Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Yesterday, Donald Trump issued an executive order gutting the National Ocean Policy, which was put in place by President Obama after the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 to address the threats facing our oceans.
Trump’s order erases all references to coastal resilience in the face of climate change, conservation of ocean wildlife, social justice in coastal communities, and stewardship of our oceans and Great Lakes, instead prioritizing extraction and the desires of corporate polluters.
The executive order is just the latest threat to America’s public waters from the Trump administration. Just last year, the Trump Administration proposed eliminating the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which would have impacted the drinking water source for millions of Americans. The Department of the Interior is also working to dramatically expand offshore drilling off our coasts, as well as rolling back safety rules designed to prevent oil spills.
In response, Sierra Club Lands Protection Program Director Athan Manuel released the following statement:
“This order confirms what the Trump administration has already made abundantly clear: that Trump and Zinke see no value in America’s public lands and waters except for whatever corporate polluters can extract from them. Unfortunately, ignoring the grave threats facing our oceans and coastal communities won’t make them go away. Since the administration has no interest in responsibly managing our public waters, it’s more important than ever that state and local leaders step up to protect our oceans, communities, and coastal economies.”
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.