Press Release
MAY 18, 2006
CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN
DAVIS ACTS
TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S COAST
Davis votes to keep 25-year ban on offshore drilling
Washington - Congresswoman Susan Davis joined a majority of her colleagues to protect California's scenic coastline with her support of an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill (HR 5386). The amendment would maintain the 25-year moratorium on natural gas drilling.
"California's breathtaking coastline is one of our state's prime resources," said Rep. Davis. "An oil spill would have a devastating impact on wildlife and the environment."
A provision added to the environmental spending bill ends the 25-year moratorium on offshore natural gas exploration and drilling along the outer continental shelf. The bill kept ban offshore oil exploration and drilling on the outer continental shelf in place. Since 1981, Congress has maintained some form of moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on the outer continental shelf.
The amendment that was offered prohibits the use of funds to conduct activities in violation of the moratorium on drilling. The amendment narrowly passed on a 217-203 vote.
The House or Representatives approved another amendment to eliminate taxpayer subsidies for road building for the purposes of logging in Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The Forest Service has spent $48 million of taxpayer dollars on the Tongass logging program and logging roads in the Tongass.
Davis opposed final passage of the Interior Appropriations bill, which passed the House by a vote of 293-128. The bill contained severe cuts to land conservation efforts, the National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which supports water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, pollution control, and watershed and estuary management, was cut by $200 million.