nwf oil spill legislative response
TRANSCRIPT
LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO THELEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO THELEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO THELEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO THE
BP Oil Spill www.nwf.org/oilspill
If you would like more information about NWF and the issues we work on, please contact Corry Westbrook, Legislative Director at 202-797-6840 or visit us on the web at www.nwf.org.
The BP oil spill is by far the worst environmental disaster in American history. The most immediate challenge is to
stop the leak, clean up and contain oil, and assist the people of our Gulf Coast. But the national response to this
disaster must go well beyond booms, skimmers and clean-up crews. We need a cleaner and greener energy policy,
an overhaul of oil and gas leasing practices both on-shore and off, and long-term investments in the restoration
and protection of Gulf Coast habitats and the Mississippi Delta. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is committed to
advancing comprehensive reforms, and we have mobilized staff in the region and across the country to ensure
that this tragedy is not repeated. We must use the lessons learned here – the price is too great, and the opportu-
nities too huge, to do otherwise.
Pass Comprehensive Clean Energy Legislation NowPass Comprehensive Clean Energy Legislation NowPass Comprehensive Clean Energy Legislation NowPass Comprehensive Clean Energy Legislation Now
NWF is working hard to confront and solve the nation’s oil dependency. Our top priority is the completion of com-Our top priority is the completion of com-Our top priority is the completion of com-Our top priority is the completion of com-
prehensive energy and climate legislationprehensive energy and climate legislationprehensive energy and climate legislationprehensive energy and climate legislation that has the one essential ingredient for transforming our energy policies
— holding oil companies and other corporations across the economy accountable for their water and air pollution.
♦ Global warming pollution must be reduced by at least 20 percent Global warming pollution must be reduced by at least 20 percent Global warming pollution must be reduced by at least 20 percent Global warming pollution must be reduced by at least 20 percent
by 2020by 2020by 2020by 2020 andandandand over 80 percent by midover 80 percent by midover 80 percent by midover 80 percent by mid----centurycenturycenturycentury in order to protect wild-
life and future generations from the most destructive impacts of cli-
mate change. Enacting legislation that places a mandatory cap on
global warming pollution from fossil fuels and invests in transforming
America to a clean energy economy is critical.... The legislation would
provide the financial resources to invest in clean energy solutions
that reduce our oil dependence and safeguard America’s natural re-
sources from new pollution from the oil industry.
♦ Congress should set an ambitious oil savings target that requires
the president to use all the tools at his disposal to reduce our oil consumption by at least 3 million barrels reduce our oil consumption by at least 3 million barrels reduce our oil consumption by at least 3 million barrels reduce our oil consumption by at least 3 million barrels
per day by 2020 and 8 million barrels per day by 2030per day by 2020 and 8 million barrels per day by 2030per day by 2020 and 8 million barrels per day by 2030per day by 2020 and 8 million barrels per day by 2030. These reductions can be achieved by a number of
measures including:
- requiring our automobiles and trucks to become increasingly cleaner and more efficient;
- aggressively deploying American-made electric vehicles;
- improving transportation planning requirements;
- investing in second-generation advanced biofuels; and
- improving the energy efficiency of buildings and homes that depend on oil for heating.
♦ American taxpayers should also stop rewarding oil companies for their continued pollution of our water and
air. Between 2011 and 2020, tax breaks in existing laws will amount to over $36 billion for oil companies.
To that end, NWF advocates for a rapid phase out of fossil fuel subsidiesNWF advocates for a rapid phase out of fossil fuel subsidiesNWF advocates for a rapid phase out of fossil fuel subsidiesNWF advocates for a rapid phase out of fossil fuel subsidies.
