Coast Watch: Opposition to Atlantic Offshore Drilling Mounts

Seven Atlantic coast governors have asked the US Interior Department to exempt their states from the plan to open their offshore waters to oil and gas drilling.

NC Gov. Roy Cooper joined with a bipartisan group of governors from Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia to send the message: “We write today to express our joint opposition to the leasing, exploration, development and production of oil and gas in the Atlantic Ocean as proposed by the 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. We also write to request that our states and the Atlantic Coast be exempt from this program.” The letter emphasized concern about impacts on natural resources and coastal tourism.

The governors’ letter also noted widespread opposition from business and trade groups, legislators, and more than 140 local jurisdictions. In North Carolina last week, one of just two local jurisdictions to have adopted a resolution in support of offshore drilling formally rescinded that resolution.

Brunswick County withdrew its 2015 resolution of support for drilling, leaving just one NC county in support of drilling and more than 30 local jurisdictions opposed.

Even in Carteret County, the lone NC coastal county whose countywide elected board may be still in support of drilling, drilling is opposed by at least four Carteret County municipalities (Morehead City, Beaufort, Atlantic Beach, and Cedar Point)—and the Carteret Chamber of Commerce!

NCLCV has signed onto a national letter requesting more public hearings on Interior’s draft drilling plan. In the meantime, NCLCV supporters can directly add your voices to the wave of opposition to drilling off North Carolina’s sensitive and priceless coast here.

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