RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb are introducing legislation to allow oil and gas exploration off Virginia's coast and to direct half of any leasing revenues to the state.
The legislation introduced Wednesday would also expand the area of exploration off the state's coast. The two Democrats are also proposing an expansion of the exploration area to more accurately reflect Virginia's coastal oil and gas resources.
The Webb and Warner legislation would direct the Department of the Interior to include the Virginia offshore waters in the nation's five-year oil and gas lease plan starting in 2012.
The Obama administration delayed East Coast oil and gas exploration until at least 2017 following the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.
Webb and Warner say they support safe and responsible exploration.
