May 27, 2010
Good Work, Obama. Now Make it Permanent.
President Obama announced today that he plans to suspend Arctic offshore drilling, cancel lease sales in the western Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Virginia, suspend activity on 33 exploratory wells and extend the moratorium on deepwater drilling for six months.
Senior pollution campaign director Jackie Savitz had this to say about the announcement:
“President Obama has now seen first hand the impacts that offshore drilling can have on oceans and coastal economies. The actions taken today are just the first steps. We are relieved that Arctic drilling is off the table this summer. We continue to call for an end to all offshore drilling, on every coast,” said Jacqueline Savitz, senior campaign director.
And Caleb Pungowiyi, senior advisor and rural liaison for Oceana and resident of Kotzebue, Alaska, said: “I am relieved by this decision. The thought that they would be drilling this summer put a lot of fear in many of the people living along the Arctic coast. We were worried about what it could do to our food source and way of life.”
This is great news, but more must be done. Tell the President and Congress to enact a ban on all new offshore drilling.