Offshore Drilling Expansion Must End as Country Reflects Ahead of the 14th Memorial of Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Press Release Date: April 18, 2024
Location: Washington, D.C.
Contact:
Cory Gunkel, Megan Jordan | email: cgunkel@oceana.org, mjordan@oceana.org | tel: Cory Gunkel, 202.868.4061
Saturday, April 20, is the 14th memorial of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which caused one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. Ahead of the anniversary, Oceana released the following statement:
“We need to remember the lessons of the tragic BP Deepwater Horizon disaster and finally end the expansion of dirty, dangerous offshore drilling,” said Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon. “This national tragedy should have been a turning point in how we acquire our energy, yet we continue to allow new destructive offshore drilling. It’s not a matter of if there will be another disastrous spill, but when. These toxic oil spills can force environmental and economic devastation onto our coastal communities that are felt for years. Every day they harm our health, pollute our air, and add fuel to the climate crisis we face. Offshore drilling and horrific spills should be a relic of history. Our elected leaders must move forward without delay to advance clean renewable energy and end the destructive cycle of drilling and spilling.”
Background
A 2021 analysis by Oceana found that protecting all unleased federal waters from offshore drilling in the United States could prevent over 19 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That is the equivalent of taking every car in the nation off the road for 15 years. Ending new leasing could also prevent more than $720 billion in damage to people, property, and the environment. The oil industry currently holds more than 2,000 leases, according to a 2023 Oceana report, with 75% of the acres of ocean that have been leased currently unused.
For more information about Oceana’s campaign to prevent the expansion of offshore drilling in the United States, please click here.