Gov. Gregoire�s statement on legislation to ban oil drilling of Pacific coast

For Immediate Release: May 13, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire released the following statement on federal legislation announced today by U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that would permanently ban offshore drilling off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California:

�As the devastating oil spill in the Gulf region continues to cause irreparable damage and hardship for the citizens and wildlife living in that area, I continue to push the federal government to permanently ban offshore drilling off the West Coast. I applaud Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for their leadership in introducing this legislation, as well as their colleagues from Oregon and California.

�From personal experience, I know there are no guarantees to prevent a devastating oil spill. I was director of the Department of Ecology when the fuel barge Nestucca spilled 231,000 gallons of heavy fuel near Grays Harbor. I saw injured wildlife and fouled beaches as far north as Vancouver Island and south through the state of Oregon. Just three months later, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Alaska�s Prince William Sound, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. We will never forget the enormous environmental and economic consequences of that spill. That�s why I have been steadfast that drilling off our shores should not be permitted. I know it�s not worth the risk.

�Our economy relies on a healthy, thriving Pacific Ocean. In Washington state alone, our coastal waters support 162,000 jobs and circulate $9.5 billion through our economy. Given that Puget Sound acts more like a bathtub, unable to flush out contaminated water, a similar disaster here would result in considerable and lasting damage, as well as a huge price tag to clean it up.

�We know that drilling off the West Coast is not the answer to lessening our dependence on foreign oil. We need to use the lessons learned from the current and past incidents to encourage the expansion of clean energy options. Washington state is leading the world in clean energy solutions � and is demonstrating new technologies that provide the power we need to run our homes, vehicles and businesses while ensuring the protection of our natural resources. That�s what we need to be focusing on now. This legislation helps move that agenda forward.