Posted on 06/21/2005 7:07:14 PM PDT by Rebelbase
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole today co-sponsored an amendment to the energy bill to prevent drilling off the coast of North Carolina.
The amendment would strike a provision in the energy bill that allows for a study of oil and natural gas reserves that could lead to future exploration and drilling in this environmentally sensitive area. The Senate currently is considering the energy bill.
"Drilling off our coast not only would be harmful to the environment, but it also would be detrimental to our tourism industry, which is extremely important to North Carolina's coastal economy," said Senator Dole. "I will continue fighting to prevent exploration that could lead to drilling that would jeopardize the livelihood of our coastal communities."
Senator Dole has been a leader in preventing harmful offshore drilling. During consideration of the energy bill in 2003, Senator Dole was the lead Republican in the group of senators who successfully kept offshore drilling language out of the final bill. In February 2005, Senator Dole and a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Domenici opposing offshore drilling and underscoring the negative economic impact of offshore oil and gas exploration on North Carolina and other coastal states.
Since 1993, coastal areas have been protected by a moratorium preventing drilling. Last week, Senator Dole joined a bi-partisan letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Harry Reid vowing to work to defeat any provision that undermines the moratorium.
"Now, more than ever, we must work to end our dependence on foreign oil sources," said Senator Dole. "But not at the expense of our coastal environments and economies."
Tourism is one of North Carolina's largest industries, supporting nearly 183,000 jobs. Approximately 49 million visitors traveled to the state last year, ranking it the 8th most popular state destination.
In 2004 travelers spent $13.2 billion across the state, generating more than $2.1 billion in tax receipts. ($1.1 billion in federal taxes, $710.73 million in state tax revenue, and $437.43 million in local tax revenue.)
Oil rigs at 8-10 miles distance from the coast would be a boom to the NC sport fishing industry by providing structure in a barren sand seafloor. Increased structures bring in the fish, in turn that would bring in more tourist dollars.
The oil industry has a fantastic track record for safety and in all likelyhood the hydrocarbons found offshore in NC would be natural gas.
What crap, we have drilling platforms all across the coast of Texas and no problems, in fact the fishermen and fish love them. RINO Liberal Alert!
nc ping
Yea, I think this is unfortunate for our state. I think banning drilling etc.. is just an emotional symbolic type of thing that accomplishes nothing. Drilling would be a boom. Florida is teh same way, martinez banned it there in return for some shenagigan, forget what.
I fear Miss Liddy is both.
She's an idiot. We need all the drilling we can get.
There will not be much of a tourism industry at $10 gallon gas!
Could she explain exactly how off shore drilling rigs would adversely affect tourism?
"There will not be much of a tourism industry at $10 gallon gas!"
Especially when it takes forever to get to the Outer Banks to begin with.
Pandering pure and simple. We've had wells here in the Gulf off of our (La.) and Texas's coast for years. Very rare and minor incidents; greatly enhanced the fishery. Rig fishing is a blast; beats dragging Kona's along a rip to hook a fish (marlin or sailfish) you aren't going to eat. Now tuna, wahoo, or dolphin are another story. We like our rigs so much we sink them when they quit producing (Rigs to Reefs Program).
bob dope was actually a democrat. he liked to spend money.
Wouldn't the local economy benefit from oil workers spending money earned on those offshore rigs. Wouldn't the underwater portions of the rigs indeed provide a sort of artificial reef for underwater life?
Did I say she was an idiot already? I don't want to repeat myself.
There already is a nuclear reactor outside Raleigh. Sharon-Harris IIRC.
I would expect ANY Senator or Representative who opposes ANY coastal drilling to ride a bicycle or walk to their work place.
She has a personal relationship with the premier compromiser in the Senate of his time, Bob "lets make a deal" Dole. Of course she is only trying to straddle the middle of the road.
Let the Dole family subsidize American's fuel bills then.
We have oil/gas wells all over Oklahoma including in the fields where cattle graze near where I live. I believe in the US becoming more self sufficient when it comes to oil so I welcome more drilling in my State plus it is a boon to our economy. What is this crap from NC, FL, CA, etc.? LA, TX, and OK are the big oil/gas producers in the lower 48 -- maybe our states should be getting more of a return since other states fight drilling. Why should we care if they have to pay higher prices if they don't want drilling in their states?
This is irritating if you ask me!
How I wish Texas and Louisiana could cut off our off-shore oil supply to these other coastal states that won't shoulder their share of the battle in the war with the Middle East! Floridians, Californians, and North Carolinians should have to walk or ride bicycles to work, the better to admire their pristine scenery, of course.
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