continental Shelf should be maintained.

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce a 
resolution to maintain the moratorium on new oil and natural gas 
leasing activity on submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf. I 
am happy to be joined by Senator Boxer.
  With this resolution, we are urging President Bush to continue the 
existing executive order that places coastline areas of several States, 
including California, off limits to new drilling. This moratoria was 
initiated by former President George H. Bush in 1990, and extended 
through 2012 by President Clinton in 1998.
  The timing of this resolution is important, as the impending 
President's energy plan will focus on drilling for new oil and gas 
reserves. With this focus, many of us in Congress fear that the 
Administration may pave the way for new exploration of the Outer 
Continental Shelf. This would be a tragic mistake that endangers the 
coastlines of many States, including California, which is one of the 
greatest environmental treasures in the world.
  One oil spill from offshore oil wells almost did destroy the 
beautiful California coastline. In 1969 an oil spill in Federal waters 
off the coast of Santa Barbara killed thousands of birds, as well as 
dolphins, seals, and other animals. Estimates of the amount of oil 
released range up to 200,000 barrels. Within days, oil spread from 
California's Channel Islands to the Mexican border, an area of 
approximately 800 square miles. The people of California were so 
concerned that shortly thereafter they voted to create the California 
Coastal Commission.
  Since the 1969 spill, there have been more than thirty additional 
significant oil spills off the California coast. Each spill has 
imperiled the environment, the economy, and the beautiful landscape of 
California.
  We can try to measure the economic cost of oil spills. For example, 
the value of our coast as ocean-dependent industry is estimated to 
contribute $17 million per year to our state economy. But we cannot 
measure the value placed on our quality of life. In 1991, the 
California Department of Parks and Recreation found that almost 70 
percent of Californians had participated in beach activities, and that 
25 percent of Californians had participated in saltwater fishing. We 
simply cannot endanger this resource for limited production.
  There is widespread and bipartisan agreement that oil drilling 
presents serious environmental dangers, and I urge the President to 
maintain the moratorium on new oil and gas leasing activity on the 
Outer Continental Shelf.

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