Each U.S. President has the option to develop a national 5-Year Program for offshore oil and gas leasing—a process that determines if, where, and how much of our ocean could be auctioned to fossil fuel companies for drilling. This plan shapes the future of America’s coastlines, ocean ecosystems, climate goals, and coastal communities. And because its impacts are so far-reaching, the public has a critical role to play in shaping it.
Tell the Trump Admin to Stop New Offshore Drilling!
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released its draft plan on November 20th, and this dangerous proposal would open up all of California, the Gulf of Mexico, including the previously protected waters off of Florida, as well as Alaska and the pristine High Arctic, where drilling has never been attempted before because of the hazards. In total, the proposal covers 1.27 billion acres, putting coastal ecosystems, communities, and businesses at serious risk. (Learn more about what’s at stake here.)
But the good news is public pressure works. Previous 5-Year Plans have been dramatically altered—or stopped entirely—because people spoke up. Surfrider Foundation is organizing coastal communities nationwide to ensure one message is heard loud and clear: our ocean is not for sale.
Our approach? Equip local communities with the tools, knowledge, and platforms they need to speak up for their coastline.
Community Events & People’s Hearings
The release of the draft plan initiated a 60-day comment period during which members of the public can register official opposition to the plan. Since BOEM is not hosting public listening sessions, events where members of the public can learn about and engage in the offshore oil and gas leasing process, Surfrider and coalition partners are hosting our own.
Join us to learn more about what’s at stake and how you can advocate for our oceans during this process.
- Thursday, December 4 - Encinitas, San Diego County (Learn more and RSVP)
- Monday, December 8 - Costa Mesa, Orange County (Learn more and RSVP)
- TBD - Santa Barbara County
- Thursday, January 8 - Monterey County
- Friday, January 16 - Sausalito, Marin County
- TBD - Eureka, Humboldt County
Do you live near one of the event locations? To stay informed as the events take shape, sign up for your local chapter's mailing list or the list of the host chapter here.
Working with Local Leaders
Surfrider staff and volunteers joined Oceana for an offshore drilling lobby tour, meeting with federal and state elected officials to discuss the urgent need to protect our coast from new oil and gas development. Also joining us was the Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast, a critical voice for the impact that offshore drilling has on our coastal economy. Over the course of one week, we met with nine legislative offices between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Amplifying Public Comment
By leveraging digital channels and in-person events, Surfrider chapters are generating a wave of opposition that our elected leaders can not ignore.
Whether you are an individual or representing an organization or business, anyone can submit a comment letter directly to BOEM through our online action alert. Chapters across the state will also be collecting handwritten postcards, grassroots style, at events and mailing them to BOEM to ensure as many community voices as possible are heard.
Surfrider's Monterey County Chapter collected comment letter submissions at a film screening event.
Federal agencies are listening now, and what we do in the coming months will matter. Surfrider is mobilizing at every level, but we need broad public engagement to stop new offshore drilling. Add your name, attend a hearing, talk to your neighbors, and together, we can hold the line against expanded offshore drilling.