Pallone Blasts Trump Consideration of Seismic Testing in the Atlantic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2017


Washington D.C.- Today Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) blasted the Trump administration’s reported consideration of authorizing seismic testing in the Atlantic.

“President Trump is determined to continue his reckless anti-environment agenda,” said Pallone. “Seismic testing risks injuring and disturbing critically endangered species and threatening the Jersey shore. An environmentally sound coast is critical to New Jersey’s economy and given the Interior Department’s recent actions, it is very possible that seismic testing could lead to oil and gas drilling off our coast – threatening public health, coastal communities, and hundreds of thousands of jobs. Quite simply, no seismic testing should be allowed in the Atlantic; New Jersey communities don’t want it, and the Atlantic should not be subjected to this risk.”

In January 2017, the Obama administration denied six pending geophysical and geological (G&G) permit applications to conduct air gun seismic surveys in the Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas of the Atlantic Ocean. This decision followed years of effort by Pallone to prevent seismic testing, including his successful urging of the Obama Administration to reject previous seismic testing applications.

Last October, Pallone led a letter from members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), applauding the agency’s Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap, which proposed numerous measures to reduce ocean noise, and urging NOAA to take immediate steps to implement the plan, specifically by denying seismic testing permits in the Atlantic

In 2015, Congressman Pallone led a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) raising serious concerns over proposed seismic testing off the coast of New Jersey. The members demanded comprehensive environmental assessments of the proposed seismic testing permits and the impact this testing could have on wildlife in the Atlantic Ocean.

Pallone also asked National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries for a public hearing on proposed seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean that could potentially be used to open the Atlantic Ocean to oil and gas exploration.

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Pallone, Menendez, Booker Criticize NOAA Approval of Seismic Testing off Jersey Shore

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Corey Booker (D-NJ) made the following statement on today’s announcement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that it will be issuing an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Rutgers University, the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory and the National Science Foundation from June through August of this year. The IHA will allow for the injury or disturbance of marine mammals during a seismic survey conducted by Rutgers University less than 16 miles off the coast of Long Beach Island, New Jersey. An IHA was also approved last year despite Congressman Pallone’s opposition but the project did not move forward due to mechanical issues.

“It was a bad idea for NOAA to allow for seismic testing off the Jersey Shore last year, and it’s a bad idea this year. Seismic blasting is extremely hazardous to marine mammals and can disrupt migration patterns and fish spawning. As the New Jersey coastal economy continues to rebound from the effects of Superstorm Sandy, our fisheries cannot afford to take a hit this summer. We will continue to fight at every opportunity for the environmental and economic well-being of the Jersey Shore.”

Last month, Pallone and Senators Menendez and Booker wrote to NOAA in opposition to the seismic testing application.

Pallone Writes to NOAA in Opposition to Seismic Testing Near Jersey Coast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2015


WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D NJ-06) today released a letter he sent with Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in opposition to an application for seismic testing during a geophysical survey conducted by Rutgers University less than 16 miles off the coast of Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The letter requests a 60-day extension of the public comment period.

In their letter, the Senators and Congressman wrote, “Scientific studies are essential to better understanding climate change and its impacts. However we are concerned that seismic activity during the peak summer season just miles off of New Jersey’s coast have the potential to not only cause significant harm to marine life and habitat, but will threaten our coastal economy as well… Allowing for seismic surveys off the coast of New Jersey sets a dangerous precedent for future efforts to explore offshore for oil and gas, something we have strongly opposed in the Mid-Atlantic region and will continue to strongly oppose off of New Jersey.”

The Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory and National Science Foundation applied for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA), which would allow for the injury or disturbance of marine mammals during a marine geophysical survey. An IHA was approved last year despite Congressman Pallone’s opposition but the project did not move forward due to mechanical issues.

The full text of the letter follows.

April 16, 2015

Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan
Administrator
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230

Dear Administrator Sullivan:

We write today in regards to the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory and National Science Foundation’s application for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) which would allow the take of marine mammals by harassment during a marine geophysical survey conducted by Rutgers University less than 16 miles off the coast of Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

Scientific studies are essential to better understanding climate change and its impacts. However we are concerned that seismic activity during the peak summer season just miles off of New Jersey’s coast have the potential to not only cause significant harm to marine life and habitat, but will threaten our coastal economy as well. In fact, during a similar cruise last summer, the Research Vessel Marcus G. Langseth encountered at least 108 animals over the course of just 15 days of observation. According to the project’s Protected Species Mitigation and Monitoring Report, observers recorded visual detections of protected species 41 times, including detections of multiple types of sea turtles, three types of dolphins, and a Humpback whale.

