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Pallone Welcomes Move To Halt Planned Drilling Off Virginia
Wants Sweeping Ban On All New Drilling |
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Washington, DC - U. S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. issued the following statement on Thursday welcoming the move by the Obama Administration to halt the plan to put oil drills off the coast of Virginia and to announce his intention of introducing the "No New Drilling" legislation that would ban all new drilling in U.S. waters:
"It's unfortunate that it took the terrible tragedy in the Gulf to change the course of plans to add more oil drills in more locations, but this is a welcome move that provides the opportunity to work to end offshore drilling.
"Today's action gives everyone the chance to reconsider all plans for new drilling in the context of the Gulf Coast disaster. We should apply the same policy on a permanent basis in all U.S. waters. What's good off the coast of Virginia is good for all coastal states.
"The economic and environmental damage in the Gulf is becoming worse by the day and nobody knows how bad it will be or how long the aftereffects will last. That is why I will introduce the 'No New Drilling' bill to ban all new drilling in all coastal waters.
"We shouldn't wait for another disaster to do what is right for all American shorelines and all the coastal waters. The harm that spills inflict on the environment can be permanent and the damage to the economy can be lasting. It is all but impossible to calculate the potential environmental damage and economic harm of a spill.
"The ocean waters and beaches are used for different activities in different parts of the country, including fishing, recreation and tourism - all those activities and all coastal states could be put at risk. As we are witnessing along the Gulf Coast where a number of states will be affected, the threat associated with each and every drill extends for miles.
"Let's make the BP spill in the Gulf the last one." |
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