A young sea turtle, turned red by oxidizing oil, struggles in the slick just off Venice, LA
Restore the Mississippi DeltaRestore the Mississippi DeltaRestore the Mississippi DeltaRestore the Mississippi Delta
Much of the oil soiling the marshes and wetlands along Louisiana’s coast
can’t be cleaned up and is certain to contaminate the region for decades to
come. The region harbors some of the richest habitat and fisheries in the
world, but for decades, Louisiana has been literally washing into the ocean –
its coastal wetlands are disappearing at the rate of a football field every 38 coastal wetlands are disappearing at the rate of a football field every 38 coastal wetlands are disappearing at the rate of a football field every 38 coastal wetlands are disappearing at the rate of a football field every 38
minutesminutesminutesminutes. What can and should be done is to divert massive amounts of fresh-
water and sediment from the Mississippi River to help rebuild and restore
these wetlands. Launching such a huge environmental restoration effort can,
over the long-term, not only help bring health and vitality back to the Delta’s
environment and fisheries, but lead to desperately needed hurricane protec-
tion for people and communities still recovering from Katrina. A new national A new national A new national A new national
commitment to restore the Mississippi Delta will require as much as $5 billion commitment to restore the Mississippi Delta will require as much as $5 billion commitment to restore the Mississippi Delta will require as much as $5 billion commitment to restore the Mississippi Delta will require as much as $5 billion
of the next five years from federal, state and private sources including BP. of the next five years from federal, state and private sources including BP. of the next five years from federal, state and private sources including BP. of the next five years from federal, state and private sources including BP.
Most immediately, Congress should appropriate $155 million for coastal res-Most immediately, Congress should appropriate $155 million for coastal res-Most immediately, Congress should appropriate $155 million for coastal res-Most immediately, Congress should appropriate $155 million for coastal res-
toration in FY11toration in FY11toration in FY11toration in FY11 and create an entirely new management structure for restora-
tion projects, ensuring a strong partnership between the multiple federal
agencies and the state and adequate authority to advance freshwater diver-
sions and other projects quickly.
Expand Renewable Energy DevelopmentExpand Renewable Energy DevelopmentExpand Renewable Energy DevelopmentExpand Renewable Energy Development The U.S. Congress must promote rapid expansion of renewable energy genera-
tion and the technologies to best link these unlimited power sources to meet
the everyday needs of American citizens. In doing so, it is critically important
to learn from past mistakes and ensure robust protections for wildlife and
habitat, which will provide more certainty towards public acceptance, and ulti-
mately drive more power generation. To achieve these goals, Congress must
act to:
♦ Secure longSecure longSecure longSecure long----term tax benefit and treasury loan and grant op-term tax benefit and treasury loan and grant op-term tax benefit and treasury loan and grant op-term tax benefit and treasury loan and grant op-
tionstionstionstions for wind, solar, and geothermal energy development, for utility
scale development, distributed generation, offshore wind, and pro-
jects on already-disturbed lands.
♦ Provide strong and consistent research, development, and Provide strong and consistent research, development, and Provide strong and consistent research, development, and Provide strong and consistent research, development, and
demonstration funding demonstration funding demonstration funding demonstration funding for new and unproven technologies in order
to fine-tune the technologies that will increase the competitiveness
of certain forms of renewable energy generation and transmission.
♦ Supplement comprehensive legislation that finally prices car-
bon with a robust Federal Renewable Electricity Standardrobust Federal Renewable Electricity Standardrobust Federal Renewable Electricity Standardrobust Federal Renewable Electricity Standard.
♦ Provide guidance and resources necessary for Mineral Manage-guidance and resources necessary for Mineral Manage-guidance and resources necessary for Mineral Manage-guidance and resources necessary for Mineral Manage-
ment Servicesment Servicesment Servicesment Services within the Department of Interior to address the
great opportunities of offshore wind energy.