Allowing for seismic surveys off the coast of New Jersey sets a dangerous precedent for future efforts to explore offshore for oil and gas, something we have strongly opposed in the Mid-Atlantic region and will continue to strongly oppose off of New Jersey. In March, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) determined that the project is inconsistent with the state’s rules on Coastal Zone Management. In the determination, DEP cited foreseeable adverse impacts to fisheries, endangered or threatened wildlife, and to New Jersey’s coastal resources.

We respectfully request a 60-day extension to the public comment period so that members of the public have sufficient time to thoroughly review the proposed study and environmental assessment and provide meaningful input. We appreciate your time and attention to this matter and look forward to your response. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact our offices.

Sincerely,


Cory A. Booker            Robert Menendez               Frank Pallone

United States Senator   United States Senator        Member of Congress

STATE TAKES LEGAL ACTION TO STOP SEISMIC BLASTING!

For Immediate Release:
July 6th 2014

DEP ASKING FEDERAL COURT TO HALT WORK OFF THE COAST OF BARNEGAT INLET THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE STATE’S TOURISM AND FISHING INDUSTRIES, AND TO MARINE LIFE

TRENTON – – The Christie Administration is taking legal action to halt a federally approved seismic ocean survey that is scheduled to start this month off the New Jersey coast, and which could adversely impact the state’s vital tourism and fishing industries, and marine life, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced on July 3.

The state has filed legal papers to seek injunctive relief in federal court to prevent the vessel, R/V Marcus G. Langseth, from conducting seismic research off the coast of New Jersey at this time. Please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/seismic-testing-federal-complaint.pdf

The DEP believes this research, which would use loud, powerful sound blasts to map the ocean floor over a 30-day period, will likely have a detrimental effect on New Jersey’s fisheries and marine mammals. The study is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by Rutgers University.

“We must carefully safeguard those resources, which play such a key role in our state’s $40 billion tourism industry, for the benefit of our residents, businesses and the environment,’’ Commissioner Martin said. “The Christie Administration continues to focus on clean ocean water quality, protecting our coastline and working to enhance our coastal recreation and fishing industries."

“We have made our concerns clear to the NOAA and remain hopeful that, at the very least, this initiative will be rescheduled for a less impactful time of year," Commissioner Martin added. "The timing of this program will be detrimental to various marine species that migrate and breed off the New Jersey coast and will negatively impact the commercial and recreational fishing industries, and related tourism, that relies heavily on these resources.

DEP contends that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration failed to act properly when NOAA denied the DEP’s request to study fisheries impacts. This request was made in addition to comments the DEP provided for a federal permit allowing for incidental harming or killing of marine mammals in the study area.

The NSF’s own environmental study concludes that because of limited knowledge of the effects of seismic surveys on marine fish, this “makes drawing conclusions about impacts to fish problematic.”

Part of the study area includes areas identified as essential fish habitat (EFH), which are important for fish spawning, breeding, and feeding. In approvals for this study, NOAA concedes that “it appears that some level of adverse effect to EFH may occur.”

Rutgers University received funding from the National Science Foundation to conduct seismic ocean blasting tests between 15 and 50 miles east of Barnegat Inlet as part of a climate change study. The process involves the repeated blasts of compressed air by underwater seismic air guns, designed to determine the scientific understanding of changes in sea level rise by examining deep sea sediments. These air-gun blasts can generate up to 250 decibels underwater.

The DEP’s Bureau of Marine Fisheries and Office of Environmental Review have both concluded this seismic activity would likely negatively impact New Jersey’s fish and marine mammal populations, including several endangered species.

NOAA is in the process of updating its Marine Mammal Acoustic Guidance, which set standards on how man-made sounds like seismic testing, sonar tests and ship noise, can affect marine mammals. Currently, the threshold level where underwater noise is considered to pose dangers to marine wildlife is 160 decibels, which is louder than a jet engine.

DEP contends that this proposed seismic research can either directly harm fish or disrupt migration patterns that will have a detrimental impact on our commercial and recreational fishing industry. The study’s one-month time window coincides with the height of fish migrations through the study area. This time window also accounts for nearly 20 percent of the annual catch for many species of fish.

