[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 6, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2375-H2376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PROTECTING ATLANTIC COASTAL ECONOMIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am profoundly 
concerned with the possible permitting of seismic airgun blasting off 
the Atlantic Coast, from Jacksonville, Florida, to Cape May, New 
Jersey, to Portland, Maine. This is an extremely serious issue.
  Late last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
also known as NOAA, issued five Incidental Harassment Authorizations 
which advanced permit applications for seismic airgun blasting in the 
Atlantic Ocean. This action essentially sets the stage for the Bureau 
of Ocean Energy Management to approve these permits at any day now.
  Seismic airgun blasting is not only the first step toward offshore 
oil and gas exploration and development, but it is harmful to marine 
mammal life and to marine life in general, and it encroaches on vital 
military operations.
  At a time when we are attempting to limit the dangers of climate 
change, such as extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, it is 
unthinkable to further harm the environment and endanger our coastal 
economy in South Jersey and along the coast, which is largely based on 
fishing and based on tourism.

  Our public policy goal is to create a cleaner and healthier 
environment, an environment that we can pass on to our children and on 
to our grandchildren so that they may enjoy it.
  I am proud that broad arrays of organizations in New Jersey have 
supported my legislation. These organizations include the Chambers of 
Commerce of Cape May County, Ocean City, Vineland, Greater Wildwood, 
Greater Atlantic City, the Garden State Seafood Association, the 
Recreational Fishing Alliance, the Jersey Shore Partnership, Clean 
Ocean Action, Surfers Environmental Alliance, the American Littoral 
Society, Oceana, and the New Jersey chapters of the Sierra Club, the 
League of Conservation Voters, Audubon Society, and Environment 
America.
  Mr. Speaker, it was a pleasure to have worked with Congressman 
Rutherford of Florida on H.R. 1149. I am also grateful that several of 
our elite colleagues joined us on important efforts, including Joe 
Cunningham of South Carolina, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Donna Shalala 
of Florida, and Brian Mast of Florida, as well.
  Our bipartisan bill, the Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act, 
would prevent the five seismic airgun blasting permits that are now 
under consideration from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management from 
being issued. It would stop them.
  I urge my colleagues to protect our precious coastline and to protect 
the livelihoods of those that depend upon it by supporting H.R. 1149. 
It is a bipartisan bill. It is the Atlantic Coastal Economies 
Protection Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I include three letters of support for the Record.

                [From the Greater Atlantic City Chamber]

Resolution Opposing BOEM 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
                            Leasing Program

       Whereas, on January 8, 2018, the federal Bureau of Ocean 
     Energy Management (BOEM) announced in the Federal Register 
     notice the release of their Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for 
     the 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing 
     Program. BOEM is requesting public comment on the

[[Page H2376]]

