(TRENTON)–Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today defended New Jersey’s coast telling the federal government he will not allow oil drilling off the Jersey shore.  Codey sent a letter to the director of the United States Minerals Management Service expressing New Jersey’s staunch opposition to oil and gas drilling along the Atlantic Ocean’s Outer Continental Shelf.  Codey’s letter was drafted in response to a request for comment on the development of the federal Minerals Management Service’s Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing plan.

 

“Oil and gas development along New Jersey’s coast has the potential to cause significant and lasting damage upon the state’s coastal environment and economy,” said Codey. “The commercial and recreational fishing industries, in addition to tourism and related sectors, are critical elements of New Jersey’s economic health. Activities associated with oil and gas exploration have the potential to damage water quality, marine habitats, and other important natural resources.”

 

New Jersey’s vibrant coastal economy helps fuel the state’s tourism industry, which generates $32 billion in revenues, in addition to providing more than half a million jobs. New Jersey’s continued overall economic growth is contingent upon a healthy shoreline.  Shore tourism alone generates $20 billion in revenues and nearly 200,000 jobs.

 

A federal moratorium on oil and gas exploration applies to the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf areas, both of which are adjacent to New Jersey.  These areas are not candidates for lease sales until the next decade.  In the letter, Codey requests that they be excluded from a draft proposed leasing program by the federal government.

 

Pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act, New Jersey has an approved Coastal Management Program, administered by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.  The rules associated with this program address many offshore activities, including oil and gas exploration and development.

 

The letter dated October 7, 2005 is attached.

 

October 7, 2005

 

R.M. Burton, Director

United States Minerals Management Service

1849 C Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20240

 

Dear Director Burton:

 

I am writing to reiterate New Jersey's staunch opposition to oil and gas lease sales in areas along our coastline.  In response to your request for comment on the preparation of a five-year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leasing program, I submit to you the following on behalf of my state.

 

My opposition to oil and gas development along New Jersey's coast is motivated by the potential for significant and lasting damage that such development could have upon the state's coastal economy.  The commercial and recreational fishing industries, in addition to tourism and its related sectors, are critical elements of New Jersey's economic health.  Further, New Jersey's coastline is a national treasure of great ecological value and its integrity is essential to the environmental health of this State.  Activities associated with oil and gas exploration have the potential to inflict great damage to water quality, marine habitats, and other important natural resources.

 

As you indicated in your request for comment, the federal moratorium on OCS oil and gas exploration applies to the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic planning areas, both of which are adjacent to New Jersey.  These areas are not candidates for lease sales until the next decade.   As such, they should be excluded from the draft proposed program.

 

Pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act, New Jersey has an approved Coastal Management Program, administered by the state's Department of Environmental Protection.  The rules associated with this program address many offshore activities, including oil and gas exploration and development.  For additional information regarding the policies enforced by this State pursuant to federal consistency provisions of the Coastal Zone Management Act, please see the Program's web site, http://www.nj.gov/dep/cmp/czm_federal.html.

 

Karl Muessig, New Jersey's representative on the Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee, is available to answer any questions you may have.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Richard J. Codey

Acting Governor