Citing "significant adverse impacts" on fish habitats, fisheries, marine food webs and North Carolina's coastal economy, the state Division of Coastal Management (DCM) today rebuffed a company's plan to conduct seismic blasting off the coast.
DCM said the proposal from WesternGeco is inconsistent with the agency's coastal management policies. The decision is not a final ruling on WesternGeco's permit; the blasting would occur in federal waters, and the U.S. Department of Commerce could sustain or overrule DCM's objection if WesternGeco appeals.
“Thanks and congratulations to The Division of Coastal Management for recognizing the environmental and economic importance of protecting North Carolina’s coastline and marine species from devastating seismic blasting,” said Erin Carey, the N.C. Sierra Club’s coastal conservation program coordinator. “We hope federal authorities will show the same wisdom when they consider WesternGeco’s proposal and any other seismic permit application. Seismic blasting - like offshore drilling - would do awful, long-term damage to our coastline and should be prevented.”
