San Clemente, Calif., April 25, 2019 - Today, the Wall Street Journal reported that Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signaled that the proposal to vastly expand offshore oil and gas drilling has been sidelined indefinitely. This follows a recent court ruling that upholds protections in the Arctic and parts of the Atlantic from new offshore drilling.

Surfrider's Environmental Director, Pete Stauffer stated: 

“Offshore drilling is a dirty and dangerous practice that puts our marine environment, coastal communities and economies at unnecessary risk. Moreover, offshore drilling is wildly unpopular across the country as members of both political parties are overwhelmingly opposed to new oil and gas development off our coasts. This delay in releasing the offshore drilling plan is a major testament to the hard work and efforts of coastal advocates, elected officials, businesses, communities, and the recreation industry, which have fought tirelessly against opening up our nation's coasts to destructive offshore drilling. The Surfrider Foundation calls on the Trump administration to officially cancel plans to revise the 5-year offshore drilling program.”

More than 350 municipalities, 2,100 elected officials, 49,000 businesses and 500,000 fishing families have formally opposed new offshore oil and gas development. Nearly all coastal governors and more than 150 members of Congress – both Democrats and Republicans – have voiced opposition to the federal administration’s plans to expand offshore drilling through a revised 5-year program. Florida, New Jersey, California and Oregon have also recently banned nearshore oil and gas exploration in state waters off their coasts. 

The Surfrider Foundation is working to stop offshore oil drilling and protect our nation's coasts for the future. Find out more at Surfrider.org.

###

About the Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains more than a million supporters, activists and members, with over 170 volunteer-led chapters and student clubs in the U.S., and more than 500 victories protecting our coasts. Learn more at surfrider.org.