In addition to fisheries impacts, the DEP further contends that the study will have an impact on marine mammals that migrate through the area and into New Jersey’s coastal waters. This concern is further reinforced by NOAA’s permit authorizing some harm to marine mammals, including threatened and endangered species

Feds DENY New Jersey’s Right to Review Rutgers Ocean Blasting off Coast; Use Technicality to Thwart State’s Concerns

For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2014

Seismic Ship Heads North toward New Jersey - Emergency Meeting on LBI on Wednesday, July 2nd at 5pm

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has denied New Jersey’s request to review the Rutgers University led seismic study off Barnegat Inlet for agreement with state regulations. Under the Coastal Zone Management Act, the study could be stopped if the state’s consistency review found foreseeable impacts on state resources. Although the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) submitted strong comments for its right to this review, which detailed threats to coastal resources and the economy, NOAA’s denial argued the “timeliness” of the request and ignored the state’s concerns. NOAA’s response appears baseless given that the NJDEP contacted NOAA on several occasions while evaluating the proposal and was clearly concerned with the potential for harm to coastal resources.

"It is a lame technicality; we were all blindsided by this proposal and the state acted quickly once they were altered to the study. We trust Governor Christie and the NJDEP will use all legal and state means available to stop this study," said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action. "The clock is ticking and this study must not go forward—especially now."

Captain Kevin Wark, from the commercial vessel Dana Christine, said, "No one has given us assurances that this testing isn't going to hurt commercial fishing; there have been no hearings or studies that tell us that this won't be harmful. I also find it hard to understand why there's no accountability about the possibility of damage to marine mammals when the commercial fishing industry is held to such high standards with regard to the health and safety of marine mammals.”

In its correspondence with NOAA, the NJDEP stated, “Based on previous studies examining seismic surveys and fisheries disturbances, it is reasonably foreseeable that the proposed surveys will have an impact from fisheries distribution, movement, migration and spawning perspectives that will lead to direct and indirect negative consequences to NJ’s fishing industries.”

Clean Ocean Action has been tracking the Marcus G. Langseth, the vessel that will be conducting the seismic blasting, by checking its location twice a day on the website marinetraffic.com. Until around Midnight on June 23rd, it was docked in Charleston, SC. Now it is on the move and heading north.

The study will be conducted off Barnegat Light to examine 60 million-year-old sediments for historical sea level changes; however, despite Rutgers’ claims, the study is being conducted during peak migration and/or breeding of whales, dolphins, turtles, fish, and shellfish. Divers are also at risk.

“The study would send seismic blasts of up to 250 decibels into the water every 5 seconds, 24 hours a day for 30 days, interfering with marine animal communication and movement. By way of comparison, impairment of human hearing begins after 30 seconds of exposure at 115 decibels. Marine animals are much more sensitive to sound than people are,” said Cassandra Ornell, Staff Scientist at Clean Ocean Action.

The imminent blasting of the ocean has commercial and recreational fishing leaders, divers, elected officials, marine mammal protectors and citizens who care about the health of New Jersey marine life very concerned. Governor Christie has been invited to attend an emergency town hall meeting at 5pm on Wednesday July 2nd at the Barnegat Light Fire Company on Long Beach Island.

Marine life at risk includes:

- 26 marine mammal species, including 6 endangered whale species and other whales, dolphins, and seals, may be located in or moving through the study area. Seismic blasting can interfere with marine mammal movement, breathing, communication, and feeding, and can even cause hearing damage.

- Nine of the 16 most important offshore commercial fisheries are at their peaks in the summer months. Seismic blasts can cause fish and squid to scatter and impact catch rates.

- New Jersey offshore waters are host to five threatened or endangered sea turtle species. Sea turtles exposed to much lower sound levels than proposed in this study have shown significant behavioral impacts.

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Clean Ocean Action is a non-profit, broad-based coalition of 135 conservation, environmental, fishing, boating, diving, student, surfing, women’s, business, service, and community groups, with a mission to improve the degraded water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast. COA has a decades-long history of science- and law-based advocacy for a clean, industry-free Atlantic Ocean.

Say NO to seismic blasting off our coast! Kill the study, not the whales!

by Linda Baum

On June 5th the NJ Senate Environment Committee voted unanimously to adopt SR-72, a resolution urging rejection of seismic blasting plans off the New Jersey coast. That show of opposition sends a clear message as to where New Jerseyans stand on this issue, but it is mainly a moral victory that alone won’t halt the blasting. More action is needed.

The 220-decibel sound blasts -- every five seconds for a month -- could begin in just a few weeks as the ship readies and the federal permit is processed. The permit would grant a virtual exemption for “the taking” of marine life – harm and death on a massive scale during peak migration and spawning times.

