Statement of Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) on Seismic Testing in the Atlantic Ocean

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement this afternoon in response to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) completed environmental review of geological and geophysical (G&G) survey activities off the Atlantic coast.

“I am very concerned about the potential threat that these seismic testing plans pose to New Jersey’s shoreline. An environmentally sound coast is critical to New Jersey’s economy. Seismic testing in the Atlantic is a first step toward oil drilling off the coast, to which I remain absolutely opposed. New Jersey’s coastal economy is still reeling from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, and our fishing and tourism industries need to be protected from further challenges to their economic and environmental well-being. We have to put a stop this approach before we experience a Deepwater Horizon-like disaster in the Atlantic. The resources being used to pursue this seismic testing would be better spent investing in renewables that will help us achieve energy independence.”

“I am also disappointed that BOEM has finalized this Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on seismic testing in the Atlantic before the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is able to complete new acoustic guidelines in order to assess the effects of seismic testing on marine mammals. We do not fully understand the impact of sound of seismic airgun testing has on marine life, such as the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Without waiting for this important scientific guidance, BOEM is choosing to disregard the inevitable environmental costs of expanding oil and gas exploration into the Atlantic Ocean, which I believe is a critical mistake.”