California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside attorneys general from nine other states, has submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The coalition opposes offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, urging the exclusion of these areas from the upcoming 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This program will decide which ocean areas might be opened for lease sales during the 2024-2029 planning period.
“President Trump is once again taking action to line the pockets of his Big Oil friends. This time, he’s expanding oil and gas development by attempting to drill in our coastal communities,” stated Attorney General Bonta. “We won’t stand idly by as the President continues to ignore science.”
The letter emphasizes that there is no pressing need to endanger marine and coastal resources for limited fossil fuel supplies, noting that the United States already leads in oil and gas production globally. It highlights a decline in gasoline demand since 2019, particularly on both coasts.
“Existing uses of these marine and coastal areas are essential parts of our state economies,” reads part of the letter. It argues that national energy needs do not justify drilling in environmentally sensitive regions and that such actions contradict state laws opposing offshore activity while promoting greenhouse gas reductions.
The comment letter also discusses past oil spill disasters like Deepwater Horizon, which resulted in significant environmental damage and economic losses. California law currently prohibits offshore drilling within its waters and holds companies accountable for spills.
Joining Attorney General Bonta are attorneys general from Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
A copy of the comment letter is available online.
