Sen. Tom Carper is praising a decision by the Trump Administration to delay drilling for oil in the Arctic and off the Atlantic Coast.
“An oil spill off of Delaware’s coast wouldn’t just threaten wildlife and public health, it would also jeopardize the countless number of small businesses and jobs in our coastal communities – especially those tied to tourism and fishing – that rely heavily on clean ocean waters and pristine beaches, ”Carper stated. “While this is welcome news for the First State, this Administration’s deference to the oil and gas industry knows no bounds. As the administration weighs its next steps with respect to its offshore drilling plan, I will continue to oppose any options that would open up areas off Delaware’s coast to offshore drilling.”
Drilling is opposed by states along the East Coast, with individual states, such as Delaware banning drilling in state waters.
However, the administration is moving forward with permits for seismic testing that is used to determine the potential for oil production The move has drawn fierce opposition from the environmental community, which claims that sounds arising from the tests damage sea life.
The administration has struggled with the issue of offshore drilling. At one point, former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke opened the door to more drilling but seemed to exempt the coast of Florida near the president’s Maro Largo estate.
