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Seismic testing comment period extended

Courtesy of NRDC

Delawareans who want to comment in support of or against seismic testing now have more time to do so.

 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has extended the deadline for public comments on seismic testing and offshore drilling because many people requested more time.

The comment period is now open until July 21.  It was originally set to end July 6.

Mid-Atlantic campaign organizer for Oceana Caroline Wood says state environmental groups like hers and the Surfrider Foundation are continuing to educate the public on seismic testing.

"We’ve been focused on doing our job making sure the general public knows now is their last chance to weigh in on seismic, and helping folks do that and participate in the process," Wood said.

 

"Everybody’s gotta be extremely vigilant on this in order to keep those airguns off of our coast and keep the oil rigs out of here. We don’t need them," said John Doerfler with the Delaware chapter for the Surfrider Foundation.

 

Groups like the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute say the loud blasts on the ocean floor could harm marine animals that use hearing to stay connected to one another.

In 2016, The Obama administration considered allowing six companies the right to use airguns to test for oil and gas under the ocean floor.

Those six permits were denied in January 2017.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will decide by July 21 whether or not to grant five companies the right to disturb marine mammals while searching for oil and gas on the Atlantic coast.

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