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
2 comments:
More wisdom from Pallone who is a afraid a natural gas leak will pollute the ocean. Hey Frank what are we supposed to use to power our cars and heat our homes if you want to ban even research to see if there is oil off our coast. Have you and the other libs found a way to use unicorn farts for power? Oh and Frank by the way thanks for Obama care if you cant afford health insurance now you can pay a fine how generous of our liberal overlords. Our forefathers cast off a much lighter burden than the God forsaken liberals would have us carry. People wise up and stop voting to be a slave to government stop voting democratic!
Frigging republicans haven't got a brain their heads or a bit of common sense. Just read the crap the idiot,anon 3:17, spews every chance IT gets !
Mike, some of these people and their irrational rants about anything the Democrats do or have to say gets old.
Maybe when our fish food supply is damaged by off shore drilling or our shores look like those BP destroyed on our southern coast, then these Republican AH"s will be satisfied.Imagine the damage to the Jersey beach and tourist economy
!
Think these people who protest just because a Democrat has spoken, they need a good swift kick in their backsides and they need their mouths washed out with soap or something stronger !
Political bullsh*t artists for sure and thoughtless morons !
Do they ever think before they shoot their mouths off ?? Never !!!
If they had a brain in their heads they would be dangerous !
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