DANGERS TO JERSERY SHORE FROM OFFSHORE DRILLING UNDERSCORED BY RECENT GULF SHORE OIL SPILL

Gusicora to Redouble Efforts to Protect Jersey Coastline
After Witnessing First-Hand Environmental Damage In New Orleans

(TRENTON) – Assemblyman Reed Gusciora today said that he is redoubling his efforts to protect New Jersey’s coastline from the imminent dangers of offshore drilling after touring areas along the 98-mile stretch of the Mississippi River which experienced serious environmental damage following a collision of a fuel barge and tanker which caused more than 400,000 gallons of fuel to spill.

Gusciora witnessed the environmental disaster while in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the recent National Conference of State Legislature’s Annual Meeting.
“The damage this oil spill had on the coastal resources of Louisiana -- from air quality to wildlife to the Mississippi River itself – was devastating,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer). “This oil spill should be a wake-up call for the Bush administration to realize the serious impacts that offshore drilling poses to all coastal area. To permit offshore drilling along the Jersey Shore would be playing ‘Russian roulette’ with the state’s coastal resources which support tourism, New Jersey’s top industry.”

The oil in the New Orleans spill is widely used as marine fuel; it is heavier than diesel but lighter than crude and is more likely to stick to rocks, trees, and wildlife. The Louisiana State Department of Environmental Quality officials said the oil is so thick that it could sink and complicate the cleanup.

Gusciora said that the obvious dangers of offshore drilling should reaffirm Congress’ steadfast opposition to offshore drilling despite President George W. Bush’s continued pleas to lift a moratorium that would have direct impacts along New Jersey’s coastline.

“This president’s addiction to petroleum has led us into a crisis that has allowed gas prices to skyrocket,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer). “Giving Big Oil free reign to drill will not guarantee any drop in the price of gasoline or oil. We need a sustainable long-term energy policy that emphasizes green lifestyles, buildings, jobs and technologies.”

Gusciora said he teamed with Assemblyman John F. McKeon and Linda P. Stender to keep up the pressure on Congress to ensure there will be no offshore drilling along the entire Atlantic shelf -- which includes the New Jersey Coastline -- and Pacific Coast, or the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. The lawmakers are sponsoring legislation (AR-147) that would call on U.S. Congress to oppose any attempt to lift the ban on offshore drilling for oil and natural gas. It also would urge the President and Congress to support energy independence through renewable resources.

While the U.S. oil industry wants access to more federal lands to help reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, American-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries. According to Reuters, a record 1.6 million barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported during the first four months of this year, up 33 percent from 1.2 million barrels a day over the same period in 2007.

“The increase in US oil exports is in direct contradiction to the President’s and the oil industry’s calls for Congress to allow more offshore drilling,” said Gusciora. “It is unfathomable that we are jeopardizing coastlines and ecosystems while US oil supplies are being exported at record-rates.”
In 1981, Congress imposed a ban on drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton also enacted executive orders during their tenures to provide these fragile ecosystems additional protections from drilling.