Protect the Environment: Enforce Strict Regulations on Oil Companies

Environment, Petitions — By Nanette Curtis on February 9, 2012 10:04 am

Target: United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

Goal: Strict enforcement of regulations for oil and gas companies drilling on public land

Oil and gas companies operating on public lands are not being adequately monitored by federal regulators.  According to a recent report by the House Natural Resources Committee only six percent of violations by oil and gas companies resulted in a fine. Regulations are in place to ensure safety of drilling operations and to protect the environment. Over a thirteen year period 2,025 citations were issued for violations, with twenty seven percent of these being classified as a major violation. The total amount collected in fines by federal regulators during the same thirteen year period was slightly less than $275,000 dollars. This amount is inadequate considering that oil companies generate billions of dollars in profits in a given year. Regulations are in place to protect the environment, but with so little to lose by ignoring regulations it is no wonder that there are frequent oil spills in the United States.

Oil spills are devastating to the environment. When oil is released into the environment it kills plants and animals as well as contaminates the soil and water. It can take years for an ecosystem to recover from the harmful effects of oil. The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is an example of the environmental destruction that can occur when safety regulations are overlooked by gas and oil companies. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatened eight national parks and over 400 species of animals. The area still has not recovered from the oil spill.

Regulations are important to prevent disasters like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For regulations to work they have to be enforced and have real consequences. It is evident that the level of enforcement and the level of fines are not adequate to deter safety violations at oil and gas drilling sites in the United States.

By signing this petition you will urge the strict enforcement of safety regulations by federal regulators at oil and gas drilling companies on public lands to protect the environment.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Ken Salazar,

Strict federal regulation of oil and gas companies drilling on public land is critical to prevent environmental disaster. A recent report released highlighted the inadequate fines assessed by federal regulators in regards to safety violations. The report determined that over the past thirteen years oil companies were fined less than $275,000 for safety violations. That amount is inadequate to deter these companies from violating safety and environmental regulations.

Oil spills occur almost every year that damage valuable ecosystems. The Gulf of Mexico is still suffering from the effects of the BP oil spill in 2010. The BP oil spill killed thousands of innocent animals and endangered countless more. Regulations are in place to prevent this kind of tragedy, but they have to be enforced to work.

I urge you to enforce stricter regulations on oil and gas companies drilling on public lands to prevent more irreparable damage to the environment.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]