Washington, DC – President Obama and Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a new 5-year plan for oil and natural gas drilling today that will not permit drilling in a Virginia parcel located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

“As the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico vividly demonstrated, offshore oil and gas drilling remains a dangerous business and I have serious concerns about drilling so close to the Chesapeake Bay,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “The untold damage being done to marine ecosystems, fishing and tourism industries, and the Gulf economy would wreak havoc on our region if a similar disaster occurred off the coast of Virginia.” 

The existing 5-year plan for oil and natural gas drilling includes the Virginia lease sale parcel which is located on the outer continental shelf only 50 miles off the coast of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The Department of Defense has expressed concerns about drilling operations on 2.2 million acres because of its impact on training operations and shipping channels. This leaves only 660,000 acres for potential drilling.  The environmental and economic concerns about potential drilling accidents on this parcel remain unaddressed.  In May, the Administration decided to cancel a lease sale for the Virginia parcel following the devastating BP oil tragedy. 

“The tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico highlighted the inherent safety, environmental, and economic risks associated with offshore drilling,” said Sarbanes. “I believe the Gulf oil spill is a game changer as it pertains to the regulatory framework for offshore drilling and our nation’s energy policies more generally.”

Earlier this year, during the Committee on Natural Resources oversight hearing on Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Strategy and Implications of the Deepwater Horizon Rig Explosion, Congressman Sarbanes questioned Secretary Salazar about offshore drilling near the Chesapeake Bay. Click here to view a clip from the hearing.