Overview

The Pacific coast is home to a diversity of marine life. Cold, nutrient-rich waters attract and support everything from tiny krill to huge whales, as well as some of the most lucrative fisheries in the nation. However, offshore drilling related spills and chronic oil leaks put wildlife, the ocean economy, and the health of communities at risk.

In April 2017, a Presidential Executive Order threatened to re-open the Pacific coast to expanded offshore oil and gas drilling, placing invaluable ocean resources and coastal economies at risk. Now is the time to protect the coast from expanded offshore drilling. In fall of 2020, former President Trump signed a memorandum to prohibit drilling in the waters off Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, but failed to protect any additional states, including the Pacific Coast.

Fortunately, nationwide opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling has been mounting for years. Currently, more than 390 municipalities across the country have formally opposed the expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling activities, including over 90 along the Pacific coast. These dirty and dangerous drilling proposals put at risk nearly 746,000 West Coast jobs and $53 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) that rely on healthy ocean ecosystems and a clean marine environment.

Many West Coast leaders vocally oppose expanded offshore oil drilling including California Governor Gavin Newson, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, the California Fish and Game Commission, the California State Lands Commission, and the California Coastal Commission. Local communities are making their voices heard by passing resolutions opposing expanded offshore drilling along the Pacific coast.

Additional Resources

• National Overview of 5-Year Plan and Opposition to Offshore Drilling Factsheet (June 2020)
• Offshore Drilling Moratorium Legislation Fact Sheet (June 2019)
• Dirty Drilling Report (April 2019)
• State Legislation Opposing Offshore Drilling Map (September 2020)
• Clean Coast Economy Report (March 2018)
• Defending the Pacific Ocean from Expanded Offshore Drilling Fact Sheet (August 2017)
• Drilling and Spilling by the Numbers Infographic (November 2017)
• Impacts to Tourism from Offshore Drilling Fact Sheet (March 2020)
• At-risk Marine Life Threatened by Expanded Offshore Oil Drilling Map
• West Coast Opposition to Offshore Drilling Activities Map

Join the #ProtectOurCoast Movement!

• Learn how to pass a resolution in your town or city here
• Learn how to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper here

