Atlantics shouldn't Host Offshore Drilling - Past or Present - Opinion Piece
Heck Yeah, Here's the Deal:
Y'all ready to hear some updates about the ol' offshore drilling situation? Well buckle up, 'cause I've got some juicy info from that Coastal Review article!
The Trump administration's trying to expand offshore drilling on America's coasts—but let me tell you, that ain't gonna fly in North and South Carolina. Folks in those parts, they already voted against this nonsense back in the day and the resistance ain't slowing down.
In 2018, the Trump administration proposed drilling off the Carolina coasts, but yeah, that plan hit a wall of opposition real quick. residents from coastal towns, city folks, environmental groups, fishermen, small-business owners, and tourism industry leaders all joined forces to say, "Hell no!" More than a hundred coastal communities even passed formal resolutions against Atlantic oil drilling.
The opposition was so fierce that even Republican governors and lawmakers spoke out against it, defendin’ their states' coastlines. The high stakes included the Atlantic Ocean's fragile marine ecosystems—home to endangered North Atlantic right whales, sea turtles, countless fish species, and more. Offshore drilling could push these species over the edge, destroy important habitats, and lead to widespread ecological damage.
Now, the first public comment period's open for people to voice their opinions on this 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. If you're against offshore drilling on the Carolina coast, here's what you can do:
How to Submit Your Comment
- Online Submission (Best Option)
- Go to regulations.gov and find the specific docket for this proposal by enterin' the docket number BOEM-2025-0015.
- Click "Comment Now" to submit your written comments before the deadline on June 16, 2025.
- Mail Submission
- Write your comment on a piece of paper, address it to Kelly Hammerle, BOEM, and mail it to: 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166-9216
- Ensure your mailed comments are received by June 16, 2025.
Pro Tips
- Be Clear and Concise: Clearly state your opposition to offshore drilling, highlightin' concerns such as environmental risk, economic impacts on coastal communities, and threats to tourism and fisheries.
- Mention the Proposal: Mention the “11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program” to ensure your comment is processed correctly.
- Personal Stories Matter: If you're a Carolina resident or business owner, sharin' your personal perspective can strengthen your comment.
So there ya have it, folks. Let's show'em again that offshore drilling has no place on the Carolina coast. Don't wait—submit your comments now to keep our coasts oil-rig free!
Author:
Heather Clarkson
Keywords:
- drilling
- oceans
- offshore drilling
- opinion
Enrichment Data:For additional resources and support, consider contacting organizations like Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, and the South Carolina Environmental Law Project. They offer guidance and tips for writing effective comments.
- The ongoing debate about offshore drilling highlights the intersection of science, climate-change, environmental-science, and policy-and-legislation, as advocates and experts weigh the potential risks and benefits to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
- In the face of increasing resistance from various sectors of society, including finance, renewable-energy, and general-news media, the Trump administration's proposed offshore drilling plans encounter hurdles, as demonstrated by the 2018 opposition to drilling off the Carolina coast.
- Given the high stakes of offshore drilling, which threaten endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale, environmental groups and coastal communities continue to vocalize their concerns and advocate for renewable-energy alternatives instead.
- As the first public comment period for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program opens, advocates and concerned citizens are urged to share their unique perspectives and opinions by either submitting online or via mail before the deadline on June 16, 2025.
- Both the outcome of this comment period and ongoing political discourse regarding offshore drilling and the oil-and-gas industry will have far-reaching consequences for America's marine ecosystems, coastal economies, and the broader environmental movement.
