Ocean Freeholders Oppose Trump's Offshore Drilling Executive Directive

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ - The waters off the New Jersey coastline are no place for oil and natural gas drilling, according to Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari.

Vicari wrote to Senators Robert Menendez, Cory Booker and Congressmen Chris Smith, Thomas MacArthur and Frank LoBiondo in an April 28 letter emphasizing the freeholder board's opposition to any offshore drilling.

“The residents of Ocean County and of the entire state of New Jersey realize that our coast is a natural treasure; a gift to be enjoyed by everyone both today and for generations to come,” Vicari said in the letter. “On behalf of the entire Board of Freeholders, I am writing to you to once again voice my continuing opposition to any drilling for oil or natural gas off of our coastline.”

There was no mention in the press release of President Donald J. Trump, who recently signed an executive order that could eventually open up Arctic waters and millions of coastal acres off U.S. shores to oil and gas drilling, according to a report in USA Today.

"Today we're unleashing American energy and clearing the way for thousands and thousands of high paying American energy jobs," said Trump, flanked by Republican lawmakers from energy-producing states during a recent White House signing ceremony. "Our country is blessed with incredible natural resources including abundant offshore oil and natural gas resources, but the federal government has kept 94 percent of these offshore areas closed for exploration and production. This deprives our country of potentially thousands and thousands of jobs and billions in wealth."

Vicari is also concerned about jobs, but not in the way Trump is.

"As the summer season begins and tourism kicks into high gear, I want everyone to know that we will continue to strongly and vocally oppose any plan to industrialize our coastline,” Vicari said in the letter. “Tourism is the lifeblood of our local economy. As a serving Freeholder for the past 36 years, I join with our business owners, from the largest hotels to the smallest Mom & Pop stands, in saying that we will fight against any endeavor that places our environment and our economy at risk.”

Vicari said history shows that any damage to the environment spells disaster to the local economy.

He recalled the damage done during the 1980s and 1990s when waste from New York City and Northern New Jersey washed up on the county’s beaches.

“Many of our local businesses suffered because of the continuing news reports of the wash-ups,” he said.

Vicari added that an industrial accident off the coast would impact not only the ocean, but the bays and surrounding ecosystems as well.

Trump's directive - known as the America First Offshore Energy Strategy - directs Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review the current five-year development plan on the Outer Continental Shelf for offshore oil and gas exploration as well as review the regulations and permitting process for development and seismic research, according to the USA today report.

Image: Patch file photo.