The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Senate section on pages S1838-S1840 on March 20, 2018.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-186. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts urging the United States Department of the Interior to limit the proposed expansion of the national outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing program and to protect the waters off the coasts of the Commonwealth and New England; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Resolutions
Whereas, on January 4, 2018, the United States Department of the Interior announced the publication of a Draft Proposed Program in support of its National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, and
Whereas, as evidenced in Executive Order 13795, issued by the President of the United States on April 28, 2017, and Order 3350 issued by Secretary Ryan Zinke of the United States Department of the Interior on May 1, 2017, publication of the Draft Proposed Program is a critically important step in an effort by the Federal Government to open up offshore oil drilling in most coastal waters of the United States; and
Whereas, to gauge public reaction and receive substantive input, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will conduct a public hearing in the city of Boston; and
Whereas, the Draft Proposed Program purports to open up approximately 1.5 billion acres of territory to oil drilling and exploration, including important areas off the coast of Massachusetts and New England, and would approve as many as 47 drilling leases, which would be the largest number of such leases, offered in the history of the United States; and
Whereas, the administration's actions threaten to jeopardize the environmental well being of the Commonwealth and, more particularly, its coastal communities and waters; and
Whereas, the Commonwealth supports Energy Diversity, but the environmental and economic importance of the waters off the coast of the Commonwealth must be weighed against the benefits claimed for speculative offshore drilling, and
Whereas, offshore drilling could threaten the enjoyment of recreational fishing and the vitality of the Commonwealth's Fishing Industry, which provides income and employment for commercial fishermen, vessel manufacturers, restaurants and other businesses throughout Massachusetts; and
Whereas, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Massachusetts Fishing Industry generates 83,000 jobs and approximately $1.9 billion in income annually; and
Whereas, there is the potential for irreversible damage to areas such as Stellwagen Bank, Georges Bank and Jeffreys Ledge, which are among the richest fishing grounds in the world and are home to a diverse array of Marine Life; and
Whereas, the Commonwealth possesses a pristine and biodiverse coastal zone, which is an essential driver of tourism for the Commonwealth; and
Whereas, the Commonwealth's economy is reliant on tourism, which is its third largest economic sector and responsible for more than 100,000 jobs; and
Whereas, inhabitants of, and visitors to, our coastal communities support many important business sectors ranging from boat manufacturing and repair to tourism activities such as whale and bird watching; and
Whereas, the risk posed by speculative oil exploration initiatives to all of these economic and other existing and known benefits is not justifiable; and
Whereas, on January 9, 2018, the United States Department of the Interior announced that the State of Florida would be exempted from the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, and
Whereas, the Massachusetts Senate opposes the United States Department of the Interior's Draft Proposed Program to vastly expand offshore drilling in America's coastal waters off New England; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Massachusetts Senate hereby memorializes the United States Department of the Interior to take all possible action to protect the waters off the coast of the Commonwealth and New England, in particular Georges Bank, Stellwagen Bank, and Jeffreys Ledge, and exempt these areas from oil exploration initiatives; and be it further
Resolved, that copies of these resolutions be transmitted forthwith by the Clerk of the Senate to Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, Charles Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth and to the Members of Congress from the Commonwealth.
