Permanent Ban On Drilling Ok’d

The House on Wednesday unanimously passed a measure to permanently ban oil and gas drilling along Washington’s coast.

The measure, HB1189, heads for the Senate where it is expected to pass. Gov. Gary Locke is also believed to favor the bill.

The bill would make permanent a temporary ban on oil and gas exploration approved in 1989.

The vote was without controversy, especially given that the oil industry has shown scant interest in recent years in exploring the coastline, which has yielded little evidence of significant oil or gas deposits.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Karen Schmidt, R-Bainbridge Island, said the measure “would help protect the habitat along Washington’s coast and would preserve this environment for future generations to enjoy for years to come.”