Offshore Drilling: What Oceana Does

Overview What Oceana Does Victories Learn & Act News & Reports

Oceana is working to prevent the expansion of offshore oil drilling. Where drilling is already occurring, such as in the Gulf of Mexico, Oceana is working to improve safety and regulation in order to prevent spills, small and large, from occurring in the future. Based on the direct impacts of oil to ocean wildlife, human health and local communities and its contributions to climate change, Oceana recommends the following - !einstate the pre"existing moratoria for offshore oil production, including the protections for ristol a!, Alas"a# VICTORY! In December 2010 it was announced that for the areas previous ! opened for offshore dri in"# the! wou d now be c osed to dri in" in the ne$t five%!ear p an! This moratorium c oses the &astern 'u f of (e$ico# )t antic# and *acific to the threats of offshore dri in"+ - #mprove offshore drilling safety and regulation to prevent future spills fro$ occurring# %n the two !ears after the & disaster, little progress has 'een $ade in i$proving offshore drilling safet! and regulation as shown in our report card and safet! report# ! 'ringing this inaction to light, Oceana ai$s to clarif! (ust how )safe* offshore drilling reall! is toda!, and how i$portant it is that these pro'le$s 'e fi+ed# - Begin the development of a comprehensive conservation and energy plan for the $rctic that provides a transition fro$ oil to renewa'le energ! and conservation# ,he plan should include a co$prehensive scientific assess$ent of the health, 'iodiversit! and functioning of Arctic ecos!ste$s, as well as the 'enefits and conse-uences of specific industrial activities# Ongoing oil and gas activities $ust 'e stopped and a precautionar!, science-'ased approach applied to all oil and gas leasing, e+ploration and develop$ent activities in Arctic waters to deter$ine if those activities should 'e conducted and if so, when, where and how#

- %romote energy efficiency and low carbon fuels. .nerg! should 'e conserved at ever! opportunit!, including through i$proved fuel efficienc! standards for cars, truc"s, airplanes and ships# &rovision of cleaner fuels and invest$ent in efficient $ass transit should also 'e priorities# %ncentives should 'e provided to individuals, institutions and corporations to reduce their oil and other fossil fuel consu$ption# - %rioriti&e the development of offshore wind energy in place of offshore oil drilling using financial $echanis$s such as loan guarantees and ta+ credits# /uch funds should 'e e+tended to $anufacturers of necessar! technolog!, construction fir$s and where needed to prevent 'ottlenec"s that could li$it the develop$ent of renewa'le energ!#