What does the West Coast Ocean Protection Act do?
The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2010, H.R. 5213, will permanently prohibit offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in federal waters off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. Why is the West Coast Ocean Protection Act needed? 40 years ago, California experienced an oil spill so toxic and ruinous it led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the declaration of the first Earth Day. To safeguard the natural beauty, wildlife and ocean-based economies of California, Oregon, and Washington, we must impose a moratorium on offshore oil drilling.