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POM-187. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of California relative to a new 5-year National Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program on the Outer Continental Shelf; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Senate Resolution No. 73
Whereas, California's iconic coastal and marine waters are one of our state's most precious resources, and it is our duty to protect our coast and ensure the long-term viability of California's wildlife and fisheries resources, as well as the multibillion dollar commercial and recreational fishing and tourism industries; and
Whereas, Hundreds of millions of California residents and visitors enjoy the state's ocean and coast for recreation, exploration, and relaxation; and tourism and recreation comprise the largest sector of the state's $44.5 billion ocean economy; and
Whereas, 500,000 jobs rely on a clean California coast, including California's $7 billion commercial fishing industry; and
Whereas, There have been no new offshore oil and gas leases in California since the 1969 blowout of a well in federal waters; and
Whereas, Beginning in 1921, and many times since, the California Legislature has enacted laws that withdrew certain offshore areas from oil and gas leasing, and by 1989 the state's offshore oil and gas leasing moratorium was in place; and
Whereas, In 1994, the California Legislature made findings in Assembly Bill 2444 (Chapter 970 of the Statutes of 1994) that offshore oil and gas production in certain areas of the state's waters poses an unacceptably high risk of damage and disruption to the marine environment; and
Whereas, In the same bill, the Legislature created the California Coastal Sanctuary Act, which included all of the state's unleased waters subject to tidal influence and prohibited new oil and gas leases in the sanctuary, unless the President of the United States has found a severe energy supply interruption and has ordered distribution of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Governor finds that the energy resources of the sanctuary will contribute significantly to alleviating that interruption, and the Legislature subsequently amends Chapter 970 of the Statutes of 1994 to allow that extraction; and
Whereas, Section 18 of the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. Sec. 1331 et seq.) requires the preparation of a nationwide offshore oil and gas leasing program that sets a five-year schedule of lease sales implemented by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management within the United States Department of the Interior; and
Whereas, Consistent with the principles of Section 18 and the resulting regionally tailored leasing strategy, the current exclusion of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf from new oil and gas development is consistent with the longstanding interests of the Pacific coast states, as framed in the 2006 West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health adopted by the Governors of California, Washington, and Oregon; and
Whereas, In November 2016, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released a final 2017-22 leasing program that continues the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the undeveloped areas of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf; and
Whereas, Governor Brown, in December 2016, requested that then President Obama permanently withdraw California's Outer Continental Shelf from new oil and gas leasing, and along with previous California Governors, has united with the Governors of Oregon and Washington in an effort to commit to developing robust renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel and help us reach our carbon emission goals; and
Whereas, The California Legislature has led the nation with its landmark climate change legislation, requiring ambitious greenhouse gas emission reductions of a 40-percent emissions reduction below1990 levels by 2030, and achieving a renewables portfolio standard of 50 percent by 2030. California must lead the nation in fostering the transition away from offshore fossil fuel production to protect both our climate and oceans from the damaging impacts of climate change, which will affect all life on earth for generations to come; and
Whereas, A Field/IGS (Institute of Governmental Studies) poll in 2016 found 90 percent of Californians believe that protecting the coastline is important and a Public Policy Institute of California 2017 survey found support for drilling here at an all-time low of 25 percent; and
Whereas, President Donald Trump's proposed five-year National Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program represents a renewed call for opening offshore areas for drilling and for lifting moratoriums on energy production in federal areas, that could lead to more oil spills, increased dependence on fossil fuel, and more damaging impact from climate change; and
Whereas, The California Legislature considers new oil and gas development offshore of the Pacific coast to be a threat to the nation's economy and national security, and to the state's ambitious renewable energy goals; and
Whereas, The California State Senate has previously adopted Senate Resolutions 35, 44, and 51 in 2017, which support the current federal prohibition on new oil or gas drilling in federal waters offshore California, oppose attempts to modify the prohibition, and defend the National Marine Sanctuaries of the United States; and
Whereas, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced plans on January 4, 2018, for a Draft Proposed Program that would include nearly the entire U.S. Outer Continental Shelf for potential oil and gas lease sales pursuant to President Trump's executive order on American energy that was issued on April 28, 2017; and
Whereas, The proposed program would open up 6 leases off the coast of California, which would be the first sale in the Pacific Region since 1984; and
Whereas, Despite the Trump administration's assertion of support for the program from state and local governments, the States of Washington, Oregon, and California have been consistently united in their opposition to any new oil and gas activities off their coasts, which has resulted in the exclusion of the Pacific coast's Outer Continental Shelf from any National Outer Continental Shelf Program since the 1989-92 program; and
Whereas, Republican and Democratic Governors alike are opposed to the expansion of lease sales off the coast of the United States; and
Whereas, The Trump administration announced on January 9, 2018, that it retracted its plan to expand offshore oil leases off the coast of Florida after receiving feedback from Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott, and the Senate believes California should receive this same exemption; and
Whereas, The Trump administration has taken the position that state and local input is an important part of the leasing process; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate strongly urges the President and the Congress of the United States to permanently safeguard and protect the Pacific coast's Outer Continental Shelf from new oil and gas leasing, and declares the Senate's unequivocal support for the current federal prohibition on new oil or gas drilling in federal waters offshore of the Pacific coast, its opposition to the proposed 5-year National Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program on the Outer Continental Shelf or any attempts to modify that prohibition, and its determination to consider any appropriate actions to maintain the current prohibition; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the National Program Manager of the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as the public comment of the Legislature in opposition to the proposed new 5-year National Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program on the Outer Continental Shelf; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and the Vice President of the United States, to the Governor of California, to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, to the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, to the Director of the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and to each member of the California State Senate and Assembly.