2 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SPECIAL EDITION | WWW.NWF.ORG/OILSPILL
Windmill Farm in Benton County, IN
3
Invest in the longInvest in the longInvest in the longInvest in the long----term recovery of the Gulf of term recovery of the Gulf of term recovery of the Gulf of term recovery of the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding habitat Mexico and surrounding habitat Mexico and surrounding habitat Mexico and surrounding habitat The full scale and scope of damage to the Gulf region won’t be known for The full scale and scope of damage to the Gulf region won’t be known for The full scale and scope of damage to the Gulf region won’t be known for The full scale and scope of damage to the Gulf region won’t be known for
some time but several fundamental measures should be taken:some time but several fundamental measures should be taken:some time but several fundamental measures should be taken:some time but several fundamental measures should be taken:
♦ Conduct baseline studies and assessment of the
long-term damage to the Gulf region. We must have
a clear picture of the effects of the oil spill on water
quality, habitat, and recreation activities such as
fishing and hunting. Therefore, we strongly urge the we strongly urge the we strongly urge the we strongly urge the
federal government to document these impacts federal government to document these impacts federal government to document these impacts federal government to document these impacts
through a study by the National Academy of through a study by the National Academy of through a study by the National Academy of through a study by the National Academy of
SciencesSciencesSciencesSciences. To the extent possible, the NAS should
also conduct baseline measurements of wildlife
populations.
♦ Ensure adequate funding for natural resource and
environmental agencies. The EPA, US Fish and
Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, NOAA,
NMFS and state wildlife agencies need adequate
funding to help monitor, protect and where possible
restore habitat damaged by the spill. While BP
should ultimately be accountable for these costs the federal government
must ensure immediate and adequate investments where necessary.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SPECIAL EDITION | WWW.NWF.ORG/OILSPILL
Aerial view of the oil leaked from Deepwater Horizon, May 6 2010.
Reuters/Daniel Beltra.
A brown pelican is seen on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast on Thursday, June 3,
2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel).
Strengthen the Oil Pollution ActStrengthen the Oil Pollution ActStrengthen the Oil Pollution ActStrengthen the Oil Pollution Act The BP oil spill disaster has made it clear that we do not have laws in place we do not have laws in place we do not have laws in place we do not have laws in place
to protect people and wildlife from the impacts of oil spillsto protect people and wildlife from the impacts of oil spillsto protect people and wildlife from the impacts of oil spillsto protect people and wildlife from the impacts of oil spills. We need the
means to make people harmed by spills whole, to fully restore damaged
ecosystems, to hold oil corporations responsible for their actions, and to
give citizens the opportunity to protect themselves. The amount oil corpora-The amount oil corpora-The amount oil corpora-The amount oil corpora-
tions pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund should be increased and limits tions pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund should be increased and limits tions pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund should be increased and limits tions pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund should be increased and limits
on claims removed.on claims removed.on claims removed.on claims removed. NWF also strongly favors raising the Oil Pollution Act’s
cap on liability for economic and resource damage from the relatively paltry
$75 million at which it stands today, and to legislatively overturn the Su-
preme Court’s 2008 Exxon Valdez decision that limits the punitive damages
citizens can impose on negligent corporations. We also support creating
citizen oversight groups around the country to ensure that local communi-
ties and the public have an opportunity to effectively assess the risks oil and
gas development poses for them, and to play a meaningful role in decisions
about permitting, safety regulations, and compliance monitoring.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SPECIAL EDITION | WWW.NWF.ORG/OILSPILL 4
Reform Oil and Gas Practices Reform Oil and Gas Practices Reform Oil and Gas Practices Reform Oil and Gas Practices Offshore
NWF opposes any new oil leasing or exploratory drilling on the Federal Outer NWF opposes any new oil leasing or exploratory drilling on the Federal Outer NWF opposes any new oil leasing or exploratory drilling on the Federal Outer NWF opposes any new oil leasing or exploratory drilling on the Federal Outer
Continental Shelf until the investigations into the BP spill are concluded and Continental Shelf until the investigations into the BP spill are concluded and Continental Shelf until the investigations into the BP spill are concluded and Continental Shelf until the investigations into the BP spill are concluded and
aggressive new environmental safeguards are put into placeaggressive new environmental safeguards are put into placeaggressive new environmental safeguards are put into placeaggressive new environmental safeguards are put into place. Such measures
should include reforms of the Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Act to ensure
more stringent environmental reviews for lease sales and exploratory drilling
permits; aggressive inspection and enforcement regimes; and substantial im-
provements in both the government and the industry’s spill response capabili-
ties. Research and development must be authorized to improve cleanup tech-
nologies including additional studies to comprehensively look at the impact of
chemical dispersants on marine life and the environment, on whether they
complicate oil collection and recovery operations, and on whether less toxic
alternatives should be required if and when they are used. The Obama Admini-
stration should overhaul its leasing plans in light of the spill delaying any leas-
ing off the Atlantic Coast and denying permits for drilling in the Arctic Ocean.
