When US President Barack Obama announced his administration's Outer Continental Shelf strategy on Mar. 31, he said it was time for everyone to move beyond firmly entrenched positions.
"Ultimately, we need to move beyond the tired debates of the left and the right, between business leaders and environmentalists, between those who would claim drilling is a cure all and those who would claim it has no place, because this issue is just too important to allow our progress to languish while we fight the same old battles over and over again," the president said.
Congress generally ignored Obama's request as members offered very predictable responses.
Louisiana's delegation welcomed the proposal to open more of the eastern gulf as strongly as most of Florida's opposed it. US Sen. George LeMieux (R) was an exception.
"Energy independence is one of our generation's ultimate challenges and Florida can play a critical role," LeMieux said. "Safe and clean technologies used far enough from our shores is a proposal worth considering, but only if Florida's interests are protected and we benefit from the proceeds just like other states."
Still opposed
Florida's other US senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, remained adamantly opposed. He also conceded that US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's proposal to limit activity to areas at least 125 miles offshore was more reasonable than the Florida legislature's 3-mile resolution.
Virginia's governor and two US senators welcomed Salazar's announcement that a scheduled federal lease sale off that state's coast would move ahead, even as its date seemed to move from 2011 to 2012. New Jersey's congressional delegation reiterated its opposition to any East Coast OCS activity.
"Drilling in Virginia waters is less than 100 miles from the New Jersey coastline," said Sen. Robert Menendez (D). "At the very least, New Jersey deserves a 125-mile buffer, just like Florida's in the announced deal."
Graham's response
Of the three US senators working on a compromise to break the apparent deadlock in Congress, only Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC) responded immediately, probably because of his insistence that more offshore access be a part of any package he develops with John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.).
Like many in and out of Congress, Graham said the Obama administration's OCS strategy is a good first step. But he added that revenue-sharing with states, opening more of the eastern gulf and other areas in the Atlantic and Pacific, and expanded studies for oil and gas potential also should be considered.
OCS access also should be part of a solution including more nuclear power, consumer-friendly carbon pricing, and increased energy efficiency, Graham said. "It should be our national goal to once and for all break our addiction and unhealthy dependence on foreign oil. But that will not happen if we believe the status quo is good enough," he said.
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