Rep. Mike Thompson: 'Expansion of Offshore Drilling Without Proper Review, Science is Unacceptable'
Introduces Amendment Banning Drilling Off California’s North Coast
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) today voted against legislation that would mandate the most sweeping expansion of offshore drilling in our nation's history. H.R. 1231, "Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act," would automatically open the Southern California coast, the entire Atlantic coast, the Arctic Ocean, and Alaska's Bristol Bay for leasing. The bill could also potentially open up California's North Coast to drilling - even if our state objects to offshore drilling in the region.
"There may be enough oil off the North Coast to make oil companies billions of dollars in profits, but there is nowhere near enough to change the reality of our national energy challenges or outweigh the serious risks to North Coast communities," said Rep. Thompson. "H.R. 1231 is beyond misguided - it is a disaster in the making. I voted against this bill because I refuse to let what happened in the Gulf of Mexico be a possibility on the coast of California."
Specifically, H.R. 1231 mandates that the Secretary of the Interior offer up half of the unleased areas off the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts and offshore Alaska for drilling. Proponents of the bill, including Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), have stated that no North Coast drilling will occur because the region does not contain at least 2.5 billion barrels of oil or 7.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. As illustrated in this map, the only portion of California that meets these criteria is the Southern California planning area, estimated to contain nearly 6 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
In a decision to "trust but verify," Rep. Thompson introduced an amendment clarifying that the North Coast may not be opened for drilling under H.R. 1231. Given the Natural Resources Committee's previous assertions that H.R. 1231 would not open up the entire California coastline to drilling, Rep. Thompson's amendment should have received broad bipartisan support. Instead, the majority party strongly opposed the amendment, setting the stage for future North Coast drilling.
"If this bill's only targets are areas containing the greatest known amount of oil and natural gas, there should be no objection to prohibiting drilling on the North Coast," said Rep. Thompson. "The fact that my amendment was defeated because of strong Republican opposition suggests there's still a desire to tap our reserves, no matter the potential cost."
Proponents of H.R. 1231 have tried to advertise the bill as a solution to rising gas prices. But according to a 2009 Energy Information Administration report, opening up waters that are currently closed to drilling would only yield an extra 500,000 barrels of oil a day - an amount that sounds significant but would reduce gas prices by no more than 3 cents a gallon… in 2030. In Northern California, the potential economic impact of the region's oil supply is even smaller: if all the recoverable reserves of Northern California's Outer Continental Shelf were tapped, they would provide enough oil to fuel the U.S. for only 100 days.
"Drilling is not the simple answer to rising gas prices," Rep. Thompson continued. "We have to invest in American clean energy like solar and wind, as well as green vehicles and efficient cars. These are the actions that will bring about long-term energy independence, create good paying jobs here at home, and bring down gas prices for good."
Rep. Thompson has been a longtime opponent of efforts to open drilling off the coast of Northern California. In January, the Congressman reintroduced legislation to ban drilling off the coast of Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties. He has also co-sponsored legislation that would prohibit drilling along the entire California coast.
The full text of Rep. Thompson's floor speech in support of his amendment to H.R. 1231, which would prohibit drilling off California's Northern Coast, is available below:
"My amendment would clarify that H.R. 1231 would not open drilling along the Northern California coast under this bill.
"The amendment makes clear the intent of this bill. According to the bill's drafters this legislation would not require leasing permits in the Northern California Planning Area, which is the coastline of my district.
"Drilling on the North Coast of California is a disastrous idea and the legislation must be clear-- that it is not applicable to the North Coast.
"Because this amendment is a clarification of the legislation's intent, there is no cost associated with it.
"Just about three weeks ago we marked the one year anniversary of the nation's worst oil spill. I will not let what happened to the Gulf of Mexico happen to the north coast of California.
"I have introduced separate standalone legislation which would permanently ban drilling off the coast of my district.
"It is important to me and to my constituents that H.R. 1231 clearly notates that drilling will not occur in the Northern California Planning Areaâ€"along the coasts of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
"The coastal area of my district is one of only four major upwelling regions in the world's ocean. An upwelling is where cold, nutrient-rich waters are brought from the ocean depths to the surface.
"Upwelling regions promote seaweed and growth which, in turn, supply energy for some of the most productive ecosystems in the world - including many of the world's fisheries.
"North Coast ecosystems also sustain some of the largest salmon populations in the lower 49 states and provide essential habitat for Dungeness crab, rockfish, sole and urchin. The 2006 and 2008 commercial fishery disasters that virtually eliminated salmon fishing in California were economically disastrous for my district, our states and our nation.
"If an oil spill were to occur off the coast of my district, the environmental and economic costs would be staggering. Drilling for oil or gas off of California's North Coast could cause serious harm to the unique and productive ecosystem and abundant marine life found off the coast.
"My district is economically dependent on the rich natural resources we are blessed to have, but also subject to significant seismic risks and earthquakes. As one of my counties said, ‘The modest amount of oil available, in terms of our nation's daily demand, does not justify jeopardizing our fisheries, our environment and our economic livelihoods.' (Letter from Mendocino Board of Supervisors)
"This amendment will protect the North Coast of California and will simply clarify that this bill does not require drilling off the coasts of Mendocino, Humboldt or Del Norte counties.
"I urge a ‘yes' vote on this amendment."