Today, Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior released its draft five-year offshore drilling plan. In the largest expansion of offshore drilling ever, the plan would expand drilling off America’s coasts, including in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Arctic.
Tomorrow, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke plans to visit Louisiana to discuss coastal restoration. Zinke recently bragged about putting up 77 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico up for oil and gas leasing, the largest offshore oil and gas lease sale in Interior’s history. He is also expected to release a draft plan in the near future that would dramatically expand offshore drilling off America’s coasts and dismantle safety measures implemented in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
This afternoon, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the “SECURE American Energy Act.” The bill aims to expand oil and gas drilling by rolling back federal regulations and removing protections for America’s public lands and waters.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today is holding a hearing to explore drilling in the sensitive coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. As part of the budget process, the committee has been tasked with raising $1 billion over 10 years-- a feat that would only be possible through Arctic Refuge drilling if companies paid exorbitant lease prices.
Today members of the Gwich’in Nation led a rally in Washington, D.C. to unite against the destruction of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The group traveled more than 4,000 miles to speak out against a Congressional budget that opens the door to drilling in the Arctic Refuge, including in its biological heart the coastal plain. Sierra Club joined the rally, along with members of Congress, the Hip Hop Caucus, Green Latinos, veteran leaders, and Alaska Wilderness League among others. Solidarity events are being held nationwide throughout the week.
Gardner showed his hypocrisy with yes vote on Arctic drilling.
Today, the House Budget Committee passed a budget bill that advances drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge