Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding the announcement by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that it will allow seismic testing for oil and gas along the eastern seaboard:
“I’m disappointed that the Administration is allowing seismic testing on the eastern seaboard. Our coastal economies rely on clean and safe beaches and vibrant ocean habitats. Not only will the use of sonic cannons stress whales, turtles, and fish already under pressure from climate change, but this puts us one step closer to oil and gas drilling in this area. Considering that the Atlantic coast doesn’t even contain enough oil to meet U.S. gasoline demands for a whole year, it just doesn’t seem worth putting our oceans and coasts at risk.”
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