2006年VOA标准英语-US Congress Re-Considers Offshore Drilling for

By Mil Arcega
Washington
11 July 2006
 
Watch Offshore¹ Drilling report

The United States House of Representatives has passed a controversial measure designed to lift a 25-year ban on oil drilling in U.S. coastal² areas. As VOA's Mil Arcega reports, environmental concerns about the practice mean the bill may still have a tough road to travel in the U.S. Senate.

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Santa Monica Bay  
  
California's Santa Monica Bay is one of the nation's most scenic³ and ecologically sensitive areas.  But valuable deposits of oil lie below its surface.  In June the U.S. House of Representatives voted to end a 25-year ban on drilling off the nation's coasts. 

 
David Beckmann
  
David Beckmann, with the Natural Resources Defense⁴ Council says the reversal will be global.

"It reverses 25 years of protection not only for California's ocean environment but for the oceans across the country," he says.  "And it authorizes⁵ offshore drilling, changing the game."

A 1969 oil spill at a platform 10 kilometers off California's coast led to a wave of opposition⁶ against offshore drilling.  Since then, California lawmakers have fought to keep that from ever happening again. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger  
  
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called the House bill unacceptable, and is pushing for alternatives to drilling.

"No plan would be complete without a strong commitment to conservation," he said. "Energy efficiency is our most cost effective resource for meeting our needs."

California's tourism industry generates more than $50 billion a year. Opponents of drilling believe another accident could be disastrous⁷ to businesses that depend on tourism.  But energy industry experts argue that the chances of another spill are highly unlikely, and that U.S. dependence⁸ on overseas sources of petroleum⁹ comes with its own risks of shortages and higher prices. 

Mike Mandel   
  
"Well, what's happening at this point is that China keeps growing very fast and expanding its demand for oil and gas and that's putting a floor under U.S. gasoline and oil prices," said Mike Mandel, Chief Economist¹⁰ at Businessweek magazine. "Combine that with problems in the Mideast and the turmoil¹¹ and the possibility of hurricanes going through the Gulf¹² of Mexico and you see the reasons why the price of oil and gasoline keeps rising and rising."

The House bill would allow states to keep banning offshore drilling out to 160 kilometers - but there would be no restrictions¹³ on drilling beyond that. The proposal will now be considered in the U.S. Senate, where it faces determined¹⁴ opposition from representative of coastal states from both political parties.

1 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 authorizes   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings 'traveler' and 'traveller'. 字典裁定traveler和traveller两种拼法都对。
• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings "honor" and "honour.". 字典裁定 honor 及 honour 两种拼法均可。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

8 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

9 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

10 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

11 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

12 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

13 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

14 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。