Continuing the fight to prevent offshore drilling in New Jersey, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner McCabe announced that the State has joined a motion in federal court seeking to block drilling-related seismic testing activity.
Seismic testing and wind farms off Atlantic City coast could harm marine mammals environment.
Seismic testing is a necessary step before companies can engage in offshore drilling along the eastern coast, because the testing allows companies to search for oil and natural gas along the sea floor.
Offshore wind farms: another issue for those concerned about the coastal environment.
Recreational and commercial fishermen have been meeting to discuss the potential dangers, and questionable ROI, of massive wind farms off the coast of Atlantic City.
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Constructing wind turbines can disrupt fisheries. Noise, shifts in sediment and increased ship traffic disturbs the ocean environment and can drive away wildlife. Cables that run along the ocean floor can also emit dangerous waves and other byproduct.
Two companies, one of them being Orsted, wants to build wind farms, just off Atlantic City’s shoreline. Taxpayer subsidy may also be involved.
The Atlantic City office, based in the BELLA building, will oversee development of a Ocean Wind project, about 10 miles off Atlantic City. Beach goers will be able to see the wind turbines from the shore.
“We’ve said from day one that offshore drilling is bad for New Jersey, and we’re going to fight it every step of the way,” said Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.
“Seismic testing and offshore drilling are unnecessary for the economy and would only risk harm to New Jersey’s precious natural resources,” said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe.
The lawsuit names U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as defendants. The complaint alleges that their actions violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.
In New Jersey, offshore drilling and wind farms could endanger public safety, threaten harm to coastal natural resources, and severely undermine the state’s tourism base.
New Jersey’s 130-mile coastline generated more than $44 billion in coastal tourism revenue in 2016, supporting more than 838,000 jobs and generating $5.6 billion in federal taxes.