PLEASE SIGN THIS JOINT COMMENT!

Dear Ms. Hammerle, 

The Franciscan Action Network and its members, representing tens of thousands of people of faith, strongly oppose the expansion of offshore drilling in the nation's waters in the new Oil and Gas Leasing Program. Offshore drilling is a threat to the oceans and God's global creation.

We have a responsibility to future generations to reduce the pollution and toxins in our air and water. The oceans provide food for billions of our neighbors in the U.S. and around the world. Our surrounding waters are also essential to coastal communities who depend on them for jobs as well as people who enjoy them for recreation.  

Expanding drilling into the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Eastern Gulf of America, which are still largely undefiled, would put coastal ecosystems at risk due to the implicated dangers of oil and gas drilling. These ecosystems are already under threat of plastic pollution and runoff from on-land activities such as farming. Oil and gas drilling would only increase the likelihood of pollution via oil spills, in addition to the dangers of exploration through seismic blasting, which have extreme negative effects on charismatic marine mammals, and important fisheries. All of these activities would have disastrous effects on coastal communities. 

Most of these communities have been largely untouched by the oil and gas industry, allowing their economies to thrive off tourism as well as commercial and recreational fishing. Expanding drilling to the unaffected areas would negativelyly affect the beauty of the communities, their economies, and the national GDP. 

Coastal and near-coastal communities are also experiencing high rates of flooding due to more storms and their increased intensity. The communities already affected by offshore drilling currently battle the dangers to their health and safety caused by industry. This will be made worse by the mandated lease sales in H.R. 1 aimed at perpetuating drilling. Allowing oil and gas expansion does not honor Creation or protect our neighbors. 

Instead of expanding drilling and by extension fossil fuel usage, we should be investing in the energy sources God has made readily available to us and not buried under miles of earth. Solar and wind energy are becoming increasingly reliable and are much cheaper to harness than oil and gas. These energy sources are clean, provide good jobs, and position our country as a leader, encouraging our energy dominance in a sustainable way.  

Americans are ready to move forward into a bright clean future and not to rely on harmful and dirty energy to power our lives. People of faith want to preserve God's Creation rather than exploit it for oil and gas, thereby risking the communities and businesses that rely on them.  

We urge you to join us as God's stewards and protectors of the oceans, and to respect the local residents, businesses, and millions of Americans who have already made clear their support for no drilling off our nation's beaches. 

Sincerely,