FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2009
Contact: Kristina Johnson
(415) 977-5619
Interior Department Sends Bush Drilling Plan Back to Drawing Board
Lack of Public Review Cited
Washington, D.C. Today, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that the agency would start a new public review process for the 5-year offshore drilling plan set forth by the Bush administration in its last days in office. Citing lack of public review and calling for order to be restored to a broken process, Salazar opened a 180-day comment period in which citizens and stakeholders can weigh in on plans to open coastal areas to drilling. Salazar also called for review of renewable offshore energy like wind as part of the process.
Statement of Sierra Club Public Lands Director Athan Manuel
"Energy independence and jobs will be won by investing in clean energy, not by handing over our coasts to the oil industry. The Obama administration clearly understands that. President Bush's last-minute offshore drilling plan could have been written by oil industry executives. It was not based on science, was not subject to public review, did not consider the best interest of coastal communities, and ignored clean energy options. Revising this drilling plan is an important first step in getting our new energy economy on track. "