Last year hundreds of dolphins succumbed to a virus, so their local numbers are already down. And now this:
https://archive.org/details/OceanBlastingSounds20140523

Sound travels much faster in water than in air, and the intensity of the blasts means they will travel further, increasing their harmful impact.

Whales and dolphins have already been spotted migrating north up the coast, heading straight for the planned blasting zone. The mammals are present in large numbers earlier this year due to warmer waters. In fact, NOAA recently issued an advisory to fisherman and boaters regarding the presence of the marine mammals.

The so-called scientific study is being led by Rutgers University. We are told the purpose is to examine old rocks to learn more about climate change. At least that’s how they're selling it.

But why do we need more information about climate change, especially if it comes with such a devastating price tag? Failure to address climate change on a state and national level has nothing to do with a lack of evidence, which is already clear, measurable and everywhere.

(Congressman Pallone at 5/23 press conference)

A strong point made by the coastal fishermen’s association is that the marine industry and the coastal economy are still recovering from Superstorm Sandy, and a full recovery is a long way off despite what we are reading in the papers. Let’s not deal another blow to their livelihoods.

And what about the potential impact on tourism? What will happen to that revenue source if there is another fish-kill washing up on our shores this summer?

There is no good reason for seismic blasting and no right time. It will only lead to a push for oil and gas drilling off the coast, another really bad idea. Do we want to risk another Deepwater Horizon?

Please get involved and help spread the word. Share on facebook and twitter #saveNJmarinelife and sign the petition at www.StopRutgersOceanBlasting.org.

Call Senator Booker at 973-639-8700, Senator Menendez at 973-645-3030 and Rutgers President Barchi at 848-932-7454.

For more information, visit www.cleanoceanaction.org.

Thank you for taking action. And many thanks to Congressman Frank Pallone, who has been a vocal opponent of seismic blasting and a leader on this issue.

A recent article:
http://ind.gmnews.com/news/2014-06-05/Front_Page/Stakeholders_campaign_to_prevent_seismic_test.html

Pallone Calls for Hearing and Extension of Public Comment Period Regarding Proposed Seismic Surveying Testing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) sent a letter to Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, expressing his concern that the results of new proposed seismic testing off the coast of New Jersey could potentially be used to open up the Atlantic Ocean to oil and gas exploration. He requested that the agency grant a 60-day extension of public comment and hold a public hearing to sufficiently review the application submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to conduct marine seismic surveys off the coast of New Jersey. NMFS has proposed granting permission for the tests that would potentially be conducted this summer.

Congressman Pallone, an outspoken critic of seismic testing and offshore drilling off the Atlantic Coast due to its potential threat to New Jersey’s shoreline, stated that an extension of the public comment period was absolutely necessary so that residents have sufficient time to voice their concerns regarding the testing. Pallone also stressed the need for additional time in order to evaluate the application and determine what implications the seismic surveying may have for the New Jersey coast.

“An environmentally sound coast is critical to New Jersey’s economy, and I remain concerned with any activity that could lead to oil and gas drilling off our coast,” said Congressman Pallone. “Any proposal to conduct seismic surveying in the Atlantic Ocean must be reviewed with the utmost care and diligence. Otherwise, we risk injuring and disturbing critically endangered species and threatening the Jersey shore, a center of recreational and economic use.”

The full text of the letter is below:

April 4, 2014

Dr. Kathryn Sullivan
Administrator
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230

Dear Administrator Sullivan:

I am writing to express my opposition to seismic surveying in the Atlantic Ocean and to highlight my concerns with a proposal to perform seismic surveying off the coast of New Jersey currently being reviewed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Seismic surveying can injure or kill fish and marine mammals and puts at risk endangered species, such as the North Atlantic right whale. I am also concerned that the seismic surveying results could be used in the pursuit of opening up areas off New Jersey’s coast for oil and gas exploration—an area President Obama has clearly designated as off-limits.

I request that NOAA grant a 60-day extension of public comment and hold a public hearing to review the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for takes of marine mammals incidental to marine seismic surveys off the coast of New Jersey. An extension of the comment period and a public hearing are absolutely necessary so that the public can evaluate the application, the draft Environmental Assessment (EA), the purpose and goals of the seismic survey and any implications the seismic surveying may have for New Jersey and its coastal area.

In addition, given that the proposed action relies on a 2013 draft Environmental Assessment and a 2011 final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), additional time is needed to review all of the documentation. The potential for significant harm, along with the unique biology and environment of the proposed area within 15.5 miles of the Jersey shore, demand careful consideration as to whether the proposed action and corresponding draft EA prepared by the applicants are in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations.

