Virginia Is for Drilling

We need to find more sources of oil and gas.

WHEN IT COMES to exploring or drilling for oil off the coast of Virginia, environmentalists are right to be concerned about the possible adverse effects on ocean wildlife and beaches -- from habitat disruption to oil spills. But America has an insatiable thirst for energy. And if it is acceptable to drill in the Caspian Sea and in developing countries such as Nigeria -- where environmental concerns are no less important -- it's hard to explain why the United States should rule out careful drilling off its own coasts.

As first reported by The Post's Steven Mufson and David A. Fahrenthold, the Interior Department's Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program proposes to expand the areas available for drilling to include tracts off Alaska, in the Gulf of Mexico and, yes, off Virginia. According to Interior, a 2.9 million-acre wedge that sits 50 miles off the commonwealth's mainland is estimated to hold 56 million barrels of oil and 327 billion cubic feet of natural gas. But no one will know for sure until tests are conducted -- and that's where the challenges begin.

There are two obstacles to anything happening off the coast of Virginia. Let's take the easy one first. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed an executive order banning drilling off the coasts of 12 states, including Virginia. The order was extended until 2012 by President Bill Clinton. But the president can lift the prohibition if a state requests it. In the case of Virginia, the legislature, with the assent of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), voted to make the commonwealth available for offshore exploration (and for the possible sharing of revenue). But the consent came with caveats. In addition to expanding the buffer zone for drilling from 25 miles to 50 miles offshore, the state provided only for gas exploration. Gas production and oil exploration and production are forbidden.

Now, here's the hard part. Since 1982, Congress has maintained a moratorium on offshore exploration and leasing through language in appropriations bills. The opposition already voiced on Capitol Hill to the plans for Virginia -- notably from Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both New Jersey Democrats -- makes the prospect of lifting the prohibition doubtful. Nevertheless, Virginia is right to keep its options open on exploration, and Interior is right to pursue it. Even if, as we favor, the nation moves more aggressively to temper its thirst for oil, demand will grow. The nation needs to be as willing to explore off its own shores for the resources it needs as it is to import them from abroad.