We thought we were safe.

Save Our Shores was started in 1979 as a group of local citizens got together to harness community support to stop offshore oil drilling from coming to our coast. It was a tough battle, but Save Our Shores worked with the community and pushed for the designation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and was successful when the largest marine sanctuary in the country was established in 1992, right here in our own backyard.

And so we thought we were safe until the presidential moratorium on new offshore drilling was lifted last year which now exposes the country to new offshore oil drilling proposals.

The threats to our wildlife and marine resources will be numerous if we allow our coasts to be opened to more drilling. If you care about preventing the sacrifice of your favorite coastline to dangerous offshore oil drilling impacts, WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION NOW!

On April 16 in San Francisco, Interior Secretary Salazar will host a public hearing to determine what actions the Obama Administration will be taking this fall with regard to allowing, for the first time, new offshore oil and gas drilling in our most sensitive coastal waters, and for approval of renewable energy industry proposals off of our coast. Just as we did years ago to stop offshore drilling, now again we are calling on the community to come forward and voice their concern that drilling will threaten our ocean’s already impaired health.

Please attend this very important hearing to help protect our coast!

To let the Interior Department know that you wish to testify at this hearing, please reply directly via email to this address: DOI_Events@ios.doi.gov

You can also sign in to testify upon arrival.

Doors will open at 8:00 a.m. and the meetings will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a presentation by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The hearing will conclude by 8:00 p.m. each evening, with lunch and dinner breaks tentatively scheduled from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 16 in San Francisco, CA

Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF

Robertson Auditorium

1675 Owens Street

San Francisco, CA

(a colorful “Ocean Voices” rally at noon will be held at this same location, please join us for music and fun)

As you arrive for each hearing, you will be asked to submit a comment card. In addition, all attendees at the site who wish to deliver comments orally will be offered an opportunity to do so, time permitting.

Please refer to

http://www.mms.gov/5-year/ for final detailed schedule information for each hearing.