     DPP as well as formal scoping for a Programmatic 
     Environmental Impact Statement for the 2019-2024 Program; and
       Whereas, this new plan includes the entire Atlantic Ocean 
     from Maine to Florida, including the waters off New Jersey 
     within 3 miles of beaches, as well as including other ocean 
     areas totaling some 90% of US ocean waters; and
       Whereas, New Jersey boasts over 127 miles of beautiful 
     ocean coastline and hundreds of miles of back-bays, 
     estuaries, and other waterways connected to the Atlantic 
     Ocean; and
       Whereas, the Jersey Shore is essential to the health of the 
     our communities, environment and the thriving economy of New 
     Jersey; and
       Whereas, the physical, hydrodynamic, and biological 
     characteristics of the ocean off the Jersey Shore are unique 
     in the world, as more than 300 species of fish, nearly 350 
     species of birds, 5 species of sea turtles, and many marine 
     mammals such as 20 species of whales and dolphins, 1 species 
     of porpoise, and 4 species of seals, frequent this region. 
     Nine endangered species, four of which are whales, can be 
     found in these ocean waters, including the Atlantic Right 
     Whale, one of the world's most endangered marine mammals. The 
     region also serves as an essential migratory pathway for many 
     of these species; and
       Whereas, the Jersey Shore sustains the economy of the 
     region with its bounty of natural resources and intrinsic 
     values for millions of people through tourism. Tourism brings 
     more than $44 billion to NJ's economy each year and provides 
     jobs to more than 500,000 people with $6.2 billion generated 
     in Cape May County alone; and
       Whereas, recreational and commercial fisheries in NJ 
     provide enormous economic benefits, including revenue, food 
     production, and recreational activities with the port of Cape 
     May and Wildwood ranking as the second largest seaport on the 
     east coast. In 2014, recreational fishing supported nearly 
     20,000 jobs and resulted in $2 billion of retail sales. 
     Commercial fishing supports nearly 7,300 jobs and provides 
     $152 million in landings, not including restaurant and retail 
     sales; and
       Whereas, current estimates of the amount of technically 
     recoverable oil off the entire Atlantic coast from Maine to 
     Florida would only last the nation approximately 229 days, 
     and the amount of technically recoverable gas would only last 
     approximately 562 days; and
       Whereas, offshore oil and gas development, causes 
     substantial environmental impacts, including: (a) onshore 
     damage due to infrastructure, (b) water pollution from 
     drilling muds and the water brought-up from a well with oil 
     and gas (called ``produced waters''), (c) noise from seismic 
     surveys, (d) air pollution, and (e) oil spills; and
       Whereas, the harmful environmental consequences of offshore 
     oil and gas exploration and development are serious and 
     threatens the environmental and economic assets of New 
     Jersey; and
       Whereas, The BP Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico 
     (2010) is clear evidence of the dangers associated with 
     offshore drilling, including costing the lives of 11 people, 
     devastating coastal economies and countless livelihoods, and 
     killing countless marine animals, as well as continuing to 
     cause harm to marine life as documented by a steady flow of 
     studies; and
       Whereas, Federal Administration officials are also 
     weakening protections of ocean resources by undermining rules 
     and regulations, cutting funding sources for spill response; 
     and
       Whereas, oil spills travel vast distances, and the Gulf 
     Stream and Labrador Ocean Current all flow toward New Jersey 
     making the region vulnerable to impacts from spills anywhere 
     in the Atlantic Ocean; and
       Whereas, Within 5 days of the release of the DPP Governor 
     Scott from Florida was able to convince Department of 
     Interior Secretary Zinke to remove Florida from further 
     consideration for drilling due to the importance of coastal 
     tourism to that state and NJ shares this same economic 
     dependence on tourism and clean ocean economies;
       Whereas, bi-partisan opposition against drilling off the 
     New Jersey coast has included every Governor since 1985, and 
     a majority of the congressional delegation and most coastal 
     towns; and
       Whereas, in the January 8, 2018, BOEM Federal Register to 
     requests comments on the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) and 
     scoping comments for the Programmatic Environmental Impact 
     Study
       Whereas, energy conservation and efficiency measures can 
     significantly reduce the nation's need to explore and drill 
     for nonrenewable resources, such as oil and natural gas; and
       Whereas, coastal municipalities have a profound interest in 
     maintaining strong federal protections for our nation's 
     coastal environment, as well as the economic and social 
     benefits it supports;
       Now, therefore, be it resolved on March 5, 2018, that the 
     Greater Atlantic City Chamber hereby opposes offshore oil and 
     gas exploration and drilling activities that would affect the 
     coast of New Jersey, and calls upon Secretary of the Interior 
     Ryan K. Zinke who oversees the Bureau of Ocean Energy 
     Management to withdraw New Jersey and the entire Atlantic 
     Ocean from consideration for the offshore oil and gas 
     exploration, development, or drilling.
                                                  Joseph D. Kelly,
     President.
                                  ____

         Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitors 
           Services,
                                 Ocean City, NJ, February 6, 2019.
     Congressman Jeff Van Drew,
     Mays Landing, NJ.
       Dear Congressman Van Drew: On behalf of the Ocean City 
     Regional Chamber of Commerce, I would like extend our 
     endorsement of Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act to 
     prohibit the Department of the Interior from issuing certain 
     geological and geophysical exploration permits under the 
     Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and for other purposes.
       The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is 
     comprised of more than 550 member businesses, strongly 
     supports this act as we are against seismic airgun blasting 
     in the Atlantic Ocean.
       We stand by you and your support of the Atlantic Coastal 
     Economies Protection Act.
           Kindest regards,
                                                  Michele Gillian,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                          Greater Vineland Chamber


                                                  of Commerce,

                                   Vineland, NJ, February 7, 2019.
     U.S. Representative Jeffrey Van Drew,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Van Drew: On behalf of our organization, 
     including more than 450 members, we write this letter as an 
     endorsement of your proposed bill, known as the ``Atlantic 
     Coastal Economies Protection Act'', to prohibit the 
     Department of Interior from issuing certain geological and 
     geophysical exploration permits under the Outer Continental 
     Shelf Lands Act, and for other purposes.
       We agree that seismic air-gun blasting in the Atlantic 
     Ocean has the potential to harm or kill marine mammals and 
     other marine life that are vital to our region's coastal 
     economies. We are also wary that the survey data collected is 
     not available to the public.
       Thank you for your efforts in proposing this bill.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Dawn S. Hunter,
     Executive Director.

                          ____________________