[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.
____________________