[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17918-17919]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



SENATE RESOLUTION 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 GOVERNMENT BANK, AND URGING THE 
         GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO ADOPT A LONGER-TERM MORATORIUM

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

                              S. Res. 167

       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.


[[Page 17919]]

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
commending the Georges Bank review panel on the recent extension of the 
moratorium on oil and gas exploration on Georges Bank and urging our 
Canadian neighbors to adopt a longer-term moratorium that would match 
that adopted by the United States.
  Georges Bank is a large shallow bank on the Outer Continental Shelf 
of the eastern North American continent. Georges Bank, which separates 
the Gulf of Maine from the open Atlantic Ocean, is traditionally known 
as one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world. Fishing 
vessels from New England and Canada catch cod, haddock, yellowtail 
flounder, scallops, lobsters, swordfish, herring, and bluefin tuna in 
its waters. Literally hundreds of communities depend upon fish from 
Georges Bank for their way of life and livelihood.
  In 1984, the United States-Canadian boundary dispute involving 
ownership of Georges Bank was resolved by the International Court of 
Justice at The Hague. The Court declared the northeastern portion of 
the bank as under Canadian jurisdiction and the southwestern portion as 
under the jurisdiction of the United States. Since that decision, both 
the United States and Canada have maintained a moratorium on oil and 
gas exploration on Georges Bank.
  In 1998, the United States extended its moratorium until the year 
2012.
  In 1988, with the adoption of the Canada-Nova Scotia Accord Acts, 
Canada placed a moratorium on petroleum activities on Georges Bank 
until January 1, 2000. In preparation for the expiration of that 
moratorium, a three-person review panel held an extensive public 
comment period, commissioned studies, and thoroughly explored the pros 
and cons of allowing oil and gas activity on the Canadian portion of 
Georges Bank. Last month, at the conclusion of its review, the panel 
recommended that the moratorium on petroleum activities on Georges Bank 
be continued, but it did not specify a date.
  I certainly respect the fact that Canada is entitled to make its own 
mineral management decisions. Nevertheless, given the joint 
jurisdiction that the United States and Canada have over Georges Bank, 
I believe it is appropriate for this body to convey its concern and 
support for the unique ecosystem and fisheries of Georges Bank. An 
accident involving a petroleum spill on either side of the line could 
have a devastating impact on fisheries well up and down the coast from 
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to the coast of New England.
  The severe weather in and the vast expanse of Georges Bank far from 
shore would greatly complicate any effort to clean up any spill that 
could occur. Indeed, even if a spill never occurred, the lubricants 
used in drilling could well have a toxic impact on Georges Bank's 
delicate fisheries.
  Fishermen from Canada and the United States are subject to strict 
regulations governing fishing on Georges Bank. These regulations are 
designed to allow fish stocks to recover after years of overfishing. 
They have involved considerable sacrifices for the fishermen who depend 
on Georges Bank to make a living. But the sacrifices are paying off, 
and the fish stocks are recovering. It would be a shame to set back or 
to reverse completely those hard-won recovery efforts with even the 
risk of a major oil spill.
  The resolution I am submitting today encourages the Government of 
Canada to accept the recommendations of its review panel. It also goes 
further by asking our neighbor to the north to extend its drilling 
moratorium until the year 2012 to match the American moratorium. In 
that way, both Canadians and Americans may be assured that Georges Bank 
will remain in its traditional uses.

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