GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

S                                                                                                                                                    D

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION DRSJR75138-LD-46A  (02/26)

Sponsors:	Senator Forrester.
Referred to:

A JOINT RESOLUTION to authorize the environmental review commission to study the desirability of encouraging the offshore drilling exploration for oil or natural gas in coastal waters off North carolina and other related matters.

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The Environmental Review Commission may study the desirability of encouraging the offshore drilling exploration for oil or natural gas in coastal waters within the State's jurisdiction of 3.5 miles. The Environmental Review Commission may study whether to urge the United States Congress to pass legislation to either authorize the offshore drilling exploration for oil or natural gas in territorial waters within federal jurisdiction or delegate this authority to the individual states. Further, the Environmental Review Commission may study whether to urge the United States Congress and the United States Department of the Interior to support expanding the role of offshore drilling in our State's coastal waters and to support developing an oil refinery in eastern North Carolina in order to stimulate jobs' creation and restore the State's economy.

SECTION 2.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.