Press Statement from the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Coastal Conservation League
For Immediate Release: Jan. 8, 2019
Contact:
Caitie Forde-Smith, Coastal Conservation League, (252) 714-4790 or [email protected]
Mike Mather, SELC, (434) 977-4090 or [email protected]
SC Attorney General Alan Wilson Joins Anti-Seismic Lawsuit
Seven Other East Coast Attorneys General Previously Joined Action
CHARLESTON, SC — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined a lawsuit to stop the possibility of seismic blasting in the Atlantic Ocean, joining a growing bipartisan group of elected leaders working to stop this precursor to oil drilling.
He is joining what is now a combined lawsuit on behalf of 16 South Carolina municipalities and a host of conservation organizations. Those two lawsuits were filed last month in Charleston Federal Court and have been merged into a single suit. The suit alleges, among other things, that in granting “Incidental Harassment Authorization” permits to five companies allowing them harm whales and dolphins with seismic blasts, the government violated federal laws including the Marine Mammal Protected Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Laura Cantral, the executive director of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, issued the following statement in response to Attorney General Wilson’s involvement:
“What is particularly heartening is that so many of our elected leaders have put aside their political differences to stand up for South Carolina’s coastal communities and businesses. We appreciate Attorney General Wilson adding his name to these critical efforts to stop what would surely be an unwanted first step to open the Atlantic to oil drilling.”
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For more than 30 years, the Southern Environmental Law Center has used the power of the law to champion the environment of the Southeast. With more than 80 attorneys and nine offices across the region, SELC is widely recognized as the Southeast’s foremost environmental organization and regional leader. SELC works on a full range of environmental issues to protect our natural resources and the health and well-being of all the people in our region. www.SouthernEnvironment.org
The Coastal Conservation League is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the coastal resources of South Carolina. Its mission is to protect the state’s natural landscapes, abundant wildlife, clean water and quality of life. Since 1989, the Conservation League has carried out this mission by working with citizens, local government and the state legislature. Learn more and get involved at coastalconservationleague.org.