Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that an Interior Department advisory panel is considering making it even cheaper and easier for oil and gas companies to lease public waters for offshore drilling.
The recommendations from members of the Royalty Policy Committee, many of whom come from the fossil fuel industry, suggest cutting the federal royalty rate for deepwater drilling operations to the lowest possible rate the government can charge for such leases.
In response, Sierra Club Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign Director Kelly Martin released the following statement:
“Apparently it’s not enough to open nearly all of America’s waters up to the dangers of offshore drilling and gut safeguards designed to prevent disastrous offshore oil spills; now the Trump administration wants to make sure oil and gas companies pay as little as possible for the right to foul our coastal communities with daily pollution and the threat of inevitable spills. For Donald Trump and Ryan Zinke, ‘energy dominance’ means a fire sale of America’s public lands and waters for the sole benefit of the fossil fuel industry.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.