Opposition from Municipalities and Counties 

1. Newport Beach, CA: passed 11/30/2021
2. Huntington Beach, CA: passed 10/19/2021
3. Fairfax, CA: passed 11/8/2020
4. San Clemente, CA: passed 11/20/2019
5. National City, CA: passed 10/15/2019
6. Hermosa Beach, CA: passed 4/11/2019
7. Eureka, CA: awaiting resolution copy
8. El Segundo, CA: passed 3/19/2019
9. Vista, CA: passed 3/12/2019
10. Oxnard, CA: passed 2/19/2019
11. San Anselmo, CA: passed 2/12/2019
12. Portland, OR: passed 01/30/19
13. Escondido, CA: passed 01/23/2019
14. Trinidad, CA: passed 12/12/2018
15. Pacific Grove, CA: passed 10/17/2018
16. Costa Mesa, CA: passed 10/16/2018
17. Cotati, CA: passed 09/25/2018
18. Lemon Grove, CA: passed 9/18/2018
19. Seattle, WA: passed 09/10/2018
20. Carlsbad, CA: passed 08/28/2018
21. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA: Sent letter to BOEM 08/21/2018
22. Gold Beach, OR: passed 08/13/2018
23. Culver City, CA: passed 07/23/18
24. Lincoln City, OR: passed 7/9/2018
25. Ventura, CA: sent letter to Senator Feinstein 07/09/2018
26. Norwalk, CA: passed 06/26/18
27. Port Orford, OR: passed 06/21/18
28. Alameda County, CA: passed 06/05/18
29. Chula Vista, CA: passed 5/22/2018
30. Dana Point, CA: passed 04/24/18
31. Santa Clarita, CA: passed 4/10/2018
32. South Bend, WA: passed 04/09/2018
33. Los Osos, CA: passed 04/05/18
34. Yachats, OR: passed 04/04/18
35. Pacifica, CA: passed 03/26/18
36. Raymond, WA: passed 03/19/18
37. Petaluma, CA: passed 03/19/18
38. San Leandro, CA: passed 03/08/18
39. Monterey, CA: sent letter to BOEM 03/08/2018; passed resolution 5/7/2019
40. Redondo Beach, CA passed 03/6/18
41. Richmond, CA: passed 03/06/18
42. Toledo, OR: passed 03/07/18
43. San Diego, CA: passed 03/06/18
44. Santa Monica, CA passed 03/06/18
45. Newport, OR: passed 03/05/2018
46. Grover Beach, CA: passed 03/05/18
47. Aberdeen, WA: passed 02/28/18
48. Oceanside, CA: passed 02/28/18
49. Clallam County, WA: passed 02/27/18
50. Humboldt County, CA: passed 02/27/18
51. Morro Bay, CA: passed 02/27/18
52. Carpinteria, CA: sent letter 02/26/18
53. Pacific County, WA:  passed 02/13/18
54. San Diego County, CA: voted 02/13/18; sent letter 03/09/18
55. Los Angeles County, CA: passed 02/13/18
56. Point Arena, CA: passed 02/13/18
57. Fort Bragg, CA: passed 02/12/18
58. Ilwaco, WA: passed 02/12/18
59. Scotts Valley, CA: passed 02/07/18
60. Windsor, CA: passed 02/07/18
61. Half Moon Bay, CA: passed 02/06/18; Passed another 9/5/2023
62. Manhattan Beach, CA: passed 02/06/18
63. Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA: passed 02/06/18
64. Long Beach, WA: passed 02/05/18
65. West Hollywood, CA: passed 02/05/18
66. Santa Barbara County, CA: passed 01/30/18
67. Marin County, CA: 01/30/18
68. Westport, WA: 01/29/18
69. Sonoma County, CA: 01/29/18
70. Capitola, CA: passed 01/25/18
71. Solana Beach, CA: passed 01/24/18
72. Encinitas, CA: passed 01/24/18
73. Contra Costa County, CA: passed 01/23/18
74. San Mateo County, CA: passed 01/23/18
75. Pismo Beach, CA: sent letter to BOEM 01/11/2018
76. San Mateo, CA: passed 04/16/18
77. Mendocino County, CA: passed 01/23/18
78. Ventura County, CA: passed 01/23/18
79. Ocean Shores, WA: passed 01/22/18
80. Imperial Beach, CA: passed 01/17/18
81. San Francisco, CA: passed 01/09/18
82. Watsonville, CA: passed 12/12/17
83. Santa Cruz City, CA: passed 12/05/17 and sent letter 01/18/18
84. Santa Cruz County, CA: passed 11/14/17
85. Laguna Beach, CA: passed 11/07/17
86. Marina, CA: passed 11/07/17
87. Ojai, CA: passed 10/24/17
88. Monterey County, CA: passed 10/24/17
89. Oakland, CA: passed 10/17/17
90. Del Mar, CA: sent letter 10/16/17
91. Goleta, CA: passed 10/03/17
92. San Luis Obispo, CA: passed 10/03/17
93. Berkeley, CA: passed 09/12/17
94. Malibu, CA: passed 09/10/17
95. Arcata, CA: passed 09/06/17
96. Santa Barbara, CA: passed 07/25/17
97. Los Angeles, CA: passed 04/28/17
98. San Luis Obispo County, CA: passed 2/28/17
99. Hayward, CA: Awaiting resolution copy
100. Hoquiam, WA: Awaiting resolution copy
101. Montesano, WA: Awaiting resolution copy

Tribal Councils

• National Congress of American Indians: passed a resolution opposing offshore drilling 10/26/2018
• Siletz Tribal Council, OR: Awaiting resolution copy

Fishing Groups

• Pacific Fishery Management Council: sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke requesting that the West Coast be removed from the Draft Proposed Program 03/09/18
• North Pacific Fishery Management Council: sent letter to BOEM asking for the removal of areas from the Draft Proposed Program due to the “substantial risk to the sustainable management of Alaska’s fisheries” 03/05/18

Business Opposition

• Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast: Submitted a comment to the Department of Interior in advance of their national review of the federal energy program highlighting the economic importance of permanent protections from new drilling on the OCS 4/14/2021.
• Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast joined the Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast and the Florida Gulf Coast Business Coalition to send a joint letter to Congress urging them to enact permanent protections of U.S. waters from further offshore oil and gas leasing 3/5/2021.
• Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast: Sent a letter to the Washington State House Environment and Energy Committee supporting SB 6432.
• Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast: Sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi uring her to support the passage of H.R. 1941 and 205.
• Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast: Sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi urging her to support all efforts to block expanded offshore drilling via the Interior-Environment funding bill 6/11/2019.
• Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC): sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke 03/09/18
• The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US SIF): sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke on behalf of 31 firms representing $30.7 billion in assets to oppose the Draft Proposed Program 03/09/18
• Port Authority of Newport, OR: passed resolution 03/05/18
• Port of Toledo, OR: passed resolution 02/20/2018
• Port of Ilwaco, WA: passed resolution 02/05/18
• Monterey Peninsula, CA Chamber of Commerce: sent letter to BOEM 12/19/17

