Off-Shore Drilling Comment Period through March 9

You may have seen headlines recently about the Trump administration’s plan to open up the Outer Contintental Shelf (OSC) to drilling for gas and oil. This program, planned to run from 2019–2024, would open up over 90% of the OSC to exploration and exploitation. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has scheduled a series of Open House style public meetings to allow for public comment on the 2019-2024 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
FROM THE FEDERAL REGISTER:
“The DPP for the 2019-2024 Program would make more than 98 percent of the OCS resources available to consider for oil and gas leasing during the 2019-2024 period. Including at this stage nearly the entire OCS for potential oil and gas discovery is consistent with advancing the goal of moving the United States from simply aspiring to energy independence to attaining energy dominance. This DPP would allow for unprecedented increases in access to America’s extensive offshore oil and gas resources, a critical component of the Nation’s energy portfolio, and emphasizes the importance of producing American energy in America.”
» Read the full notice, including additional comment information
 
FURTHER INFO ON PROPOSAL:


SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS – Deadline March 9, 2018
ButCommentHere

» View the docket to see some of the nearly half million comments already received

Don’t forget to state support for the letter recently sent by 23 Senators requesting an extension and formal hearings in more locations! If you don’t see both of your Senators’ signatures on this letter, contact them and ask them to support this request as well.

» View the Letter

» 23 Senators urge Zinke to hold new hearings taking ‘formal oral testimony’ on offshore drilling

by Steve Ahlquist, Uprise RI
March 8, 2018

BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) Schedules Open House Meetings on 2019-2024 Off-Shore Drilling Plan

**Postponed meetings re-scheduled Check the link below for info on them all.

National OCS Program Public Meetings
FROM BOEM:
For those unable to attend one of the scheduled meetings, BOEM is offering a Virtual Meeting Room https://www.boem.gov/National-Program-Virtual-Room/ where participants can visit the same stations available at the open house meetings. There they are able to review and download the same handouts and posters offered at the meetings and provide comments.
SurfRider Foundation gears up for action on the Public Meetings
FROM SURF-RIDER FOUNDATION:
The public meetings are in an open-house format so participants can arrive any time during the scheduled meeting time to express concerns about the National OCS Program. While it’s nice that people can come and go, BOEM is not providing a REAL opportunity here for the public to speak openly and on the record to voice concerns about this proposal. Additionally, ONE public meeting for the entire state, is inadequate.
Web
COME PROTEST!

Give a shout if YOU and/or your organization or business would like to help in the coordinated campaign effort: mgates@surfrider.org.

» See SurfRider’s Facebook Events pages for opposition rally info for each!

MEETINGS RESCHEDULED!

February 13 — Hartford, CT
Hartford Marriott Downtown
200 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT
Meeting Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

February 15 — Albany, NY
Hilton Albany
40 Lodge Street
Albany, NY
Meeting Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

February 22 — Washington, DC
Hilton Garden Inn
1225 First Street NE
Washington, DC
Meeting Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

February 27 — Boston, MA* (location change)
Sheraton Boston Hotel
39 Dalton Street
Boston, MA
Meeting Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

February 28 — Providence, RI
Marriott Providence Downtown
1 Orms Street
Providence, RI
Meeting Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

March 5 — Concord, NH
Holiday Inn Concord Downtown
172 North Main Street
Concord, NH
Meeting Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

March 7 — Augusta, ME
Augusta Civic Center
76 Community Drive
Augusta, ME
Meeting Time: 3 – 7 p.m. EST

 

 (Short link for this page: http://bit.ly/NFG-OffshoreComments)