The Commerce Department is proposing to grant five permits to survey the Atlantic coastline's seabed, a move that activists oppose because they see it as part of President Trump's plan to expand offshore drilling.

The proposed permits, filed on Monday for publication in the Federal Register, would allow companies to use high-powered air guns to conduct seismic survey activity. But environmental groups say the survey technique is harmful to marine mammals and other sea life and should not be used.

"The threats of seismic airgun blasting alone are bad enough, but it's also the first step to offshore drilling, which could lead to the industrialization of coastal communities and the risk of another BP Deepwater Horizon-like disaster," said the large conservation group Oceana. "The time to protect our coast is now."

The Commerce Department, however, is warning that any comments submitted to the agency in opposition to, or suport of, oil and natural gas drilling will not be accepted. The agency is accepting comments on its proposed permit authorization for 30 days.

"Comments indicating general support for or opposition to hydrocarbon exploration or any comments relating to hydrocarbon development (e.g., leasing, drilling) are not relevant to this request for comments and will not be considered," the notice read.

President Trump in an April executive order began the process of reversing the Obama administration's ban on drilling off the Atlantic Coast. The proposed survey activity is the first step in opening up oil and natural gas drilling on the East Coast by assessing what lies beneath the seabed.

Although the survey actions may help in planning future drilling operations, the action being taken does not allow any actual drilling to take place. That approval is still being worked out by the Interior Department.

The Commerce Department's fisheries division issues the permits, which allow companies to incidentally harm whales, seals and other aquatic mammals through conducting their activities.

"An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if [the National Marine Fisheries Service] finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species," the notice read.

The survey area will stem from northern Florida to Delaware.

Excerpt from:

Activists: Trump's Atlantic coast survey is the 'first step to offshore drilling' - Washington Examiner