Politicizing the Environmental Debate, 2000–2017 253
Fox does an excellent job of reminding us
how important and fragile this resource really is.
And he tells a very good story.
The film’s not perfect, but it’s definitely
worth watching.
Source: http://www. Pennlive.com/midstate/index.sst/2010/06/
gasland review documentary.by local volunteer firemen, county emergency
responders and the drilling company, and it did
not contaminate the small tributary of the Alle-
gheny headwaters nearby, but ...
The issue of water contamination is
a serious one given the scale of Marcellus
development projected for Pennsylvania.
DOCUMENT 173: Barack Obama Recommends a National Policy for
Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and
the Great Lakes (2010)On June 12, 2009, President Barack Obama created an Inter-agency Ocean Policy Task Force and charged it
with “developing recommendations to enhance our ability to maintain healthy, resilient, and sustainable ocean,
coasts, and Great Lakes resources for the benefit of present and future generations.” The task force, in addition
to setting the first U.S. ocean stewardship policy, also recommended a strengthened governance structure to
coordinate this policy, developed an implementation strategy, and created “a framework for effective coastal
and marine spatial planning that establishes a comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based approach to address
conservation, economic activity, use conflict, and sustainable use of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.”
Befitting a president born in Hawaii, Obama protected more of the ocean than any other U.S. president. In
expanding the Paphanaumokukea Marine National Monument, created by George W. Bush, he set aside the
largest marine sanctuary, indeed the largest public park, anywhere in the world.
Many conservatives consider the task force’s recommendations a stark example of federal government
overreach, and the Trump administration would like to open up several protected areas to fishing and drilling.The Deepwater Horizon–BP oil spill in the Gulf
of Mexico and resulting environmental crisis is
a stark reminder of how vulnerable our marine
environments are, and how much communi-
ties and our Nation rely on healthy and resil-
ient ocean and coastal ecosystems. The ocean,
our coasts, and the Great Lakes impact the lives
of all Americans, whether we live and work
in the country’s heartland or along its shores.
America’s rich and productive coastal regions
and waters support tens of millions of jobs and
contribute trillions of dollars to the national
economy each year. They also host a growing
number of important activities, including, rec-
reation, science, commerce, transportation,
energy development, and national security and
they provide a wealth of natural resources and
ecological benefits.
Nearly half of the country’s population
lives in coastal counties, and millions of visitors
enjoy our Nation’s seashores each year. The
ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes are
vital places for recreation, including boating,
fishing, swimming, nature watching, and div-
ing. These activities not only help fuel our
economy, but also are critical to the social
and cultural fabric of our country. In addi-
tion, coastal ecosystems provide essential eco-
logical services. Barrier islands, coral reefs,
mangroves, and coastal wetlands help to pro-
tect our coastal communities from damaging
floods and storms. Coastal wetlands shelter
recreational and commercial fish species, pro-
vide critical habitat for migratory birds and
mammals, and serve as a natural filter to help
keep our waters clean.
Despite the critical importance of these areas
to our health and well-being, the ocean, coasts
and Great Lakes face a wide range of threats
from human activities. Overfishing, pollution,