This is the first of a series of bimonthly articles about how the activities of the federal government can and does impact on the needs and concerns of Georgians by Georgia’s Total Spectrum team. We’ll focus every article on one key need or legislative issue. We’ll also highlight interviews with members of Georgia’s congressional delegation, and we will include an overview in words and pictures of what you really need to know about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Click on the links for biographical introductions to Georgia’s Total Spectrum team: Todd Smith, Steve Gordon, and Jesse Weathington.
Georgia Focus: Offshore Drilling & Exploration
At the first of this year, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced the next step for developing the National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program) for 2019-2024. The Draft Proposed Program (DPP) proposes to make over 90 percent of the total OCS acreage and more than 98 percent of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in federal offshore areas available to consider for future exploration and development.
The DPP includes 47 potential lease sales in 25 of the 26 planning areas – 19 sales off the coast of Alaska, 7 in the Pacific Region, 12 in the Gulf of Mexico, and 9 in the Atlantic Region. Three of the sales would take place in the South Atlantic region, which includes the coastal region of Georgia.
Governor Nathan Deal has stated that he has concerns with the proposal, but is monitoring the situation as the regulatory process moves forward. Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator David Perdue, and Congressman Buddy Carter, who represents the coastal region of Georgia, have all basically stated they are open to drilling as long as it is done in a responsible manner. These Georgia legislators, along with Governor Deal, will be monitoring the regulatory process as it moves forward, particularly making sure it allows for public input by local stakeholders.
The key here is balancing the economic benefits of jobs and energy costs with the benefits of a flourishing costal environment and tourism. Governor Deal, Senator Isakson, Senator Perdue, and Congressman Carter are all right to keep an eye on this matter as the regulatory process continues and specifics are laid out.
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