Rep. Young Comments On Today’s Offshore Drilling Decision
Washington D.C.,
December 1, 2010
Alaskan Congressman Don Young released the following statement today following the announcement of the Administration’s five-year offshore drilling plan:
“First off, the President’s moratorium on offshore leasing off the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico is just dead wrong,” said Rep. Young. “The decision to not safely develop the natural resources in these areas is going to have dire effects on our economy and is the absolute wrong decision for this country. Responsible exploration and development of our resources is the key to the economic future of this country, and a step in the direction of energy independence.
“That being said, with respect to Alaska, I am very pleased and encouraged that the Administration reaffirmed their earlier decision regarding offshore exploration and development in Alaska. These areas are rich in God-given natural resources and it is the right thing to do for our state and for the country. But just putting the Beaufort and Chukchi back on the table is meaningless if we can’t get the proper permitting approved in a timely manner. We need to not just say we are going to develop, but actually do it. Now the Administration must clear the way for Shell to obtain its final permits for exploration and move forward with responsible resource development off Alaska’s shores.”
