New York Governor Andrew Cuomo strengthened his initiatives to protect the state’s coastal communities and marine economy from natural disasters.
On Thursday, the governor ordered the implementation of the Save Our Waters Program Bill to protect New York State waters from offshore drilling and exploration.
The program bill prohibits land leasing for exploration, development and production of oil and gas in the marine and coastal districts across the state.
It bans any new lease allowing the installation of infrastructure related to offshore drilling in federal waters located in the North Atlantic Planning Area.
In addition, the program bill prohibits transportation of crude oil within the passable waters in the North Atlantic Planning Area.
The Trump administration’s plan to expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans prompted Gov. Cuomo’s action.
In January, U.S. Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke disclosed a plan to open over 90% of the total offshore acreage to drillers. Gov. Cuomo is a among the governors opposing the federal government’s plan.
