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| Woolsey Fights to Protect California’s Coastline Against Oil Interests | | February 6, 2002 | |
| February 6, 2002
Washington, DC -- Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) joined her California Colleagues in supporting California against the Bush Administration in federal court (State of California v. Norton). The Administration wants to force California to open oil and gas exploration off its coast.
Last month, the Bush Administration and oil companies lost an appeal to force the State of California to develop 36 oil and gas leases off the Central Coast. The June 2001 U.S. District Court decision started that California has the right to ensure that federal projects affecting its coastal zone, such as offshore oil drilling, are consistent with the state’s coastal management program.
"This is another example of how the Bush Administration is promoting the interests of Big Oil over the people of California," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey. "The answer to America’s energy needs is conservation and the use of renewable energy; not on dirty, exhaustible fossil fuels. Drilling for gas and oil will destroy our environment and it will not provide adequate energy supplies for future generations.
"California is home to some of the most beautiful coastline in the world. Our responsibility as stewards of this unique environment cannot be hindered by the Administration’s special interest in the oil industry."
When Congress passed the 1990 amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), it expressly stated that federal projects that would have a "coastal zone effect" must be submitted to the effected State for review with its coastal management programs. Extension of the 36 leases in California would clearly have a "coastal zone effect."
Protecting California’s Coastline continues to be a priority for Rep. Woolsey. Since her election to the House of Representatives in 1992, Rep. Woolsey has supported legislation to protect California’s shoreline and the coastline of the United States. Rep. Woolsey’s efforts include cosponsoring H.R. 1066, the Coastal States Protection Act, which calls for a permanent moratorium on new offshore oil leasing in California, and voting to force Secretary Norton to delay the lease sale of 17 miles of Alabama and Florida coastline by six months.
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