March 6, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 40 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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PROTECTING ATLANTIC COASTAL ECONOMIES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 40
(House of Representatives - March 06, 2019)
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[Pages H2375-H2376] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] PROTECTING ATLANTIC COASTAL ECONOMIES The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) for 5 minutes. Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am profoundly concerned with the possible permitting of seismic airgun blasting off the Atlantic Coast, from Jacksonville, Florida, to Cape May, New Jersey, to Portland, Maine. This is an extremely serious issue. Late last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as NOAA, issued five Incidental Harassment Authorizations which advanced permit applications for seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic Ocean. This action essentially sets the stage for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to approve these permits at any day now. Seismic airgun blasting is not only the first step toward offshore oil and gas exploration and development, but it is harmful to marine mammal life and to marine life in general, and it encroaches on vital military operations. At a time when we are attempting to limit the dangers of climate change, such as extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, it is unthinkable to further harm the environment and endanger our coastal economy in South Jersey and along the coast, which is largely based on fishing and based on tourism. Our public policy goal is to create a cleaner and healthier environment, an environment that we can pass on to our children and on to our grandchildren so that they may enjoy it. I am proud that broad arrays of organizations in New Jersey have supported my legislation. These organizations include the Chambers of Commerce of Cape May County, Ocean City, Vineland, Greater Wildwood, Greater Atlantic City, the Garden State Seafood Association, the Recreational Fishing Alliance, the Jersey Shore Partnership, Clean Ocean Action, Surfers Environmental Alliance, the American Littoral Society, Oceana, and the New Jersey chapters of the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, Audubon Society, and Environment America. Mr. Speaker, it was a pleasure to have worked with Congressman Rutherford of Florida on H.R. 1149. I am also grateful that several of our elite colleagues joined us on important efforts, including Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Donna Shalala of Florida, and Brian Mast of Florida, as well. Our bipartisan bill, the Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act, would prevent the five seismic airgun blasting permits that are now under consideration from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management from being issued. It would stop them. I urge my colleagues to protect our precious coastline and to protect the livelihoods of those that depend upon it by supporting H.R. 1149. It is a bipartisan bill. It is the Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act. Mr. Speaker, I include three letters of support for the Record. [From the Greater Atlantic City Chamber] Resolution Opposing BOEM 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program Whereas, on January 8, 2018, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced in the Federal Register notice the release of their Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. BOEM is requesting public comment on the [[Page H2376]] DPP as well as formal scoping for a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the 2019-2024 Program; and Whereas, this new plan includes the entire Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida, including the waters off New Jersey within 3 miles of beaches, as well as including other ocean areas totaling some 90% of US ocean waters; and Whereas, New Jersey boasts over 127 miles of beautiful ocean coastline and hundreds of miles of back-bays, estuaries, and other waterways connected to the Atlantic Ocean; and Whereas, the Jersey Shore is essential to the health of the our communities, environment and the thriving economy of New Jersey; and Whereas, the physical, hydrodynamic, and biological characteristics of the ocean off the Jersey Shore are unique in the world, as more than 300 species of fish, nearly 350 species of birds, 5 species of sea turtles, and many marine mammals such as 20 species of whales and dolphins, 1 species of porpoise, and 4 species of seals, frequent this region. Nine endangered species, four of which are whales, can be found in these ocean waters, including the Atlantic Right Whale, one of the world's most endangered marine mammals. The region also serves as an essential migratory pathway for many of these species; and Whereas, the Jersey Shore sustains the economy of the region with its bounty of natural resources and intrinsic values for millions of people through tourism. Tourism brings more than $44 billion to NJ's economy each year and provides jobs to more than 500,000 people with $6.2 billion generated in Cape May County alone; and Whereas, recreational and commercial fisheries in NJ provide enormous economic benefits, including revenue, food production, and recreational activities with the port of Cape May and Wildwood ranking as the second largest seaport on the east coast. In 2014, recreational fishing supported nearly 20,000 jobs and resulted in $2 billion of retail sales. Commercial fishing supports nearly 7,300 jobs and provides $152 million in landings, not including restaurant and retail sales; and Whereas, current estimates of the amount of technically recoverable oil off the entire Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida would only last the nation approximately 229 days, and the amount of technically recoverable gas would only last approximately 562 days; and Whereas, offshore oil and gas development, causes substantial environmental impacts, including: (a) onshore damage due to infrastructure, (b) water pollution from drilling muds and the water brought-up from a well with oil and gas (called ``produced waters''), (c) noise from seismic surveys, (d) air pollution, and (e) oil spills; and Whereas, the harmful environmental consequences of offshore oil and gas exploration and development are serious and threatens the environmental and economic assets of New Jersey; and Whereas, The BP Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico (2010) is clear evidence of the dangers associated with offshore drilling, including costing the lives of 11 people, devastating coastal economies and countless livelihoods, and killing countless marine animals, as well as continuing to cause harm to marine life as documented by a steady flow of studies; and Whereas, Federal Administration officials are also weakening protections of ocean resources by undermining rules and regulations, cutting funding sources for spill response; and Whereas, oil spills travel vast distances, and the Gulf Stream and Labrador Ocean Current all flow toward New Jersey making the region vulnerable to impacts from spills anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean; and Whereas, Within 5 days of the release of the DPP Governor Scott from Florida was able to convince Department of Interior Secretary Zinke to remove Florida from further consideration for drilling due to the importance of coastal tourism to that state and NJ shares this same economic dependence on tourism and clean ocean economies; Whereas, bi-partisan opposition against drilling off the New Jersey coast has included every Governor since 1985, and a majority of the congressional delegation and most coastal towns; and Whereas, in the January 8, 2018, BOEM Federal Register to requests comments on the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) and scoping comments for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Study Whereas, energy conservation and efficiency measures can significantly reduce the nation's need to explore and drill for nonrenewable resources, such as oil and natural gas; and Whereas, coastal municipalities have a profound interest in maintaining strong federal protections for our nation's coastal environment, as well as the economic and social benefits it supports; Now, therefore, be it resolved on March 5, 2018, that the Greater Atlantic City Chamber hereby opposes offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling activities that would affect the coast of New Jersey, and calls upon Secretary of the Interior Ryan K. Zinke who oversees the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to withdraw New Jersey and the entire Atlantic Ocean from consideration for the offshore oil and gas exploration, development, or drilling. Joseph D. Kelly, President. ____ Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Services, Ocean City, NJ, February 6, 2019. Congressman Jeff Van Drew, Mays Landing, NJ. Dear Congressman Van Drew: On behalf of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, I would like extend our endorsement of Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act to prohibit the Department of the Interior from issuing certain geological and geophysical exploration permits under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and for other purposes. The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is comprised of more than 550 member businesses, strongly supports this act as we are against seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic Ocean. We stand by you and your support of the Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act. Kindest regards, Michele Gillian, Executive Director. ____ Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce, Vineland, NJ, February 7, 2019. U.S. Representative Jeffrey Van Drew, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Van Drew: On behalf of our organization, including more than 450 members, we write this letter as an endorsement of your proposed bill, known as the ``Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act'', to prohibit the Department of Interior from issuing certain geological and geophysical exploration permits under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and for other purposes. We agree that seismic air-gun blasting in the Atlantic Ocean has the potential to harm or kill marine mammals and other marine life that are vital to our region's coastal economies. We are also wary that the survey data collected is not available to the public. Thank you for your efforts in proposing this bill. Sincerely, Dawn S. Hunter, Executive Director. ____________________
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