SALEM, OR – Today, the Oregon House Environment and Water Committee unanimously passed an amended House Bill 3613 that would establish a 10‐year moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling. In reaction, Brock Howell, the State Policy Advocate for Environment Oregon, released the following statement:
“Oregon took a significant step toward protecting its coastal communities and shifting our ocean energy policy towards renewables like tidal and wave power. While we definitely believed a permanent legislative ban on offshore drilling would have been the best policy, today’s action was a great first step. The passage of a 10‐year moratorium provides reasonable certainty to our fishing and tourism industries that our beautiful coast and amazing diversity of ecologically significant marine life will remain protected for a long time.”
Representatives Phil Barnhart and Jefferson Smith voted against the amendment to sunset the moratorium in 2020 although voted in favor of moving the bill with a “due pass recommendation” to the House floor. House Bill 3613 should come to the House floor for a second reading on Friday and for a third reading and final floor vote early next week. The bill will then go to the Senate.
