U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on May 2 introduced a bipartisan bill that would prohibit offshore oil and gas drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of New England.
If enacted, S. 1296 would ban oil and gas exploration and leasing in the Atlantic off New England’s coastline, protecting an ocean economy that generates $17 billion annually throughout New England, Sen. Collins said on Monday.
Sen. Collins is an original cosponsor of S. 1296, which U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sponsored on May 2. Among the eight other members joining Sen. Collins as an original cosponsor is her home-state colleague U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME).
“The waters off Maine’s coast provide a healthy ecosystem for our state’s fisheries and support a vigorous tourism industry, both of which sustain thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in revenue for Maine each year,” said Sens. Collins and King in a joint statement released this week.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management continues to review applications for permits to conduct seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean, which the lawmakers said is a precursor to oil and gas drilling.
Sen. Collins noted that expanded drilling in the Atlantic Ocean would harm New England’s fishing, tourism and recreation industries, which the National Ocean Economics Program said generates more than $17 billion annually, and would significantly increase possible environmental disasters around the region.
“With our environment so closely tied to the vitality of Maine’s economy, we cannot risk the health of our ocean on a shortsighted proposal that could impact our state for generations,” Sens. Collins and King said.
S. 296 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for consideration.