Ocean Blasting Opposed by Members of Congress
On Capitol Hill Wednesday, lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have called on President Barack Obama to reconsider the U.S. Department of Interior's plan to use seismic surveys to search for deposits of oil and gas in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. The plan, proposed by the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management last year, would open the Mid-Atlantic to seismic surveys, using sound blasts louder than a jet engine to penetrate thousands of feet into the seabed. In addition to being the first step towards drilling in the Mid-Atlantic the effects of the exploration itself are hazardous to marine life big and small causing a range of impacts to from panic to death for miles.
“While the region copes with the impact from Sandy, the threat of seismic exploration adds insult to injury for our fishing communities and marine life,” said Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf.
Leading the delegation of members of Congress is New Jersey's own Senator Frank Lautenberg in the Senate, and Representative Frank Pallone in the House. Other members from New Jersey’s delegation included Senator Robert Menendez and Representatives Rush Holt, Bill Pascrell, and Albio Sires. In New York, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Congressman Chuck Rangel signed on.
“We applaud those members of Congress who have taken a stand today against seismic exploration, especially those from New Jersey. We are proud of New Jersey's dedication to protecting our shores from industry and thank Senator Lautenberg and Congressman Pallone for leading the charge. As was evidenced in Atlantic City last year when BOEM held a public hearing on seismic surveys, the people of New Jersey have no interest in allowing industry off our shores, and will continue to make our voices heard and stand up to big oil,” added Zipf.
In April of last year, the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management held a public hearing in Atlantic City to allow members of the public to voice their opinion on the proposed surveys. Members of the public opposed to the surveys outnumbered those in favor 10-1.
For a complete list of signers, please visit COA’s Blog Post
Mary Crawford
2:51 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Seismic testing is also opposed by the fishing industry - this testing goes on for months and can drive fish away from the area causing great reduction in the marine life in the area. there is also potential damage to fish eggs and some fish organs - further jeopardizing marine life.
jerseyswamps
12:57 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Where did you learn all that? Local branch of the public library?
George Clark
12:56 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
it's amazing how we all sit back and watch men of "science" or really cash destroy our ecosystems and our very planet in the name of money. They haven't a clue of the damage they are doing or even if they did they'd do it for money anyway and all you would invest in the companies destroying our world for profit. i (almost) pray a huge chunk of the sea floor collapses and destroys vast swaths of land, and unfortunately the people inhabiting that land ie us, to teach us a lesson we should have learned long ago. These idiots, we all included, believe the can take vast pools of oil from the earths crust "filling" it with water and hope the earth doesn't react violently to our reckless poking and proding. Do they know if removing the oil will shift magnetic lines? do they know if the water will hold up the crust the oil once did? They thought they knew how to shut off the deep wells. they thought they knew the dangers of oil from the time they first found it. They thought global warming was a myth. Till their shore homes went under too. Money and power has made them blind to all else as it has done to us. I hope we instinctively "swim away" from these mad scientist and the money/power hungry tycoons and equity invests. shalom
bd
3:08 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
global warming aka Algore warming IS A MYTH. (it's called weather for those in Rio Linda)
bd
3:07 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
And when i see these phonies going back and forth to Washington on their bicycles i will listen to their gum-flapping, until then..............................
George Clark
3:08 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013
bd, does that stand for big dummy? when I see big oil not capitalizing on polluting our world i will believe their paid for "scientist whores". You are obviously one of the few dummies that don't look up the facts and deny them on fox news false hoods or republicans lobbied to pull your hood over your blind eyes. peace
Xavier
1:05 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
The Sierra Club is taking over patch.
I have spoken
1:21 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Read her resume....Not impressive. A tree-hugger wanna-be. Kinda like having an annoying pimple on your chin.