Offshore Drilling in NC

Drilling Platform

What’s at stake?

Drilling is an inherently messy business. Technology has improved but spills and other disruptions can and do occur, as evidenced by the recent spill in the Mississippi River. Compared with other states, the likelihood of disruption is heightened for NC because we are prone to hurricanes, which strengthen over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

How will offshore drilling affect our coastal resources?

Fish

The rich river of waters- the Gulf Stream current - off the North Carolina coast, is among the most important marine resources of the entire Southeast coast. Biologically diverse and productive, this prime fishing area is renowned for its marlin, mahi mahi, grouper, rockfish, snapper and other fish that frequent the warm waters (1).

50 miles wide, the Gulf Stream current makes its way up from South America, through the Caribbean, and up along the Southeastern states, where it dissipates into the open ocean after meeting the Labrador Current near Cape Hatteras.

If the Gulf Stream is the biological pipeline, the Point off Cape Hatteras, where the Labrador current and Gulf Stream mix, is the epicenter of marine line. A 30-mile wide spot unique for its biodiversity and unusual cross-section of marine life, the Point is as well known to sport and commercial fisherman as the Motor Speedway is to Nascar fans. The Point is also where natural gas deposits are thought to be located.

The toxic effects of drilling or of a spill, could threaten marine ecosystems and fish populations off North Carolina’s coast. While much as been written about spills, it is less well-known that the drilling process has an inevitable byproduct: toxic hydrocarbon waste (2). This gas-based waste rapidly penetrates fish and other marine life, impacting ecological and bodily systems necessary for fish survival. Fish have shown signs of hydrocarbon poisoning within 15 to 20 minutes of gas-saturated water exposure, with fish in early life stages being the most vulnerable, suggesting a possible long term decline in population.

Opening our waters even to exploratory drilling would be – effectually – a game of Russian roulette with our coastal fisheries.

The Largest Deep Sea Reef in the World

On the Outer Continental Shelf, North Carolina's coast is home to the largest deep sea reef in the world, estimated to be the size of South Carolina. Recently, 120 scientists wrote the President urging him to set aside the deep sea reef a National Monument because of its biodiversity and scientific importance. As a National Monument, the reef would be untouchable (3).

Possibly millions of years old, the deep sea reef could provide a history of the world’s oceans, which could yield important insights into climate change. Coastal scientists recently discovered one coral nearly 2500 years old, making the individual the oldest animal on the planet. For more on the reef, click here.

How will offshore drilling hit our economy?

Tourism and fishing are economic engines on the coast. Off-shore drilling could potentially add a new sector ot the coastal economy-- but not without significant risks to existing industries.

Fisheries

In 2007, there were 3738 commercial fishermen active in our state who sold 82$ million dollars worth of seafood. What’s more, there were nearly 2 million recreational fishermen. Combined, the commercial and recreational fishermen supported coastal businesses: boating, restaurants, hotels, fishing piers, seafood markets, etc. (4).

North Carolina fisheries are already stressed by pollution, overfising and –increasingly—climate change. Introducing industrial drilling operations into the marine environment would be a substantial new pressure.

Coastal Tourism: not looking so good.

Our state is the sixth-most tourism dependent in the country. Opening our coast to offshore drilling added a new sector to the coastal economy, but inevitably, our coast would become more industrial, less idyllic.

Our coasts presently lack the necessary infrastructure to support drilling platforms: industrial ports, dry docks, etc., all of which would have to be constructed, all of which would change the coastal landscape.

What about North Carolina makes offshore drilling risky?

Hurricanes and spills

Often cited by drilling proponents as an example of offshore platform safety, the Katrina disaster actually discredits industry claims that hurricanes cause no spills. During Katrina and Rita, the US Coast Guard estimates that nearly 9 million barrels of oil were lost, an amount on par with the Exxon Valdez. Catastrophic damage is not out of the question (5). Though technology continues to prove, a spill is much more likely to occur off our coast.

References

(1) North Carolina Beaches | The Gulf Stream

(2) Minerals Management Service | (2000) Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 181, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), p. IV-32-33.

(3) NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service | (2008, May 20) Ancient Deep-sea Coral Reefs Off Southeastern US Serve As Underwater 'Islands' In The Gulf Stream. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 18, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/05/080519095526.htm

(4) North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries | 2007 Recreational Harvest Statistics, 2007 Commercial Harvest Statistics, 2007 License and Statistics Annual Report

(5) Llanos, Miguel | "44 Oil Spills Found in Southeast Louisiana." MSNBC 19 Sept. 2005. 13 July 2006 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9365607/

Links

Outer Continental Shelf Drilling Won't Impact Prices

Hurricanes and Pollution make Offshore Drilling risky

Myths of Environmentally Friendly Drilling

Pressure on White House to protect Deep Sea Reefs

Raleigh News and Observer report published in McClatchy Press, Offshore Drilling