U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez announced he would introduce the COAST Act (or Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act) to keep oil rigs away from the Atlantic Ocean, including the Jersey Shore. The bill would prevent the U.S. Department of the Interior from issuing leases for exploration, development or production of oil or gas in the Atlantic Ocean and the Straits of Florida.
In January, President Biden paused drilling in those areas as part of his administration’s effort to combat climate change, blocking a move by the former Trump administration to open most of the coast to drilling.
READ: NJ on sidelines as city goes after big oil
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