Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
December 4, 2014 5:54 p.m.
At the instigation of Commissioner Johnny Miller, the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) extended an invitation to Erin Handy of Oceana to address them at their December 2, 2014 Regular Meeting on the topic of seismic air gun testing in Atlantic waters off the east coast of the United States.
Founded in 2001, Oceana is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. They are currently directing efforts to persuade the Secretary of the Interior not to allow seismic air gun testing off the Eastern Seashore as a means to explore for oil and gas reserves. In 1982 the Atlantic was declared off limits to oil exploration. But in 2014 the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) received administration approval to open the Atlantic to seismic testing for oil and gas. It has been estimated that as much as 3.3 billion barrels of oil (less than a 6-month supply for the nation) may be found in the mid and south Atlantic off the US coast. The current BOEM 5-Year Plan can then be reviewed in 2017 for potential drilling if the seismic air gun testing shows promising results. To date, nine companies have submitted applications for permits. Seismic air gun blasting could take place in the Atlantic, including off the Florida coast, as early as 2015.
The air guns release blasts every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for weeks and months at a time. Different companies can conduct blasting in the same area again and again. The impact on marine mammals from such testing is significant. It disrupts mating and feeding habits, causes abandonment of habitat and temporary and permanent hearing loss, among other issues. It also adversely impacts the fishing and tourist industries. Handy emphasized the effects on the right whale breeding grounds right off Fernandina Beach.
Handy advised commissioners and the audience that the Secretary of the Interior has stated that she will take Governors’ and state officials’ opinions into consideration. Oceana is urging coastal residents to speak out individually and through their elected officials on the environmental and economic objections to seismic air gun testing. Their goal is to get 50% of the towns in each congressional district to sign letters of resolution opposing seismic air gun blasting in the Atlantic.
Commissioner Miller informed commissioners that he had experienced some of these low-frequency sounds emitted by seismic air guns while in the Navy, and that they are “super loud.”
Commissioner Pat Gas moved and Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican seconded Resolution 2014-168 opposing seismic air gun testing in the Atlantic Ocean. The motion passed with unanimous support.
For additional information on seismic air gun testing and Oceana, visit Oceana’s website oceana.org/en or contact Erin Handy at (904) 885-1348 or [email protected].
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
Thank goodness for organizations like “Oceana.” I am grateful to ‘The Fernandina Observer,” for bringing this issue to our attention. Thank you also to Commissioner Miller and to all the Commissioners who voted to ban this Seismic Airgun testing in Fernandina. It is insane to even think of doing this here on the east Coast in the first place.
these people need to understand one thing them doing this air blasting under the water would have devistating circumstances just like it would on land there are animals big and small in the ocean just think of the effect it would have on them i vote no no no!
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I am so Grateful to read about this decision….Yay Commissioners, and Thank you Johnny Miller!