Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill Wednesday that will indefinitely extend the state’s ban on offshore oil and gas drilling. An existing ban was set to expire in January. The measure that Brown signed into law removes the expiration.
During a signing ceremony, the Democrat said the goal is to protect an iconic part of the state. “Even though the Oregon coast runs along the western edge of the state, the coast and our coastal communities are truly central to Oregonians’ identity,” said Brown.
The measure would also prevent companies from using the coast to support drilling activities in federal waters that aren’t regulated by state law. There hasn’t been any offshore drilling along the Oregon coast in more than a half-century, but supporters of the ban are worried that the Trump administration's efforts to open up more offshore drilling locations would lead to activity here.
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