While I support scientific endeavors to better understand climate change, I believe that it is NOAA’s best interest and that of the people of New Jersey that the agency grant a 60-day extension of public comment and hold a public hearing on the proposed authorization in the near term. Therefore, I call on NOAA to act expeditiously in taking such action.

Thank you for your consideration of this letter.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress

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.”

Pallone Fights Back Against Efforts to Expand Seismic Testing and Offshore Drilling Into Atlantic Ocean

Interior Department Official Reports that Environmental Report on Seismic Testing in the Atlantic Will Be Finalized Without Complete Marine Mammal Impact Guidelines

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) continued his push against oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic at a hearing in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

At the hearing Pallone questioned Deputy Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Walter Cruickshank and expressed his concern regarding the inevitable environmental and economic costs of expanding oil and gas exploration into the Atlantic Ocean.

Pallone continued his opposition to seismic testing in the Atlantic and requested that BOEM not finalize its Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) before the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration completes guidelines on the impact of sound on marine life, such as endangered whales. Deputy Director Cruickshank responded negatively and said that the Bureau intends to move forward with finalizing their PEIS without waiting for this important new scientific guidance.

Pallone also focused on the cost that drilling would have on jobs in New Jersey. “In New Jersey, the tourism sector, which is anchored to our clean beaches and ocean, generated $34.7 billion in 2012 alone—that is 7.0 percent of the entire state economy,” said Pallone. “Tourism sustained more than 500,000 jobs or 10 percent of total employment in the state. Commercial fishing supports more than 43,000 jobs and recreational fishing supports almost another 10,000 jobs. What assurances can you offer me and my constituents that oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic will not put these jobs and my state’s economy at risk?”

The Deputy Director stated that the Department of Interior has made no decisions about whether to move forward with drilling in the Atlantic. He conceded that implementing the recommendations of the National Commission on the B. P. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling by Congress would improve drilling safety. However, Pallone noted that House Republican leadership has refused to implement the Commission’s recommendations

Pallone also questioned Dr. Donald Boesch, a member of the Commission, about their recommendation that Congress give NOAA a formal consultative role during Interior’s development of offshore drilling plans. Dr. Boesch agreed that NOAA should be involved as the agency responsible for monitoring and researching marine mammals. Pallone called on Congress to enact this reform.

Leg Up for New Jersey Workers

From the E-Newsletter of Congressman Rush Holt: 

Many of the federal government’s most useful tools to address the needs of people who have lost their jobs come from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the primary federal program that supports job training. Last week I invited our nation’s top WIA official, Assistant Secretary of Labor Jane Oates, to meet with more than a dozen officials from New Jersey’s county job training boards to find ways to put more people back to work.

Congressman Rush Holt

Enacted in 1998, WIA created a single, universal employment and job training system – the one-stop career system – to serve the needs of all job seekers and employers. Today there are roughly 3,000 one-stop centers operating nationwide, serving millions of U.S. workers every year. Unfortunately, although WIA’s initial passage was bipartisan, its much-needed reauthorization has come under partisan attack in Washington.

The WIA bill put forth by the Tea Party majority, which could be debated in the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce as early as next week, slashes workforce investment under the guise of improving it. The bill would effectively eliminate many programs, and it would freeze WIA funding at a time when unemployment remains far too high. The result would be reduced services to the lowest-skilled adults, English language learners, people with disabilities, youth, women, and other individuals with barriers to employment.

We should be modernizing and WIA for the 21st century. I am a cosponsor of an alternative bill that would streamline and improve workforce investment system programs, strengthen workforce investment system accountability, and promote innovation and best practices within the workforce investment system. The bill also includes provisions I wrote to support online job training and to recognize and enhance the job training services that libraries provide.

Even now, 12.5 million Americans are striving to find work but proving unable to do so – often for no fault of their own. Our economy’s future depends upon us doing everything we can to help.

Extended Opportunity to Comment on Seismic Surveys near New Jersey’s Coast

The Interior Department announced this week that, because of concerns that I and others raised at a recent Congressional hearing, it has extended the comment period for its proposal to conduct seismic surveys in the mid- and south Atlantic.

Seismic surveys, which are the first step toward offshore drilling, involve using airguns to blast the ocean with extremely loud sound waves – potentially loud enough to damage wildlife and disrupt the local fishing and tourism economies.

