“I commend the Department of Interior’s decision to exclude the Mid-Atlantic-region in its new oil and natural gas drilling proposal,” said Congressman John Sarbanes. “The Chesapeake Bay is the soul of our state and a $1 trillion economic engine for fishing, tourism, property values and shipping industries.  A drilling accident would wreak havoc on our marine ecosystems, fishing and tourism industries.”

 

The Department of Defense has also expressed concerns about drilling operations on 2.2 million acres because of its impact on training operations and shipping channels. With these areas unavailable, only 660,000 acres are were being considered for potential drilling, and were estimated to yield only one day’s worth of domestic oil consumption.  The environmental and economic concerns about potential drilling accidents on this parcel remain unaddressed and far outweigh the potential benefits of accessing these limited resources.  

 

“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.

 

Earlier this year, Congressman Sarbanes offered an amendment during the Natural Resources Committee’s mark-up of H.R. 1230, the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act, to eliminate a provision in the bill that would require lease sales for drilling off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula.  

 

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