THIS WEDNESDAY: Public hearing in Jacksonville on federal proposal to allow seismic exploration in federal waters off Northeast Florida as a precursor to oil and gas drilling
The federal Minerals Management Service (MMS) will hold two scoping meetings in Jacksonville THIS WEDNESDAY, requesting input on the natural resources and other issues MMS should consider before allowing seismic exploration for oil and gas drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from New Jersey south to approximately Vero Beach.
The MMS is looking for comments on the potential environmental impacts of seismic exploration in the Mid- and South Atlantic OCS. MMS has already decided not to move forward with scoping for the Northern Atlantic and Straits of Florida planning areas.
The Obama Administration’s proposal earlier this month to allow drilling in a larger area of the eastern Gulf, as well as allow seismic exploration for oil and gas off Florida’s Atlantic Coast, was met with dismay by Florida Audubon.
Comments received at this meeting will help MMS develop a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) which would dictate the limitations and mitigation on all future seismic surveys, sidescan-sonar surveys, electromagnetic surveys, geological and geochemical sampling and remote sensing related to siting of offshore oil and gas operations, renewable energy projects and sand deposit research off Northeast Florida’s coast. As a result of this PEIS, future applications will not have to undergo individual review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) if they meet the conditions/mitigation dictated by the PEIS.
Public Hearing on Oil Drilling
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
4760 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
TWO MEETINGS: 1PM & 7PM
For details on the proposal and request for comments, view the federal register notice.
SIX of SEVEN current corporate applications posted on MMS’ website express significant interest in exploring Northeast Florida’s offshore areas for oil and gas. Of great concern to Audubon and others in the conservation community, the waters off Georgia and Northeast Florida are the calving grounds of highly endangered North Atlantic Right Whales. Right Whales, as well as other cetaceans, could be susceptible to harm from seismic exploration.
TAKE ACTION
Attend one of Wednesday’s meetings in Jacksonville to express your concerns about this proposal. Raise concerns that our waters are not compatible with oil and gas exploration, and this programmatic is too broad. It spans diverse offshore areas from New Jersey all the way to Florida’s central Atlantic coast. Flag significant resources and issues that the Service must consider—like Florida’s critical calving grounds for endangered North Atlantic Right Whales—and identify possible alternatives to the proposed action. Most importantly, express your support for national action to curb greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and creating clean, job-creating renewable energy, rather than furthering our dependence on fossil fuels.
Written comments may also be submitted by email to GGEIS@mms.gov by May 17.
