Plan Would Fine States Opposed to Drilling

COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE

Republicans in the House of Representatives are proposing significant penalties against states that block drilling for oil and natural gas off their coasts, the Washington Post reported.

The proposal, expected to be discussed Thursday during a hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee, would allow states to disapprove of offshore drilling in up to half the federal lease blocks off their coast without a penalty. But states that put off-limits more than half of the lease blocks would be penalized at a rate of one-tenth the amount of government revenue estimated to come from lease sales, royalties and other revenues from drilling.

Democrats say the proposed penalties could cost states opposed to drilling millions or billions of dollars.

More than 200 East Coast municipalities and at least 1,200 local, state and federal elected officials have opposed offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has called on the Trump administration to grant the state an exemption from proposed seismic testing and offshore drilling and pledged potential legal action to protect North Carolina’s coastal communities.