OIL & GAS CASH

All sorts of activity or inactivity on this issue right now. NY Times sez this, the state of Louisiana counters with this, while MMS sez this. I think an independent oil lease royalty watchdog is a great idea, as our politicos have proved to be more along the lines of oil & gas lapdogs. Apparently, the public isn't far behind us on this - here's a new national poll that shows 80% of the public supports oil & gas revenue sharing for affected states.

Here's my take on the issue from a book review I wrote for a great book penned by a fellow Gulf Coast activist:

Coastal restoration plans currently hinge on Louisiana securing a share of the federal revenues that are generated by oil and gas activity in federal waters off the state's shore. The premise is, give the state a 50% share of that money, and it will have the financial resources to reconnect the natural processes that were fouled up, in part, by the petrochemical industry.

This revenue share is a simple solution that the Louisiana congressional delegation has been unable to pass. Intent on currying favor with the oil industry, the bills filed in Congress by Louisiana politicians to win this funding have included provisions to entice other states to jump into the oil and gas game to get a similar cut of the revenues. So instead of marshaling national sympathy for our hurricane tragedy to fix our marshes, these leaders pick fights with California, Florida, and national environmental groups.

My thoughts on the issue haven't changed recently, and I can only hope that the shakeup in Congress means that measurable results predicated on the most sympathetic and intellectually honest arguements will be more forthcoming - but of course, it is Washington, DC - so don't hold your breath.

Aaron Viles is the GRN's Campaign Director