Elected Officials/ Key Stakeholders Opposition

• Environmental Coalition Comment Letter: 88 organizations sent a letter to Mr. Kerry Kehoe (Federal Consistency Specialist, NOAA) opposing any changes to the CZMA federal consistency process.
• San Marcos City Council, CA: members submitted individual letters opposing offshore drilling to the federal register.
• 17 Senators: Led by Senator Menendez (D-NJ), a letter was sent to Acting Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt asking him to clarify his position on offshore drilling before his confirmation 3/20/2019.
• 23 Senators: Led by Senator Markey (D-MA), a letter was sent to Secretaries Ross and Zinke to express opposition to the issuance of five incidental harassment authorization (IHA) permits that would allow companies to conduct seismic airgun blasting surveys along the Atlantic coast.
• 93 U.S. Representatives: Led by Congressman Rutherford (R-FL), a bipartisan letter was sent to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross expressing strong opposition to the issuance of 5 Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) permits to companies planning to conduct seismic airgun blasting surveys along the Atlantic coast 12/6/2018.
• Oregon Governor Kate Brown: Issues Executive Order opposing exploration and production of oil or gas off the Oregon Coast and to prevent the development of any infrastructure associated with offshore oil and gas drilling (10/24/18).
• 23 Senators: Led by Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, a letter was sent to Zinke to express strong opposition to the proposed rollback of the Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Rule 7/18/2018 (offshore drilling)
• Clean Coasts Act: Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell introduced the Clean Coast Act, which codifies the Outer Continental Shelf Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Rule and the Arctic Drilling Rule. Full text found here 4/19/2018
• Los Osos, CA Community Elected Officials: Sent letter to BOEM opposing the 2019- 2024 Draft Proposed National Oil and Gas leasing Program and any expansion of offshore drilling of the coast of California.
• Mayor, City of San Leandro, CA: Sent letter to Secretary Zinke opposing new offshore oil and gas drilling (3/9/2018).
• 227 state legislators representing 17 coastal states: sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke 03/05/18
• Oregon Democrats Delegation: sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke requesting BOEM to extend the public comment period for the 2019-2024 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement due to worries that offshore drilling could significantly harm the economy of West Coast fisheries and tourism industries 2/22/2018
• Senator Cantwell: led a group of lawmakers on the Senate floor calling for the protection of coastal jobs threatened by the expansion of offshore drilling in the 2019-2024 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2/13/2018
• WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson: Sent letter to Secretary Zinke and BOEM Director Cruickshank, threatening to sue the Federal government over the proposed lease sales 2/5/2018
• Attorney Generals (Oregon, California, North Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia): sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke 02/01/18
• U.S. Congressional delegation from the Pacific Northwest: sent bipartisan and bicameral letter to Interior Secretary Zinke 02/01/18
• U.S. Congressional delegation from California: sent bicameral letter to DOI 01/25/18
• U.S. Representatives Grijalva (D-AZ), Lowenthal (D-CA) and McEachin (D-VA): sent letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) 01/24/18
• Rep. Mike Thompson: Sent letter to Secretary Zinke to express strong opposition to California’s inclusion in the 2019-2024 draft proposed program for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 01/22/2018
• More than 150 House Democrats: sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke 01/18/18
• Rep. Salud Carbajal: Sent letter to President Trump and Secretary Zinke to express strong opposition to the inclusion of offshore lease sales in the Pacific Region of the 2019-2024 draft proposed program for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 01/18/2018
• Washington Governor Jay Inslee: sent multiple letters to Secretary Zinke, including a joint letter signed by the Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington 01/11/18
• More than 20 U.S. Senators: sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke 01/11/18
• Maria Cantwell: Sent letter to Secretary Zinke requesting that, like Florida, he also exempt Washington and the other coastal states from the National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 01/11/2018
• 36 Senate Democrats, led by U.S. Senator Merkley (D-OR): sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke 01/09/18
• Joint Statement: by Governor Jay Inslee (WA), Governor Kate Brown (OR), and Governor Jerry Brown (CA) 01/04/18
• 39 members of Congress: sent a letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging the exclusion of any new oil and gas lease sales off the Pacific coast from the new Five-Year Program 8/17/2017
• Oregon Governor Kate Brown: submitted RFI comments to BOEM opposing the inclusion of any new proposed oil and gas lease sales off the West Coast in the 2019-2024 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 8/15/2017
• California Senate: adopted Senate Joint Resolution 35 05/04/17
• California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.: sent letter to President Obama 12/13/16

State Wildlife Commissions

• California Coastal Commission resolution: adopted 12/06/16
• California Fish and Game Commission resolution: adopted 6/22/17
• California State Lands Commission: adopted 06/22/17
• Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: sent letter to BOEM 02/2/2018

Op-EDs

• Oregon State Treasurer, Tobias Read. Offshore Drilling Bad for Oregon’s environment, economy. The Register-Guard. February 3, 2018

Editorials

• Seattle Magazine: How the Trump Administration is Threatening the Washington Wilderness and What State Leaders Are Doing About It (June 2018)
• The Daily Herald: A unified ‘no’ to Northwest offshore oil drilling (February 7, 2018)
• Sacramento Bee: Only this Republican whisperer can save California from offshore drilling (January 13, 2018)