Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling and other state municipal leaders were successful in their first effort to oppose offshore drilling, but now they are preparing for another fight.

President Donald Trump on April 28 instructed the Department of the Interior to lift offshore drilling restrictions that former President Barack Obama put in place for the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.

Trumps executive order calls for the administration to fast-track permitting to test for oil and natural gas deposits using seismic air guns off the Atlantic Coast.

We won the first battle to stop offshore drilling along our coast, but dont know what the new battle is just yet, Keyserling said last week.

We havent seen anything specific yet from the new administration under President Trump, but the number of businesses in opposition of offshore drilling is now in the thousands and we also have been informed that Gov. Henry McMaster is opposed to the drilling.

While things are changing under the new administration, the resolution against offshore drilling that multiple municipalities passed during the Obama administration would only require some updating for another round of opposition, Keyserling said..

At this point, we need to see where the current administration is coming from in terms of the new developments about this issue, Keyserling said. Everyone who worked with us before is ready to get back on it.

Keyserling said it is important to wait and see what happens next.

Lets wait and see the cards we are dealt, he said. We all have learned to work together and have a strong grassroots impact when it comes to opposing the drilling.

Keyserling said there are many reasons Beaufort County would not be an appropriate location for offshore drilling.

One reason is because so much of our economy depends upon tourism and the quality of life is what the coast is about, he said. If they were to drill, where you do have a port or community? Who wants to become an oil town?

Keyserling also said testing or drilling for oil could disturb marine life.

We dont have the infrastructure here in Beaufort County for offshore drilling, he said. Weve spent hundreds of millions of dollars to refurbish beaches, and to rebuild bridges and communities all along the coast. That tourism could be wiped out if the drilling should move forward.

No matter what, we have to be aware of whats happening and you always want to keep your guard up to protect what you have.

While Keyserling and others wait to see what their next move will be, he said citizens can contact their representatives to voice their concerns.

NOAA Fisheries is accepting public comment through July 6 on incidental harassment authorizations that allow companies that propose seismic testing to incidentally, but not intentionally, harass marine mammals by using the air guns.

They can write their senators, Sen. (Lindsey) Graham or Sen. (Tim) Scott, and simply state they are opposed to seismic testing and drilling, Keyserling said. We are going to continue to work on this issue, and wait and see what comes next in our battle.

Read more:

Beaufort mayor ready for another offshore drilling fight - Bluffton Today