Rally to be held opposing offshore drilling – Jacksonville Daily News

Rally to be held Saturday in opposition of efforts to re-open Atlantic coast to offshore drilling

MOREHEAD CITY | Area residents are again gathering in opposition to efforts to re-open the Atlantic Coast to offshore oil leases.

The Crystal Coast Waterkeeper and the Sierra Club-Croatan Group will host a rally and press conference Saturday on current issues with a potential negative impact on the coast.

The event coincides with the marches being held in Washington, D.C. and around the country on climate change but will focus on the issue of offshore drilling.

It is time again for the voices of the people to ring loud and clear to say that we are not going to tolerate the continued attacks on our precious waters for the sake of greed and politics. These waters do not care about our political or any other affiliations. They just want to be clean and healthy. This gathering is the first of many that will highlight our concerns and demand that our way of life be protected, said Crystal Coast Waterkeeper Larry Baldwin.

Baldwin said they will stand against plans of the Trump Administration to reopen the Atlantic coast to offshore drilling and seismic blasting by Executive Order.

Coastal counties across North Carolina, including several from Onslow and Carteret counties, stepped up last year in opposing offshore drilling off the coast.

In March 2016, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced that it removed the North Carolina coast from consideration for offshore oil drilling, citing local opposition as one of the reasons.

The rally will bring together area residents to show their continued opposition.

The 10 a.m. event will be held at the Morehead City boat ramp park at the end of 10th Street near the corner with Shepard Street.

Reporter Jannette Pippin can be reached at jannette.pippin@JDNews.com.

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Rally to be held opposing offshore drilling - Jacksonville Daily News