The states bordering the Gulf of Mexico should receive a greater share of
lease sale bonus bids and royalties given the impact of the spill and ongoing
drilling activities on their coastal and marine environments. The 2006 Gulf of
Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) already provides Gulf states a percent-
age of revenue from offshore drilling, but significant revenue is not estimated
to flow to states like Louisiana until 2017. To make the needed investments
to build resilient ecosystems, NWF favors creating a tightly controlled grant NWF favors creating a tightly controlled grant NWF favors creating a tightly controlled grant NWF favors creating a tightly controlled grant
program that would fund environmental restoration and protection and mitiga-program that would fund environmental restoration and protection and mitiga-program that would fund environmental restoration and protection and mitiga-program that would fund environmental restoration and protection and mitiga-
tion of direct oil and gas development impactstion of direct oil and gas development impactstion of direct oil and gas development impactstion of direct oil and gas development impacts.
American taxpayers
should stop rewarding
oil companies for their
continued pollution of
our water and air.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SPECIAL EDITION | 5
Strengthen Environmental and Strengthen Environmental and Strengthen Environmental and Strengthen Environmental and
Watershed EducationWatershed EducationWatershed EducationWatershed Education
An educated citizenry will make better, more informed decisions about their
energy sources. Many Americans do not understand where their energy comes
from or the social, economic, or environmental impacts of the decisions they
make about energy and the environment in their daily lives. To strengthen
environmental literacy in America we must invest in environmental, climate
change and watershed education.
The U.S. Senate should introduce and pass the Ocean, Coastal and Water-pass the Ocean, Coastal and Water-pass the Ocean, Coastal and Water-pass the Ocean, Coastal and Water-
shed Education Actshed Education Actshed Education Actshed Education Act (H.R. 3644) and provide $50 million annuallyprovide $50 million annuallyprovide $50 million annuallyprovide $50 million annually to the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to grow the existing
and widely successful national Environmental Literacy Grants program and
regional Bay-Watershed Education and Training program. Both NOAA pro-
grams will provide students with firsthand experiences of local watersheds
and a clear, practical understanding of ocean and watershed ecosystems
while increasing student achievement in the classroom. By actively engaging
students in their local watershed environments we can begin to find new and
innovative ways to protect our environment and foster an understanding of
the costs and benefits of our nation’s energy sources.
On Land
It would be a mistake to view the regulatory and safety problems and abuses
associated with oil and gas development as an issue solely related to offshore
drilling. In fact, the unprecedented energy boom of the past decade has de-
stroyed huge tracts of our cherished public lands in special places with irre-
placeable wildlife habitat where families have hunted, fished, and hiked for
generations. While the number of permits to develop oil and gas tripled be-
tween 2000 and 2008, rules that protect human and environmental health
have been taken off the books. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, influenced by
a cozy relationship between the oil and gas industry and government officials,
created loopholes that exempt oil and gas development from regulation under
the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act, as well as allowing drilling
chemicals to be kept a secret from the public. Industry and political pressure
on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to issue thousands of drilling per-
mits has rendered it nearly impossible to carefully review the impacts to fish,
wildlife, and natural resources.
