Bob McCarty Writes

Ken Salazar

On Sept. 24, I reported that oil and natural gas industry officials were cautiously optimistic about their prospects after House Democrats allowed an offshore drilling ban to expire.  After waiting three and a half months for assurances from members of Congress, I reported that those same officials seemed to be on the verge of seeing their worst fears come true.  Today, it seems they’re even closer, thanks to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

In an announcement today, Secretary Salazar claimed he needed to restore order to a broken process and announced he was extending by 180 days the public comment period on a proposed 5-year plan for oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.  The announcement has Jack Gerard and the people he represents understandably upset.

“Congress made the American people wait nearly 30 years to address our immediate energy challenges,” said Gerard, American Petroleum Institute president. “Secretary Salazar today told the American people they must continue to wait –- even though more than two-thirds of them want to tap our vast domestic resources for the benefit of all Americans.

Jack Gerard

“The accelerated Outer Continental Shelf five-year plan process, which the secretary placed on hold today, was designed to address the critical energy concerns facing Americans. The draft plan already received a record 120,000 comments from states, environmental groups, industry, labor groups and members of the public – with 87,000 of those comments supporting expanded and expeditious development.

“Secretary Salazar’s announcement means that development of our offshore resources could be stalled indefinitely. That would delay Americans’ access to nearly 160,000 new, well-paying jobs, $1.7 trillion in revenues to federal, state and local governments and greater energy security.

“We share Secretary Salazar’s view that America needs a comprehensive energy policy that includes alternatives. In these tough economic times, Salazar’s delay does a disservice to all Americans. We should be moving as quickly as possible to develop more of our own oil and natural gas to benefit all Americans.”

If you’re as disgusted as I am with Democrats in Congress doing everything they can to prevent this country from realizing energy independence, CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS — and Secretary Salazar — in Washington, D.C., and demand they do the right thing.  Threaten them with your vote.  Say whatever it takes to convince them that reinstating the ban on offshore drilling is the wrong thing to do.