Emanuel Bill Seeks to Ban Great Lakes Oil and Gas Drilling

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) joined Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Members of Congress representing Great Lakes states at a press conference to introduce the Great Lakes Oil and Gas Drilling Ban bill that would prohibit oil and gas drilling in or under the Great Lakes.

“Thanks to the Clean Water Act more than 30 years ago, the Great Lakes are much healthier. But their health is still in danger from invasive species and toxic pollutants that threaten to tear apart their precious ecosystems,” said Emanuel. “Drilling for oil in the Lakes would only further endanger the ecological web and threaten the beauty of our shores.”

Congress first enacted a temporary ban on Great Lakes drilling in 2001. Congress extended the temporary ban in 2003 and then recently extended it again through 2007. However, a permanent ban does not exist.

“The Great Lakes represent 95 percent of the United States’ surface freshwater and provide drinking water for more than 30 million Americans,” said Emanuel. “Between 1973 and 2001, there were an average of 135 oil spills per year in the U.S. Great Lakes ranging from 11 gallons to 179,912 gallons. There is no room for error here, we must protect our waters.”

Since his election to the House of Representatives, Emanuel has been a champion for the Great Lakes. In 2003, Emanuel introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Act, a bipartisan bill to provide $4 billion in federal funds for Great Lakes’ restoration and revitalization. The Great Lakes Restoration Act received bipartisan support in the Senate, the support of one hundred and six members of the U.S. House of Representatives, all eight governors of the Great Lakes States, and more than forty mayors of lakefront communities.  Emanuel reintroduced this legislation in 109th Congress and sixty-one members of the House of Representatives have signed on to this bipartisan effort. Emanuel has a history of supporting efforts to improve the health of the Great Lakes including support for the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act, Great Lakes Legacy Act and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.