Federal government considering S.C. coast for offshore drilling
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Offshore drilling is once again under consideration off the coast of South Carolina, but not by locals.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is redoing its 5-year plan, which involves evaluating the American coastline for potential sites to drill for oil.
Over the last 10 years, President Donald Trump has pushed for unlocking America’s energy potential with campaign taglines like, “drill, baby, drill.”
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However, South Carolinians have been clear that they do not want any drilling off the coast. It’s one of the few issues Democrats and Republicans in the state come together on.
Despite state and local moratoriums on drilling, though, the federal government is looking everywhere for its National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Program.
Taylor Allred, who works with the Coastal Conservation League, says they are already fighting to keep South Carolina out of these crosshairs. He says the state is reliant on tourism, an industry based on its beaches and waters along the coastlines.
“South Carolina’s economy relies very heavily on the health of our marine ecosystem,” Allred said. “That includes our $20 billion tourism industry and our $6 billion marine economy that employees about 80,000 people. We really don’t want to see that destroyed for the sake of short-term profit.”
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He says drilling for oil can damage delicate ecosystems and construction can put endangered animals at risk, not to mention what an oil spill could do.
“A major spill could devastate our coastal ecosystem for decades,” Allred said. “One of the most critical habitats that we have is known as the Blake Plateau and that is home to one of the largest deep-sea corals known in the entire world and that is really the driver for rich fisheries in South Carolina.”
Right now, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s plan is open for public comment.
Allred says even a short comment against offshore drilling can go a long way to protecting South Carolina.
To submit a comment before the June 16 deadline, click here.
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