House votes to ban offshore drilling in federal waters

With the advancement of the Coastal Economies Protection Act through the House of Representatives, Congress has moved to bar new offshore drilling from federal waters.

The move is specifically aimed at preventing future spills, like those of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, which wreaked havoc on the California coast. When it had finally ceased, millions of gallons of oil had polluted the region and thousands of animals were killed.

Though new offshore drilling has been blocked in California state waters since 1969 and leases in federal waters off California’s coast since 1984, proponents argue that only a permanent ban will guarantee the survival of coastal economies and marine ecosystems. They also want to see such bans extend to the waters off other states. Such proponents include U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

“I’m pleased to see the House pass a federal drilling ban,” Feinstein said. “This is a strong rebuke of the administration’s efforts to increase oil extraction regardless of the risk to local communities. In the face of climate change, California has moved decisively to protect the environment, promote renewable energy and move toward a cleaner, lower carbon economy. It’s time we do the same nationwide.”

Included in the bill is Feinstein’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act, which would permanently ban offshore drilling in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.