In 2015, a ruptured pipeline spilled over 140,000 gallons of crude oil near California’s Refugio State Beach, killing hundreds of marine mammals and birds, contaminating shorelines up to 90 miles away, shutting down fisheries, and limiting recreational beach use.

Last weekend, I escaped the chilly San Francisco Bay Area weather by driving along California’s scenic Highway 101 to visit my sister in Los Angeles.

All along this beautiful coastal drive, the beaches were packed with sunbathers, swimmers, and surfers. In some places, I could pull right off the road and take just a few steps to stick my feet in the sand.

But soon, if the Trump administration has its way, offshore oil and gas production will once again threaten Pacific Coast beaches.

The federal government is currently considering opening waters off California’s coast to new offshore drilling for the first time in over 30 years.

Don’t let the Trump administration get away with this reckless plan. Join thousands of your fellow West Coasters this week and tell your representative that you want to keep the Pacific protected from new oil drilling.

Together, we are strong. Dozens of cities, counties, and other communities throughout the region have passed resolutions against offshore oil drilling. More than 1,100 businesses have joined the Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast to make the economic case for ocean protection.

Speak up and tell your member of Congress to take action to #ProtectthePacific from new oil drilling.

Thank you for standing with us to protect our beautiful Pacific Coast.

P.S. Pacific Environment is part of the Protect The Pacific Coalition. Check out recent protests against oil giant ExxonMobil’s plans for Central California here, then call your representative and tell them that the West Coast’s beaches, fisheries, and coastal tourism and recreation economy are too important to risk an oil spill.