A proposal by the Trump administration this week to open most of the U.S. coast to fossil fuel exploration and drilling stunned New Jersey officials and environmentalists, who are vowing to fight back.
“Let’s call this what it is,” said Gov.-elect Phil Murphy, who will be sworn in Jan. 16. “What President Trump announced [Thursday] is nothing less than dropping a ticking time bomb off our coast.”
Murphy, a Democrat, made the statement at a news conference Friday morning in Monmouth County, flanked by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, both Democrats. Murphy called for bipartisan opposition from the state’s congressional delegation, but protecting the coastline already is a bipartisan issue.
Gov. Christie, a Republican, previously opposed any plans to drill. And Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a Republican, also came out against the plan.
ABSOLUTELY WRONG APPROACH for #SouthJersey & Atlantic Ocean. Previous attempts to lift ban met w/ fierce bipartisan rejection across New Jersey & up/down East Coast. Will be met w/ STRONGER opposition now. Coastal communities have spoken clearly & ready to take fight head-on! https://twitter.com/wsj/status/948985895465734144 …
Frank LoBiondo“This has nothing to do with creating any sort of commonsense comprehensive or even comprehensible energy policy,” Murphy said. “We must stand firm against any plan for fossil-fuel exploration drilling or development off the coast — whether it be 3 miles, 30 miles or 300 miles away from New Jersey.”
New Jersey’s waters extend 3 nautical miles (3.5 statute miles) from its coast. Federal waters then begin.
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A plan to expand offshore drilling was expected. But its scope shocked New Jersey officials and environmentalists.
“The thing that is most troubling about this plan is the grave threat it poses to our way of life in New Jersey,“ said Edward Potosnak III, executive director of the New League of Conservation Voters, who was not at the news conference.
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