A controversial bill to allow more offshore drilling for oil and natural
gas - and pay the states that do - passed the U.S. House on Thursday
with voting split largely along party lines. The vote was 232-187.
The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, which is expected to take it up in
July.
"This is a good first step in becoming energy independent from foreign
sources. It's a states' rights issue - it allows states to control their
offshore," said Rep. Henry Brown, R-Hanahan, who pushed the bill and supports
drilling for natural gas off the South Carolina coast.
"You just saw the House of Representatives shred the offshore drilling
moratorium," said Jim Presswood, of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an
environmental advocate that opposes the bill.
The Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act would give individual states the option
of overriding the 1981 congressional offshore drilling moratorium, which bans
opening new areas of the ocean to drilling. The moratorium was renewed in a
bipartisan Congressional vote a few weeks ago.
The states would have one year to decide whether to permit leases for natural
gas drilling from 50 to 100 miles out to sea, and three years to decide whether
to allow oil drilling. The bill also would give states a share of the revenue
from drilling. It would keep the moratorium in place within 50 miles of the
coast.
Offshore drilling now takes place in the Pacific and off western Gulf of
Mexico states. Oil advocates and environmentalists have long warred over
expanding that range. That battle heated up earlier this year with pressure by
the oil industry as hurricane-battered Gulf Coast state representatives sought a
bigger share in federal revenue from the drilling.
Industry representatives say the need for more oil and gas is vital, and new
technology makes it safe. Environmentalists say the pollution risk is too high
for an economy built on tourism and fishing, and that cutting back oil and gas
consumption would free up as much fuel as drilling would provide.
Methane deposits off South Carolina suggest natural gas can be found there.
Generally, at least some deposit of oil is found wherever natural gas is
found.
Brown added a provision to the bill that 30 percent of the state revenue be
distributed among coastal communities within 25 miles of the coast where the
drilling occurs, he said.
"That's a tremendous amount of revenue for the coast of South Carolina," he
said. The coast could also expect an economic boom from manufacturers moving to
the coast because of the natural gas.
Elliott Negin, of the natural resources council, called it a threat to a
tourism economy that generated $9.6 billion for South Carolina in 2003.
"The vast majority of offshore gas and oil reserves already are available for
development. More than 80 percent of oil and 75 percent of natural gas reserves
are located in areas currently open to the oil and gas industry," he said in a
news release. "There are faster, cheaper and cleaner ways that already have been
proven to ease the energy price burden on business and consumers."
The bill has the support of South Carolina's two senators, Lindsey Graham and
Jim DeMint, and state legislative leaders said the General Assembly would
consider whether to allow drilling. Gov. Mark Sanford opposes it.
"Any way you cut it, the risk is unacceptable," said Randy Maatta, the
Democratic opponent for Brown's 1st Congressional District seat in November, in
a news release.
"Offshore drilling in South Carolina increases the risks of oil spills that
would devastate the state's coastline. The state's ports, fishing and tourism
industries, which pump billions into the state's economy each year, could be
potentially jeopardized by one accident, or even a terrorist attack. Onshore oil
refineries and processing facilities would result in a nightmare for coastal
communities."
Jeff Eschelman, of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, which
had pushed for the bill, said "it's going to be a tighter race in the Senate to
get this bill passed" in an election year. In the Senate, the bill would need 60
votes to overcome a filibuster.
"We salute the House for taking a necessary step forward towards greater
energy security. The environmentally safe development of urgently needed oil and
natural gas supplies through access to the deep sea is a vital component of an
effective national energy strategy," said Barry Russell, association president,
in a news release.
"We now need the Senate to follow the House's lead and support energy
production in deep seas. Let American energy companies do their jobs and produce
American energy to improve the lives of American consumers, strengthen our
economy and reduce our dependence on foreign energy."
How they voted
The South Carolina delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives on the
vote to allow increased offshore drilling for oil and natural gas:
Republicans voting yes
Gresham Barrett, Henry Brown, Bob
Inglis and Joe Wilson
Democrats voting no
Jim Clyburn and John Spratt
Reach Bo Petersenat 745-5852 or bpetersen@postandcourier.com.
