Stabenow Calls on Trump to Oppose Oil and Gas Drilling in the Great Lakes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today raised the alarm that President Trump’s recent Executive Order could open the door to oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes. This would violate the law passed by Senator Stabenow that bans oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes.

“The economic and environmental significance of the Great Lakes cannot be overstated,” Stabenow wrote. “Our Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on Earth, supply drinking water to over 40 million people, and sustain a $6 trillion economy and over 50 million jobs. Given the existing ban on drilling and the importance of the Great Lakes, I call on you to reverse course and oppose any efforts to open our waters to oil and gas drilling as a result of your recent Executive Order.”

The full text of Senator Stabenow’s letter may be found below.

June 20, 2018

The Honorable Donald Trump

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force, one of my top priorities is protecting the Great Lakes. In fact, the first legislation I passed into law as a U.S. Senator banned oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes, a ban that we made permanent in 2005.

That is why I am writing to question the impact of your “Executive Order Regarding the Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States.” This Executive Order can be interpreted as an attempt to reverse current law and open the Great Lakes to oil and gas drilling.  This executive order, as well as your continued attempts to zero out funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative despite bipartisan support in Congress, are a direct attack on our Michigan way of life.

The economic and environmental significance of the Great Lakes cannot be overstated.  Our Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on Earth, supply drinking water to over 40 million people, and sustain a $6 trillion economy and over 50 million jobs.

Given the existing ban on drilling and the importance of the Great Lakes, I call on you to reverse course and oppose any efforts to open our waters to oil and gas drilling as a result of your recent Executive Order.  I ask for your prompt response.