Nancy Mace is now the second South Carolina Republican in the Statehouse with close ties to President Trump to take a leadership role in opposing drilling for oil and gas off the state’s coast. Yesterday she introduced a House resolution to that effect.  The resolution has 25 Democrat and Republican co-sponsors.

Representative Mace was Trump’s field director in seven states before throwing her hat into the ring for a January special election in the Charleston area.

Below is the resolution (H.4788).

A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE OPPOSITION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OFFSHORE DRILLING ACTIVITIES OFF OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S PRECIOUS COAST.

Whereas, the United States Department of the Interior recently lifted a ban that would allow for new offshore oil and gas drilling in nearly all of the coastal waters of the United States in an attempt to bolster domestic energy production; and

Whereas, the House supports the decision of Governor Henry McMaster to seek a waiver from the department’s decision. This move comes after Florida was removed from consideration for offshore drilling activities, a move tantamount to the federal government picking winners and losers in the oil and gas marketplace; and

Whereas, exploratory and commercial drilling, extraction, and transportation of offshore oil and gas resources pose a risk of spill and the construction of onshore infrastructure, such as pipelines or refineries, which would compromise the character of our coast; and

Whereas, the decision places pressure on coastal states to develop the infrastructure required to transport oil and gas and ignores whether it is practical and affordable for the state to undertake this development; and

Whereas, opening up the coastal waters of South Carolina through federal action usurps the State’s right to choose how it spends it resources and forces the tax dollars of all South Carolinians to cover the infrastructure costs for the benefit of energy companies; and

Whereas, the seismic surveys required to find oil deposits may impact the migration, feeding, and other behavioral patterns of millions of marine mammals, including the Northern Right Whale, South Carolina’s state migratory mammal; and

Whereas, the full impacts of seismic testing and offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean are not yet fully understood by scientists or the Federal Government and it is a gamble that the people of South Carolina are unwilling to undertake; and

Whereas, the House of Representatives is concerned about the potential environmental and economic impacts of offshore drilling activities on the quality of precious natural coastal resources and the tourism industry. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their opposition to offshore drilling activities off of South Carolina’s precious coast.

Be it further resolved that copy of this resolution be presented to Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and the South Carolina Congressional delegation.

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