A new bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives seeking a permanent prohibition on offshore oil drilling along the Atlantic Coast and the Straits of Florida.
The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce (SCSBCC) has been a leading voice in the East Coast business opposition to offshore drilling for the past decade. The organization initially opposed testing and drilling off the Atlantic Coast in 2015.
The SCSBCC has highlighted the numerous oil spills that occurred in the U.S. between 2010 and 2020, emphasizing the devastating economic impact of major spills on coastal tourism industries. The organization stressed the importance of protecting the tourism-dependent economies of states like South Carolina, which generate significant revenue and provide livelihoods for a large number of people, arguing against the risk of oil contamination on popular beaches and coastal areas.
The “Clean Ocean and Save Tourism Anti-drilling Act,” or “COAST Anti-Drilling Act,” is being sponsored by Representative Frank Pallone and Senator Corey Booker, both of New Jersey.
The SCSBCC co-founded and spearheaded the Business Alliance to Protect the Atlantic Coast to actively oppose oil exploration efforts and any future drilling projects in the region. The organization believes that safeguarding the pristine beaches and waterways of the Atlantic Coast is crucial for recreational fishing and the overall coastal environment, all of which are threatened by oil exploration and drilling activities.
A 2024 poll indicated that a significant majority of American voters, including those in coastal states, support elected officials protecting U.S. coastlines from new offshore drilling.
The SCSBCC believes it is time to permanently remove the threat of Atlantic offshore drilling to allow focus on other issues without the recurring uncertainty from administration to administration.
