WASHINGTON, D.C. — All of the Atlantic and Pacific coastal affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation urged the Department of the Interior in a letter today to scrap its forthcoming plan to radically expand unfettered offshore oil and gas drilling along the coasts. The letter, addressed to Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, mirrors the bipartisan and unanimous position of coastal governors from Maine to Florida and Washington to California opposed to expanding oil and gas development on the outer continental shelf.
 
“The risks are too great to open up more of our coasts to drilling,” the state and territorial conservation organizations said. “A spill anywhere along the Atlantic, Pacific or Arctic shorelines would be catastrophic for wildlife and our communities. … Our oceans and marine wildlife support billions of dollars of economic activity and sustain tourism, outdoor recreation and fishing in our coastal states. We urge the Administration to throw out its plans and go back to the drawing board, and listen to the governors and residents of coastal states.”

“The Atlantic and Pacific coastal affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation stand united with America’s coastal governors: There’s too much at stake for our economies, wildlife, and public health to push forward with unfettered offshore drilling,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We urge the Department of Interior to respect the requests of the coastal governors and demonstrate its commitment to restoring balance between conservation and energy development by pulling the plans back and strengthening safety requirements for drilling activities.”
 
The  letter’s signatories are:

• The Association of Northwest Steelheaders (Oregon)
• Connecticut Forest and Park Association
• Conservation Council for Hawaii
• Conservation Northwest (Washington)
• Delaware Nature Society
• Environment Council of Rhode Island
• Environmental Advocates of New York
• Environmental League of Massachusetts
• Florida Wildlife Federation
• Georgia Wildlife Federation
• National Aquarium (Maryland)
• Natural Resources Council of Maine
• Nebraska Wildlife Federation
• New Hampshire Audubon Society
• New Jersey Audubon Society
• New Mexico Wildlife Federation
• North Carolina Wildlife Federation
• Planning and Conservation League (California)
• Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña
• South Carolina Wildlife Federation
• Texas Conservation Alliance
• Vermont Natural Resources Council
• Virgin Islands Conservation Society
• Virginia Conservation Network

The National Wildlife Federation is America's largest and most trusted conservation organization. Its 51 affiliates lead critical wildlife conservation efforts in their states and territories and pass policy resolutions each year that guide the National Wildlife Federation’s work.