Statement: Azul Applauds Reps. Grijalva, Pallone Letter to Biden to Permanently Protect Coastal Waters from Offshore Drilling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: November 15, 2024
CONTACT: media@azul.org
Azul Applauds Reps. Grijalva, Pallone Letter to Biden to Permanently Protect Coastal Waters from Offshore Drilling
This summer, Azul released results from the 2024 National Azul Poll, which found that regardless of region, a large majority of Latino voters support actions to ban offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, even if it means paying more per month for gasoline and household gas.
Washington D.C. (November 15, 2024) – Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to use his authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to permanently withdraw unleased and at-risk areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from fossil fuel development.
In response to this letter, Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s Founder and Executive Director, released the following statement:
“We are thankful to Reps. Grijalva and Pallone for their call for President Biden to use his authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to permanently protect unleased areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from fossil fuel development. Offshore drilling poses significant risks to ecosystems, coastal communities, and public health, while expanding fossil fuel extraction undermines climate goals. Nearly two-thirds of voters in the U.S. oppose new offshore drilling, and more than 390 municipalities have formally opposed it. While President Trump’s administration prioritized fossil fuel expansion, the urgent need to mitigate climate change transcends political leadership. Using OCSLA authority, President Biden could take a bold step in protecting our ocean and solidifying his climate legacy.”
Citing the economic and ecological importance of protecting these waters, the lawmakers stressed the urgency of enacting permanent protections. The letter highlights the ongoing and significant risks posed by offshore drilling, including catastrophic oil spills, abandoned wells, and hazardous drilling infrastructure that imperil coastal waters, local economies, and public health.
This summer, Azul released results from the 2024 National Azul Poll, which found that regardless of region, a large majority of Latino voters support actions to ban offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, even if it means paying more per month for gasoline and household gas. The results show that:
• 78% of Latino voters agree that governments should protect the ocean, even if it means not allowing the extraction of fish, oil, gas, or other natural resources in conserved areas
• 72% of Latino voters would support actions to ban offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, and instead utilize renewable fuels like solar and wind
• 61% of Latino voters would support actions to ban offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, even if it means paying more per month for gasoline and household gas
• 54% of Latino voters agree offshore drilling for oil and natural gas poses a health and safety threat to their community’s health and well-being
Related Materials
• 2024 National Azul Poll: Latinos and the Ocean
• 2024 National Azul Poll: Latino voters want bold action on plastics – Azul Fact Sheet
###
Azul is an ocean justice organization working with Latinos to protect the ocean and coasts. Founded in 2011 to increase Latino participation in ocean conservation, Azul has long advocated for ocean justice and equity at the international and national levels, as well as in the state of California, where the organization is based.