Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID P. RIBLE
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman JOHN F. AMODEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen O'Scanlon, Polistina, Assemblywoman Gove, Assemblymen Rumpf, Wolfe, Holzapfel, Assemblywomen Casagrande and Angelini
SYNOPSIS
Expresses disappointment in President Obama’s response to Gulf oil spill.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing disappointment with the President of the United States concerning his actions relative to the oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico.
Whereas, On April 20, 2010, an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon, a drilling rig leased by the oil company British Petroleum (BP), set off a blaze that killed 11 crew members and, two days later, sank the rig about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, which resulted in crude oil gushing out of a broken pipe nearly a mile below sea level at an estimated rate of 200,000 gallons per day; and
Whereas, Despite numerous attempts by BP to stop the oil leak, none have been completely successful up to this point and the oil spill is in danger of spreading around Florida and up the eastern seaboard if not abated soon; and
Whereas, The response effort to staunch the oil flow has been driven by BP, under the oversight of the Coast Guard and in consultation with the federal Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
Whereas, The federal MMS reportedly gave permission to BP and dozens of other oil companies to drill in the Gulf of Mexico without first getting required permits that assess threats to endangered species and impacts that drilling may have on the environment; and
Whereas, If the oil spill drifts up the Atlantic coast, many of New Jersey’s natural resources, and industries along its 127-mile coastline could be seriously jeopardized, if not destroyed or devastated, by contamination; and
Whereas, If the oil spill reaches the New Jersey coastline this summer, during the height of summer tourism, billions of dollars generated from the State’s beaches, fishing, and shellfishing industries, which are priceless contributors to the quality of life and enjoyment of shore communities for residents and visitors alike, will be jeopardized, especially in light of the federal government’s uncertainty thus far concerning its future role in economically assisting communities affected by the oil spill; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House expresses its displeasure and disappointment in the President of the United States and the federal government for its management of the events that led to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and in the federal government’s unsuccessful response to the environmental catastrophe that is now unfolding and shows no sign of abating any time soon. This House also urges the President take all actions needed to protect the New Jersey coastline from the oil spill before it reaches our shores.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy, the Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of the United States Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution expresses disappointment with President Obama and the federal government concerning the events leading up to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and to the efforts to abate it thus far.