Bipartisan Amendment to Save Drakes Bay Oyster Co Filed in Senate Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON – Today, Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) co-sponsored an amendment to the Senate Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2014, which, if passed, would allow Drakes Bay Oyster Company to remain open at least 10 more years. The amendment would “establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to reinstate the reservation of use and occupancy and special use permits to conduct certain commercial operations.”
Dan Epstein, Cause of Action’s executive director commented on the proposal:
“Government accountability is not a partisan issue—neither is saving jobs. This amendment would save 30 jobs at Drakes Bay Oyster Company and 40 percent of California’s oyster market. It would also send the message to the Department of Interior that transparency and scientific integrity cannot be casually dismissed for political purposes.”
Cause of Action, Briscoe Ivester & Bazel LLP, Stoel Rives LLP, and SSL Law Firm represent Drakes Bay Oyster Company in their current federal lawsuit against the Department of the Interior, National Park Service and Secretary Ken Salazar.
