While the Biden administration has signaled its desire to phase out new oil and gas leasing, Congress must ultimately take action to permanently protect US waters. Doing so will protect our nation’s coastal environment and economies, and address the climate emergency that is threatening the future of our planet.
The closing of miles of beaches and fishing grounds is threatening Orange County’s ocean recreation and tourism economy, which is valued at more than $2.6 billion annually, according to the National Ocean Economics Program, which compiles data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. From restaurants and hotels to surf shops, local business owners are feeling the immediate effects of beach closures and event cancellations as they face an uncertain future. Hanging in the balance is a way of life enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors. This is an environmental disaster which should not have happened. There is a way to prevent it from happening again: stop drilling offshore. In the coming days, government agencies and the energy company operating the ruptured pipeline must move swiftly in cleaning up the oil spill, which stretches from Huntington Beach to Laguna Beach and will likely be spread further by wind and currents. Their priority must be to prevent oil from further damaging coastal areas and wetlands, using booms, skimmers and other means to keep the spill contained. In the longer term, the spill response requires a comprehensive cleanup of affected beaches, wetlands and marshes, which could take months or even years.
