Thanks to the Obama Administration the Atlantic Coast was removed from the 2017-2022 offshore drilling lease plan. However, the federal government is still evaluating permits from several companies to use seismic airgun blasting (a loud, dangerous and disruptive method used to find oil and gas deep underneath the ocean floor) to survey the Atlantic seabed for oil and gas deposits. This information would be used to influence leasing decisions in the future.
While seismic testing on its own is harmful to marine life and interferes with commercial and recreational fishing, it’s also the first step towards drilling, which local communities have made clear they don’t want. There is no reason to pursue seismic blasting when the Atlantic coast has overwhelmingly rejected drilling.
Sign our petition and help us tell our state and federal leaders that North Carolinians are opposed to seismic testing off our coast.
To President Obama, Secretary Jewell, and Governor McCrory,
While we are relieved that the Atlantic Coast was removed from the 2017-2022 drilling lease plan, we are very concerned about the impacts of seismic blasting along our coast.
Seismic blasting is known to harm and disrupt migratory patterns of marine animals, like dolphins and whales. The blasts have been known to travel more than a thousand miles through the ocean, potentially disorienting, hurting, deafening, or even killing nearby marine life. Using seismic airguns off our coast could threaten our commercial and recreational fishing, which is central to the economies of towns and cities along the Southeast.
Finally, nearly one hundred communities along the Atlantic coast have passed resolutions opposing seismic blasting and offshore drilling. There is no reason to pursue seismic blasting when the Atlantic coast has overwhelmingly rejected drilling.
[Your comment here]
We urge you to deny the pending permits for seismic blasting in the Atlantic.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
