drilling off the east and west coasts is
                controversial
Oil Drilling off the East Coast


Should the federal government allow offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the United States?  You may focus on one state, if you wish.  Make sure to consider both economic issues (including tourism and reducing dependence on foreign oil) and environmental issues.

Background

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_drilling_on_the_US_Atlantic_coast
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/01/131724772/administration-reaffirms-gulf-oil-drilling-ban
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001049
http://www.americanbar.org/publications/natural_resources_environment/2011_12/summer_2012/coastal_planning_federal_consistency_and_climate_change_recent_divergence_federal_and_state_interests.html
http://www.eenews.net/public/EEDaily/2011/12/05/1

In favor

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/8561
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06/D9VBL0S00.htm
https://www.workboat.com/blogpost.aspx?id=14823
http://www.dailypress.com/news/science/dead-rise-blog/dp-rigell-pushes-for-offshore-drilling-20120202,0,5410269.story
http://www.newsday.com/elections/mitt-romney-pushes-offshore-oil-drilling-in-mid-atlantic-1.3921891
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2007/07/democrats-support-higher-oil-prices-and.html

Opposed

http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/offshore-drilling-obama-vs.-romney
http://vasierraclub.org/2012/03/why-explore-when-we-dont-want-drilling-in-the-first-place/

http://www.eenews.net/public/Greenwire/2012/08/09/1
http://www.southernenvironment.org/cases/drilling_in_the_atlantic_huge_risk_little_reward
http://www.cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id=791
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/06/13/4044080/dont-drill-off-sc-coast.html