The original, brief comment period seemed to be a form of box-checking, a way to say that public opinion had been sought without providing stakeholders enough time to comment intelligently. This extension demonstrates that the Interior Department is being more responsive to the concerns of the public. I will continue to oppose drilling off of our coast.

Free Annual Pass to National Parks for Military Personnel

One of many ways that the U.S. recognizes the service of our soldiers is by offering free admission to many of our nation’s most extraordinary parks and wilderness areas.

Active-duty U.S. military personnel and their dependents are eligible for a free annual pass that covers entrance and standard amenity fees to lands managed by the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

You can acquire your pass by presenting your U.S. military ID or Dependent ID Form at most federal lands that charge an entrance fee. A list of these sites is available online, as is further information on the free military annual pass program.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Congressman Pallone Praises Interior Department Decision to allow more Public Input on Seismic Testing in the Atlantic Ocean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Opposes seismic testing as it potentially opens the Atlantic coast to offshore drilling

WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded the announcement yesterday by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to extend the opportunity for the public to comment and have input on upcoming seismic testing for oil exploration off the Atlantic Coast. Congressman Pallone requested that the Interior Department extend the public comment period during his questioning of BOEM Director Tommy Beaudreau at a Natural Resources Committee hearing on May 9.


The Department of Interior announced its decision to begin seismic testing off the coast of the Mid and South Atlantic in March, potentially opening up the Atlantic Ocean to offshore drilling. New Jersey is strongly dependent on a healthy coastline for its economic vitality. New Jersey’s beach and ocean environment generates $38 billion per year in economic activity and supports nearly 500,000 jobs.


“An environmentally sound coast-line is critical to New Jersey’s economy, and seismic testing in the Atlantic is a first step toward oil drilling off the coast,” said Pallone. “I remain absolutely opposed to oil drilling off the Atlantic Coast and believe that the public should have ample opportunity to have a say in the process. I’m, pleased with the decision of the Bureau of Ocean Management to extend the public comment period, giving New Jersey residents more time to have their voices heard.”


At an April 27th Department of Interior public listening session in Atlantic City, NJ on the process leading to seismic testing, Congressman Pallone submitted a statement voicing his opposition to oil drilling off the Atlantic Coast and urged the Department to focus on U.S. energy independence through renewable sources such as wind and solar power.


“I am confident that this extended comment period will yield further information to the Department of Interior, demonstrating why it is so important that seismic testing off the Atlantic Coast not proceed,” said Pallone. “I call on the Department to increase its public outreach to potentially impacted communities and to look toward other solutions to ensure American energy independence.”

Congressman Pallone Statement to Interior Department Opposing Testing for Atlantic Offshore Drilling

For Immediate Release:

April 27, 2012

Atlantic City, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone submitted the following statement for the Department of Interior Public Hearing in Atlantic City, NJ on Programmatic Environmental Impact Study on Seismic Testing in the Atlantic Ocean:

Thank you for having this having this public hearing.  I am in Washington, DC voting today and therefore could not appear personally.  I am glad that the public has this opportunity to inform and shape how the Department of Interior proceeds on the important issue of offshore drilling. 

I am totally opposed to offshore drilling off the Atlantic Coast.  My opposition includes any preparatory steps including seismic testing in our waters off the AtlanticCoast.  The time and resources that the Department of Interior is allocating to seismic testing could be better used on higher priorities that will allow us to move away from dirty fuels and faster achieve U.S. energy independence through renewables such as wind and solar power. 

We all know how important New Jersey's beaches are, not only to residents of our state, but also for countless visitors.  Our beaches are a tremendous resource for those who come here to enjoy them, and they are a huge economic engine for our state.  They're the primary driver of a tourism economy that supports nearly 500,000 jobs and generates $38 billion in economic activities for the state each year.

Seismic testing is the first step in the direction of opening up the Atlantic coast to oil drilling.  Most drilling off the Atlantic coast would be deepwater drilling just like Deepwater Horizon.  Yet in the two years since the BP spill none of the proposals recommended by the National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling have been put in place.  There have been no improvements in worker safety regulations that will help ensure that another blow out will not cost 11 human lives.  We need increased environmental review and planning that will ensure valuable fishing grounds and other ecological assets are not destroyed in the event of an oil leak. 

The Department of Interior must halt this process and reconsider its priorities in ensuring American energy independence.  The process you are embarking on will have severe consequences on our ocean environment, beaches, marine resources, and coastal economies in the short term and long term.  Thank you for listening to my comments and I encourage you to fully consider the public’s input here today.