May 5, 2010 - Farr Supports Moratorium on Offshore Drilling

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) on Wednesday joined Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek) in introducing the West Coast Ocean Protection Act, a bill that would instate a permanent moratorium on new offshore oil and natural gas drilling from platforms in federal waters off the West Coast.
"I thank Congressman Garamendi for introducing this important bill," Rep. Farr said. "Too many times we've seen the tragic results of offshore drilling, from the 1969 blow-out off the coast of Santa Barbara to the distressing images we're seeing this week from the Gulf. We must protect the fragile coastlands of the West coast, and this bill moves us in that direction."
The bill currently has 19 original cosponsors spanning a majority of the coastal regions of California, Oregon and Washington.
"The risk is too great to permit new platform oil and natural gas drilling on the West Coast," said Rep. Garamendi, a former Deputy U.S. Interior Secretary under President Clinton. "Our coastline was well served by a congressional moratorium that helped protect us for 27 years. It's time we reinstated the ban on new drilling in federal waters near California, Oregon, and Washington."