From: Johnnie Miller
To: Senator Ben Cardin - Do not reply to this message
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: Don't Fall for the Sham Drilling Proposals!
I hope you run for re-election so that I can vote against you. Your view on this imporatant legislation is outside 'mainstream' Marylanders way of thinking.
WE NEED IT ALL, NEW DRILLING FOR OIL, SOLAR, HYDROGEN, WIND, CHESAPEAKE BAY OIL EXPLORATION, WANGO OIL EXPLORATION, PITTSVILLE OIL EXPLORATION, SALISBURY OIL EXLPLORATION, AND YES I DON'T CARE IF IT IS IN OWN BACKYARD IF IT WILL RESULT IN CHEAPER ENERGY PRICES!!
I'm alerting all of my immediate family members and friends here in Maryland and will express to them what you have informed me.
Thanks for writing anyway.
Johnnie Miller
----- Original Message -----
From: Senator Ben Cardin - Do not reply to this message
To: jmiller25.net
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: Don't Fall for the Sham Drilling Proposals!
Dear Mr. Miller:
Thank you for writing to me with your concerns about oil and natural gas drilling on public lands . I look for ward to a day when the production of oil and gas on any public land is no longer necessary , and our nation is instead powered predominately by clean, renewable energy sources.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) , which operates under the Department of the Interior , is the agency charged with administe r ing the majority of America 's public lands and th e natural resources that reside within these lands. S ince 1920, the BLM has overseen the leasing, exploration, and production of coal, oil, gas, and sodium on public lands in the United States . If drilling is going to take place, I support agency ov ersight that is as transparent as possible. Any r ule changes , for example, should be open to public review and comment well before the y take place.
T he de velopment of public lands for private profit is a decision that must n ot be taken lightly. Throughout my legislative career, I have opposed oil and gas drilling in our wil derness areas and national park s, because I believe w e have a duty to leave wild ecosystems as intact and untouched by the human hand as possible. This is why I have consistently voted to protect sensitive marine and coastal zon es, such as Bristol Bay , and treasured wilderness areas like the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) from oil and gas development .
There are better, more responsible solutions for meeting our national energy needs . I support tax credits and other incentives for the development of clean, renewable energy sources , such as wind, solar, hydrogen, and bio-fuels . These energy sources emit fewer greenhouse gases and are much less invasive to our natural environment than oil and gas development.
I have also long sup ported protections for Maryland 's state parks and open spaces . For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 's State Wildlife Grants protect wildlife habitats in Maryland . The Land and Water Conservation Fund provide s matching federal funds to states and local governments , including Maryland , for public recreation areas and facilities. And t he North American Wetlands Conservation Act funds conservation projects that protect wetland habitats in Maryland and around the country . I have fought hard in this and p revious Congresses to increase fundin g for these and other important conservation programs, and you can be assured that I will continue to do so .
Again, thank you for contacting me about oil and gas drilling on our nation's public lands. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of concern.
Please visit my website at http://cardin.senate.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter.