Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 5:51 PM

Richard Charter advises us that…..

– The Mineral Management Services, a federal agency that’s heading up oil and gas exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf, is hosting public environmental review meetings to solicit comments and alternatives on the potential environmental effects of oil drilling.
– Two meetings will take place in Jacksonville at 1 and 7 p.m. today at the Jacksonville Marriott at 4670 Salisbury Road.
– Those who can’t attend today’s meetings may e-mail comments to GGEIS@mms.gov or mail them in an envelope labeled “Comments on the PEIS Scope” to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410) Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70123-2394.

OFFSHORE DRILLING:
Energy reps ask MMS to expedite Atlantic Coast study (04/21/2010)

Energy industry representatives pushed the U.S. Minerals Management Service to speed up a study on the environmental impact of seismic surveying off the Atlantic Coast. The research will look at an area off limits to exploration and drilling for more than two decades.
The agency held the first of 13 public meetings to gather comments on the environmental impact statement yesterday in Houston. The meeting drew about 40 people who largely urged the agency to focus on scientific reports and documented instances of seismic effects rather than speculating on potential impacts.
Once the study is done, scientists will analyze geologic data on the effects of drilling, allowing the government to move forward with lease sales, siting wind turbines, excavating sand and gavel, and drilling. Seismic activity has not taken place in the mid- and south-Atlantic since the early 1980s, surpassed by new technology to find the most prospective areas. Companies say they need the geophysical data to begin planning production from offshore sites.
Jennifer Smith, an environmental activist, urged MMS to consider harm done to whales, sea turtles and other marine life from seismic surveying. The industry says marine mammals are not harmed by seismic surveying, which involves capturing acoustic images reflected off the seabed by loud blasts of compressed air (Monica Hatcher, Houston Chronicle, April 20). — JP

What follows are the comments I sent in.. Feel free to use them..DeeVon

Re:  Comments on the PEIS Scope

To: Minerals Management Service, Interior Department
Attn: Regional Manager
Re:  Offshore oil & gas exploration and Development in the Gulf of Mexico
 
Dear Sirs:
I wish to file my opposition to any plans to expand oil and gas exploration and development in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf that would affect Florida, especially the area adjacent to the Dry Tortugas National Park.   Oil and water don’t mix.
 
The impacts of such activities would contribute to the further decline of Florida’s endangered coral barrier reef ecosystem where the Tortugas National Park is located.   It will adversely impact tourism and commercial fishing upon which the state’s economy depends. Yet the result would be just a few day’s of oil for a nation that really needs to invest in alternatives such as solar. 
 
The toxic drilling muds, routine spills from the platforms, accidental vessel groundings, daily pollution from land-based support activities, and the potential of rig blow-outs and catastrophic spills would result in water quality degradation and could result in permanent damage to the fragile and endangered coral reef ecosystem of South Florida.  The emissions from such activities would contribute to global warming adding further negative cumulative impacts.
 
Corals need clear, clean, nutrient free waters to thrive.  One spill could ruin this ecosystem.  The ongoing impacts of the Valdez spill are testament that clean-up efforts do not begin to restore natural systems degraded by oil and gas development.  It is not worth the gamble.  For the past 23 years, as the retired founder of the environmental organization Reef Relief, we have opposed oil and gas exploration and development in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico because the short term benefits do not begin to outweigh the negative long term impacts.  Nothing has changed in that regard except that now areas are being opened for such activity without any new evidence or justification as to its merits. For what??? 
 
Your job is to look at the extensive record and make a decision that will insure a sustainable future for all Floridians and the millions of others who come to visit us because of our spectacular oceans, beaches and coral reefs. The Eastern Gulf of Mexico has been off limits for many years for good reasons.   I trust you will take the long view and agree that conservation of this most valuable area is important.
 
Thank you for the opportunity to present this viewpoint. 
 
Very truly yours,
 
DeeVon Quirolo

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 – 1948)

We can do no great things; only small things with great love.
Mother Theresa