Long Island, NY - February 9, 2018 - Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D, NY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY), and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D, NY-25) were joined by a bipartisan, bicameral delegation of New York Members in sending a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke underscoring their opposition to offshore drilling off the coast of Long Island.
“New oil and gas development raises the possibility of a disastrous oil spill and increases risk of exposure to toxic chemicals and metals used in offshore drilling operations,” Members wrote. “These threats to New Yorkers’ coastal industries, public health, and unique natural environments are unacceptable and should not be ignored. The long-term health of New York is inextricably linked to protecting our ocean resources.”
The Department of Interior recently proposed opening 90% of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to energy exploration, including parts of the Atlantic Ocean.
In January, Congressman Zeldin was joined by state and local officials, environmental stakeholders and business leaders at the Riverhead Aquarium to present a united front in opposition to offshore drilling off the coast of Long Island. The Congressman was joined by Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Riverhead Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith, Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine, East Hampton Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, President and CEO of Discover Long Island Kristen Jarnegin, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Group for the East End, Nature Conservancy on Long Island, Sierra Club of Long Island, Audubon Society of New York, and other environmental groups.
A PDF of the signed letter is available here.