Governors
announce pact to aid oceans
September 19, 2006
Associated Press
GRANTS PASS (AP) — The governors of Oregon, Washington and California
announced an agreement Monday to press the federal government to give
greater support to state efforts to combat threats to the ocean, such as
pollution, climate change and declining fisheries.
Noting two national panels had identified the need to act quickly to protect
the nation’s oceans, the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean
Health, announced at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland,
said oceans need to be managed on an ecosystem level that crosses political
boundaries, which demands increased coordination between states and the
federal government.
Klamath River cutbacks
The announcement came as salmon fishermen are coping with sharp cutbacks to
protect chinook from Northern California’s Klamath River, scientists are
studying a growing zone of oxygendepleted water killing fish off Oregon and
Washington that may be triggered by global warming, and the
Bush administration is promoting offshore fish farms that would be beyond
state control.
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said the agreement builds on the three states’
work setting up a ‘‘clean-car corridor’’ to limit tailpipe emissions
that contribute to global warming.
‘‘Once again, Oregon, California and Washington are coming together to
address the threats facing our ocean,’’ he said.
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire said the agreement gives the three states
a greater voice opposing offshore oil and gas drilling and promoting federal
research. ‘‘It sends a message to the world that we will stand up for
our quality of life,’’ she said.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, said from Long Beach,
Calif., that the agreement with two Democratic governors would give the
states more influence in Washington, D.C. ‘‘It is harder for the federal
government to ignore us if we speak with one voice,’’ he said.
In the next six months, the governors
said they would jointly call on the White House and Congress to provide
enough federal funding to implement existing controls on non-point source
pollution, identified as a top threat to coastal waters.
Goals identified
The governors will formally repeat their opposition to offering federal
leases to drill for oil and gas off the West Coast, and support development
of a regional research plan for the West Coast, including ocean observation
programs and mapping the sea floor and ocean habitats. They will also ask
the White House Council on Environmental Quality to help them get more
technical help from federal agencies to address threats to the ocean.
Long-term goals include ensuring clean coastal waters and beaches, restoring
healthy coastal habitats, reducing harm from offshore development, expanding
ocean research, and promoting sustainable economic development in coastal
