The Surfrider Foundation Launches Fresh Attack on West Coast Coastal Drilling.

I can’t believe we’re hearing that again. You people know how I feel:

(1) I don’t want to see any more oil rigs off the coast, like the ones interwoven with the channel islands off of Santa Barbara;

(2) I don’t particularly want to see any more visible from the freeway, either, and I wish the well at Carpinteria were screened from view;

(3) I want any new rigs placed far enough from shore that they don’t affect beach views or surf conditions—surfing and tourism being vital parts of California’s economy;

(4) I want any new rigs in the Pacific to be built with strict environmental controls, in cooperation with marine biologists who can advise on how to make the rigs into good artificial “reefs” that provide housing for happy little fishies—without screwing up the surf, and I want them built to Gulf specs, so no spilling occurs;

(5) I guess the desires of boaters should be kept in mind, too, so if there could be a modicum of camouflage that makes the rigs inobtrusive, or makes them look like islands, a la THUMS in Long Beach, that would be great. (Yeah: boaters are part of the economy. Even on this coast. Certainly there shouldn’t be anything close to Catalina; it’s paramount that the area around that island stay aesthetically healthy.)

What I don’t want to do is make ethanol out of corn and soy, while Third World people go hungry, because we aren’t willing to tap the billions of oil we control to help the world economy.

Have you registered your opinion yet with the Minerals Management Foundation? You owe it to yourself to do so. And, remember: if you are an American, you must speak out on this issue. After all, if there were no Northeastern part of the country, we’d be drilling in ANWR. (Hell: if it weren’t for Ted Kennedy, we’d have more windfarms in the Upper Northeast as well, and New England would be partially redeeming itself.)

Quoth Surfrider:

Protect your Beach: Speak out against Oil Drilling!

Now is your opportunity to tell national leaders that offshore drilling is a BAD POLICY for our oceans and our future. Recently, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar extended the public comment period for the Minerals Management Service (“MMS”) proposed 5-year offshore oil and gas plan by 180-days. This plan was drawn up by the Bush Administration in its waning hours to form the basis for making future decisions on what the Outer Continental Shelf (“OCS”) program should include.

Offshore oil and gas leasing poses a seemingly endless list of harms to the ocean, caused by both large spills and gradual degradation of the ocean associated with drilling-related activities. The dangers range from the vast long-term ecological impacts to the destruction of marine habitat, recreational uses and the economic value of our ocean resources.

Take action now – tell the Secretary of Interior to limit new drilling on the outer continental shelf and support ocean conservation and alternative energy development. Feel free to edit the letter below to let them know your personal feelings on this issue.

I’ll see you your pseudo-environmental activism and raise you some middle-American common sense. For Chrissake: even Paris Hilton says we should drill off the coasts provided we have strict environmental safeguards. That will give the renewables more time to become economically viable without starving people in the here and now.

Send your pro-drilling letters and notes to the Minerals Management Service: Go to this Partnership for Energy, and click on “Action Center” on the navigation bar near the top. It will take you to a registration and give you the opportunity to send letters to the Minerals Management Service and your elected officials. Tell them that a dozen miles offshore (perhaps a bit beyond, if we’re talking about Catalina), will keep the rigs from being visible. Twenty should serve; fifty or 100 miles is too far out to do this effectively. We just need them out of sight, well-constructed to protect marine life, and far enough out that they don’t mess up the surf.

Or, you can write your representatives/Minerals Management directly, of course. But I haven’t tested the PfE energy system in a while; will someone do that for me? Thanks.