NJ Officials Speak Out Against Offshore Oil, Gas Drilling

MONMOUTH BEACH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - New Jersey lawmakers are again speaking out against plans by the Obama administration to open up part of the Atlantic Coast to offshore oil and gas drilling.

Sen. Bob Menendez calls it an ill-conceived plan by the administration, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.

Listen to NJ Officials Speak Out Against Offshore Oil, Gas Drilling

"All of the risk is put on the backs of our shore communities and all of the reward goes to big oil companies," Menendez said.

The Department of the Interior is proposing a drilling site in the region from Virginia to George, but Sen. Corey Booker said a disaster would impact the entire coast.

"There's no way to separate that territory from New Jersey. We live in one ecosystem," Booker said.

At the Jersey Shore, Monmouth Beach Mayor Sue Howard said Sandy was enough.

"We don't need to place ourselves at risk with another catastrophic event," she said.

The Department of the Interior said it is committed to public input and science to develop resources the right way and in the right places.