Locals rally against offshore oil drilling – Carolinacoastonline

MOREHEAD CITY Local environmental advocates hosted a rally Saturday in response to President Donald Trumps executive order that may lead to re-opening the Atlantic coast to offshore oil and gas exploration.

By 10 a.m., about 50 people had come to the rally at the Morehead City public boat ramp on Shepherd Street, hosted by the Crystal Coast Waterkeeper and The Croatan Group of the Sierra Club, and more arrived before the end. Several speakers representing the local scientific community, as well as one from the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, addressed the crowd, talking about the risks of offshore drilling, the alternatives to fossil fuels and encouraging action on the part of Carteret County residents and others.

The rally was organized in response to early reports that President Trump was expected to sign an executive order Friday, which he did. The Associated Press reported the order reverses some of former President Barack Obamas restrictions on oil and natural gas drilling, as well as instructs U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review the five-year offshore leasing plan, which dictates which federal locations are open to offshore drilling.

Michael Murdoch, chairman of The Croatan Group, said The Sierra Club has been involved in the no drill campaign for many years.

President Trumps executive order yesterday spurred everyone to realize weve got (natural) resources here that are at risk, he said. We want to unite people and help them realize our real resources are in our ocean, fisheries, beaches and tourism; not outdated energy sources. Theres no oil-based technology that doesnt have severe environmental impacts. Were strongly saying no, we dont want this to happen.

Larry Baldwin, Crystal Coast Waterkeeper, said they held the rally to coincide with climate marches that are being held around the U.S., including in Washington, D.C.

Its important we keep the issues of oil drilling and seismic blasting together, he said. Seismic surveys are used to search for oil and gas deposits without exploratory drilling. However, environmentalists have spoken at numerous public meetings, expressing concern that the seismic blasts used in these surveys may impact the marine environment, particularly by injuring or driving away marine wildlife.

The public needs to understand whats happening again, Mr. Baldwin said. Our hope for today is to educate people and get them to start standing up. This water belongs to the people, and we dont want oil drilling and seismic blasting off our coast. We need to stand together to avoid a catastrophic series of events.

Dr. Doug Nowacek, Duke University Marine Lab associate professor of conservation technology, said offshore oil drilling relies heavily on seismic surveying.

When they (seismic surveys) start out, theyre very broad scale, he said, then they hone in on resources. After they find something theyll do follow-up surveys every three to five years.

Dr. Nowacek said that over the last few years, marine scientists have discovered sound is a very important factor in how fish locate their preferred habitats.

To me, we know plenty to take to the (regulatory) agencies and say this really needs to be a calculated thing, if its going to happen at all, he said.

Dr. Pete Peterson, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences professor of coastal habitat valuation and restoration. spoke about his observations both working on evaluating the impacts of the major oil spills in the U.S. and in evaluating the suitability of the North Carolina coast for offshore wind energy development.

If you think of Alaska and energy, you think of oil, Dr. Peterson said. I often say North Carolina is to wind what Alaska is to oil what were doing here is saying well trade the traditional energy for this new kind. Wind power is very competitive. It saves the environment, our pocketbook and makes us feel good about what we do. The risks can be managed. Ive worked on all the major oil spills in the U.S. they have impacts that are still ongoing.

Tom Keis, president of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, spoke on his position on how offshore drilling may impact the coast. He said hes also vice-chair of the Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast, an organization that represents businesses that support protecting the coastal environment here.

Mr. Keis read from letters sent by BAPAC to elected officials, expressing the alliances opposition to offshore oil and gas exploration.

Our organization has gone to Washington (D.C.) twice (to lobby against offshore drilling), he said. We will be going back again.

Among those who attended the rally was Ron Gerhart of Pine Knoll Shores. Mr. Gerhart said his takeaway from the rally was the risk of an oil spill would affect 95 percent of people in the local area, while the upside of drilling would only benefit 5 percent, most of them the stockholders.

If they (drilling supporters) are hiding behind drilling to generate more jobs, its just not going to happen, he said.

Katharine Guthrie of Otway also attended the rally. She said she wished more people had shown up, but she was glad those who came did.

I dont think they should do it (drill or seismic survey) here in the waters where people work and live, she said.

Contact Mike Shutak at 252-726-7081 ext. 206, email mike@thenewstimes.com; or follow on Twitter at @mikesccnt.

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Locals rally against offshore oil drilling - Carolinacoastonline