Trump Administration Withdraws Southeast Waters from Offshore Drilling

The action, which caught both the oil industry and environmentalists by surprise, establishes a ten year moratorium on offshore drilling related activities in these waters. Several weeks later, President Trump added North Carolina to the moratorium

If you’re experiencing some cognitive dissonance, it’s probably because you remember the Trump Administration moved to open over 90% of federal waters to drilling in 2016, including all the waters covered by this announcement. This recent departure from the Trump Administration’s “American Energy Dominance” agenda is welcome news, and a testament to years of community advocacy to make this a bipartisan issue. However, our fight to protect our coasts from offshore drilling is far from over.

For starters, the waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina won’t truly be protected from offshore drilling until Congress passes legislation to permanently ban the practice. While the House of Representatives has passed bills that would protect the Atlantic, Pacific, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico from new drilling, the Senate has continued to stall on voting on these measures. This means our campaign to permanently protect U.S. waters from new offshore drilling will continue into 2021.

Surfrider Foundation's chapter network in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina has been fighting offshore drilling and seismic blasting for over a decade. Such proposed oil and gas development would harm the marine ecoystem, coastal economies and a way of life enjoyed by millions of people. Surfrider won't stop our advocacy until the Southeast - and the rest of U.S. waters - are permantently protected from offshore oil and gas development.