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Senator Van Drew Asks Governor Christie to Protect NJ Against Offshore Drilling

Senator Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May and Cumberland, speaks about legislation during a meeting of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) sent the following letter to Governor Christie to implore him to protect New Jersey from the Trump Administration’s offshore oil and gas drilling proposal.

The Honorable Christopher J. Christie

Governor

State of New Jersey

225 W. State Street

Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Governor Christie:

The recent proposal by the Trump Administration and the Department of Interior to open up offshore areas to oil and gas drilling is dangerous and deeply concerning for our state.  It poses a significant threat to environmentally sensitive areas along the coast and also to our tourism industry, on which our local and statewide economy depends. Tourism generates an estimated $44 billion annually and supports 500,000 jobs for the state. Any potential spill or related disaster would put our environment, our marine life, and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of hard-working New Jerseyans at risk.

Allowing this to go forward would be a disaster for our state. I implore you, as one of your last actions, to do everything in your power to secure an exemption from the Trump Administration for the state of New Jersey from offshore drilling, as was provided to Florida.  Doing so would not only protect our state, but also the environment, our economy, and the jobs of hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans.

As always, thank you for your efforts in responding to the critical issues facing our state. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Jeff Van Drew