Common sense, scienceCommon sense, scienceCommon sense, scienceCommon sense, science----based reforms will help ensure the future of our pub-based reforms will help ensure the future of our pub-based reforms will help ensure the future of our pub-based reforms will help ensure the future of our pub-
lic lands and responsibly provide for our energy needs. lic lands and responsibly provide for our energy needs. lic lands and responsibly provide for our energy needs. lic lands and responsibly provide for our energy needs. Mandatory operating
procedures that reduce the footprint of drilling on public lands should be de-
veloped. Comprehensive monitoring, mitigation and reclamation of fish, wild-
life and water resources should be made a fixture in drilling and pipeline siting
decisions. Reclamation bonds sufficient to cover the actual cost of restoring
disturbed lands must be required, and pipeline safety and permitting prac-
tices should be improved.
Wayne National Forest
Solar Panel Construction Photo credit: Alex Snyder
This is not just about
making oil platforms
safer -- this is about
moving to a new
energy platform.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FENATIONAL WILDLIFE FENATIONAL WILDLIFE FENATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATIONDERATIONDERATIONDERATION OIL SPILL LEGISLATIVOIL SPILL LEGISLATIVOIL SPILL LEGISLATIVOIL SPILL LEGISLATIVE TEAME TEAME TEAME TEAM
NATIONAL ADVOCACY CENATIONAL ADVOCACY CENATIONAL ADVOCACY CENATIONAL ADVOCACY CENTERNTERNTERNTER
Larry Schweiger
President and Chief Executive Office
Jeremy Symons
Senior Vice President
Conservation and Education
Jim Lyon
Vice President
Conservation Programs
Adam Kolton
Senior Director
Congressional and Federal Affairs
Corry Westbrook
Legislative Director
GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTGLOBAL WARMING SOLUTGLOBAL WARMING SOLUTGLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS PROGRAMIONS PROGRAMIONS PROGRAMIONS PROGRAM
Joseph Mendelson
Director
Global Warming Policy
GLOBAL WARMING SAFEGGLOBAL WARMING SAFEGGLOBAL WARMING SAFEGGLOBAL WARMING SAFEGUARDS UARDS UARDS UARDS
John Kostyack
Executive Director
Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming
Naomi Edelson
Senior Manager
State Wildlife Programs
Justin Allegro
Legislative Representative
Wildlife Conservation
NATIONAL RESTORATION AND WATER RESOURCES NATIONAL RESTORATION AND WATER RESOURCES NATIONAL RESTORATION AND WATER RESOURCES NATIONAL RESTORATION AND WATER RESOURCES
CAMPAIGNSCAMPAIGNSCAMPAIGNSCAMPAIGNS
Malia Hale
Director
National Restoration and Water Resources Campaigns
Karla Raettig
National Campaign Manager
Coastal Louisiana Restoration
PUBLIC LANDS PROTECTPUBLIC LANDS PROTECTPUBLIC LANDS PROTECTPUBLIC LANDS PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ION AND RESTORATION ION AND RESTORATION ION AND RESTORATION
Todd Keller
Senior Manager
Public Lands Campaigns
EDUCATIONEDUCATIONEDUCATIONEDUCATION
Patrick Fitzgerald
Director
Education Advocacy
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION ~ NATIONAL ADVOCACY CENTER ~ 901 E STREET NW, SUITE 400 ~ WASHINGTON DC 20004
“When oil flows into our Gulf waters as fast as
our gasoline money flows to the Persian Gulf, it’s
past time for a new energy plan for America.
Every day the Senate fails to pass comprehensive
clean energy and climate legislation, we put our
economy, our national security and our
environment at greater risk.”
--Larry Schweiger, President & CEO
A National Wildlife Federation team, including NWF President & CEO Larry Schweiger, on the docks in Venice, LA. The team made two trips to see nearby
wetlands, including one that had been touched by the Gulf Coast oil spill.