Legislation protecting Delaware’s coastline from offshore drilling was signed into law Thursday by Gov. John Carney.
The U.S. Interior Department is evaluating a broad expansion of offshore drilling in U.S. waters.
State Sen. Stephanie Hansen’s legislation calls for state agencies to review the state’s environmental laws and enforce Delaware’s legal rights.
The bill sponsored by State Sen. Ernie Lopez bans drilling in state waters and Delaware’s Coastal Zone. He says he and Hansen worked together on the bills.
“With the signing of these two bills today and their enactment into law, not only did we get it right and we got it done," he said. "We got it right thanks to the meaningful partnerships that make serving you here in Delaware so special.”
Carney said the new laws are designed to respect the right of future generations to enjoy the state’s natural heritage. “I also had this real feeling of Delaware coming over me as I thought about everybody who’s sitting here; Democrats and Republicans, town people, county people and state officials," he said. "And we’re all standing up and we’re saying no.”
Delaware environmental groups and small businesses say they’re concerned about possible negative impacts to wildlife and the economy if there was a spill.
Interior Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, who visited with Carney and Rehoboth Beach business owners in June, said companies have not expressed much interest in drilling off the East Coast.