The Governor said that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will formally submit comments on the seismic testing to the federal government to block offshore drilling in the state.
According to the Governor, a possible oil spill could bring an end to the state’s two major economic drivers which are coastal tourism and commercial fishing industries.
Cooper added that offshore oil project could potentially impact the $3bn worth coastal tourism industry in North Carolina which also supports over 30,000 jobs.
Cooper said: “It’s clear that opening North Carolina’s coast to oil and gas exploration and drilling would bring unacceptable risks to our economy, our environment, and our coastal communities—and for little potential gain.
“As Governor, I’m here to speak out and take action against it. I can sum it up in four words: not off our coast.”
Cooper claims that at least 30 coastal communities have come up with resolutions to protest the proposed drilling program. They join several businesses and a group of Congressional delegation cutting across party lines to oppose the idea of offshore drilling, stated the North Carolina Governor.
After taking over as the new US President, Donald Trump had revoked the embargo on seismic testing permits to expand offshore oil and gas drilling to off-limit areas.
Under a new executive order recently signed by the President, areas in the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans along with the US Gulf of Mexico have all been reported to be potential locations to carry out offshore drilling.
Image: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. Photo: courtesy of Chris Seward/Wikipedia.org.