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POM-188. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to exclude the State of Maine from offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
H.P. 1279
Whereas, the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program has already been released and the programmatic environmental impact statement could be released as early as May 2018; and
Whereas, over 46,319 jobs and more than $2,300,000,000 of the State's gross domestic product depend on clean, oil-free water and beaches and abundant fish and wildlife; and
Whereas, over 65% of the State's ocean-derived income stems from our tourism and recreation sector, contributing over
$1,200,000,000 to the State's economy, and this economic sector benefits from and depends upon a healthy ocean and coast; and
Whereas, offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities place coastal communities at economic and ecological risk from oil spills and the pollution brought by routine drilling operations and onshore industrialization, threatening the quality of life and livelihoods of the State's citizens and important industries, such as tourism and recreation and commercial and recreational fishing, and small businesses that rely on a clean and healthy ocean and beaches; and
Whereas, the State recognizes that our communities and industries depend on a healthy coastal environment for the benefit of current and future residents, property owners and visitors; now, therefore, be it
Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, believe that offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration risks our economic and ecological health and therefore oppose any plan or legislation that encourages oil and gas exploration offshore that would negatively affect the citizens of the State; and be it further
Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to respectfully request that the President of the United States and the United States Congress direct the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to exclude the State and its offshore areas from the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program; and be it further
Resolved: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, to National Oil and Gas Leasing Program Development and Coordination Branch Chief Kelly Hammerle, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-189. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan memorializing their support for the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and opposing any reduction in its boundaries; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House Resolution No. 222
Whereas, The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of fourteen U.S. marine protected areas and the only one located in the Great Lakes. The 4,300-square-mile sanctuary holds nearly 100 known shipwrecks--covering more than 150 years of Great Lakes commerce--remarkably preserved in Lake Huron's cold, fresh waters; and
Whereas, Jointly managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the state of Michigan, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary plays an important role in preserving our nation's marine heritage and providing opportunities for future discovery, research, and education. In addition to shipwrecks, the sanctuary encompasses other important cultural and natural features related to maritime heritage including lifesaving stations, lighthouses, historic boats and ships, commercial fishing camps, and working ports. Geological evidence suggests undiscovered prehistoric archaeological sites may also exist; and
Whereas, The United States Secretary of Commerce is currently conducting a review of all designations and expansions of national marine sanctuaries within the last 10 years. Under Executive Order 13795, Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, the President of the United States directed the review of the budgetary impacts of the costs of managing the sanctuary, the adequacy of consultations with affected state and tribal governments prior to designation, and opportunity costs associated with potential energy and mineral exploration; and
Whereas, Nearly 3,900 square miles of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary could be impacted by the federal review. Just 448 square miles when initially designated in 2000, the sanctuary was expanded in 2014 to cover 4,300 square miles. The expansion increased the number of protected shipwrecks and opened up new opportunities to study shipwreck sites and maritime history in America; and
Whereas, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary attracts shipwreck divers and tourists and provides an economic boost to charter boat businesses, dive shops, bike rentals, outfitters, and travel and tourism companies. In past years, recreational activity associated with the sanctuary has provided $92 million in annual sales, $35.8 million in personal income to residents of coastal cities located near the sanctuary, and 1,704 jobs. In 2015, over 95,000 people visited the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center which is associated with the sanctuary; and
Whereas, Energy and mineral exploration is not appropriate within the sanctuary. Michigan has banned offshore drilling of oil in the Great Lakes since 1982. Congress enacted a temporary ban on offshore drilling in the Great Lakes in 2001 and made the federal ban permanent in 2005. The oil and gas drilling ban is necessary to protect this unique natural resource that provides drinking water and recreational opportunities and supports food production, business, and transportation for all U.S. citizens; and
Whereas, Maintaining the current boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary supports the rural coastal communities of northeast Michigan as well as protects the health and safety of millions of people who call the Great Lakes Basin home: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the House of Representatives, That we support the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and oppose any reduction in its boundaries; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the United States Secretary of Commerce.
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