LWV: No to seismic testing, offshore drilling

Regarding the proposed “Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Atlantic Ocean,” the League of Women Voters of Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Area strenuously opposes seismic testing in the waters off our coast as a prelude to possible offshore drilling for oil and gas.

These tests, which are loud and jarring, are detrimental to all marine life. The economy of South Carolina depends on the health of the marine animals off our shore for fishermen, crabbers, and oystermen, and they are important to our tourism industry.

Whatever benefits might be realized from offshore drilling, should seismic testing reveal substantial oil and gas deposits, are far outweighed by the substantial damage to our environment, health and quality of life.

The negative impact on our fisheries, business climate and tourism industry would be enormous. Seismic testing and offshore drilling must not be permitted off the shores of the state of South Carolina.

This story was originally published July 15, 2017 at 9:12 AM with the headline "LWV: No to seismic testing, offshore drilling."