Voices heard as the Atlantic is off the hook for offshore drilling
The Atlantic coast has repeatedly found itself in the crosshairs for offshore oil drilling as administrations have explored new potential locations along the National Outer Continental Shelf. Thanks to public outcry and strong political opposition, the South Carolina coast remains oil-free, as the latest draft plan for offshore drilling excludes the Atlantic Coast from its 5-year plan.
This comes after the issuance of a January 2025 executive order by President Trump, rescinding a previous executive order issued by President Biden, which had permanently withdrawn the East Coast, West Coast, Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from consideration for future offshore drilling.
While we are in the clear for now, we need to remain prepared to oppose the potential consideration of the Atlantic Coast in the next five-year plan. We will also work to secure longer-term protections, particularly as an existing moratorium against offshore drilling off the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida is set to expire in 2032. In addition, we are monitoring efforts to permanently ban offshore drilling through the COAST Anti-Drilling Act (S.1486, H.R.2881), which would extend protection from Florida to Maine.
BACKGROUND
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requested public input ahead of the release of its five-year plan for offshore oil and gas drilling leases. Despite an existing moratorium, the Bureau specifically requested input on the potential inclusion of the South Atlantic zone, which includes South Carolina’s coast. The Coastal Conservation League got the word out to our members, alerted the press, and issued a comment letter to BOEM to oppose drilling along the Atlantic Coast.
In 2020, the Trump Administration directed the U.S. Department of the Interior to place a 10-year moratorium on offshore drilling for oil and gas off the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The ban took effect July 1, 2022, and is scheduled to expire on June 20, 2032. In so doing, Trump reversed his earlier proposal to significantly expand offshore drilling into new areas, including the Atlantic coast (see below)
In 2018, the Trump Administration had previously proposed expanding offshore drilling, ignoring opposition from more than 1,200 local, state and federal officials, more than 150 municipalities nationwide, 26 coastal communities in South Carolina, and Governor Henry McMaster. The plan would allow offshore oil and gas drilling in the waters of the Atlantic – including South Carolina’s coast – within five years.
South Carolinians have spoken out against the Administration’s efforts to give our coastline away to the oil industry. An overwhelming majority of our coastal cities and counties have formally opposed offshore drilling and seismic testing. They’re joined by local businesses, commercial fishermen, editorial boards, the Gullah Geechee Nation, state voices in Washington like Mark Sanford, Jim Clyburn, and Tim Scott.
The Risks to Our Coastal Economy and Environment are Too Great
We know that the risks are just too great. Offshore oil and gas drilling threatens our beaches, rivers, creeks, salt marshes and Sea Islands. It threatens wildlife like brown pelicans, bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and endangered North Atlantic right whales.
Offshore oil and gas drilling threatens our coastal way of life. And it threatens our state’s financial prosperity by throwing into chaos our booming, $20 billion tourism industry.
A spill like 2010’s Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf would hurt thriving industries, job growth and local fisheries. It would irreversibly damage ecosystems that attract businesses and families. Still worse, drilling advocates want to transform Georgetown and Charleston into refinery hubs for Houston-based oil and gas companies, which would mean consistent pipeline leaks and rampant chemical air pollution.
President Trump also moved to water down the federal blowout prevention rules that were put in place in response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed eleven people in the Gulf of Mexico and caused over $65 billion in damages.
No Reason to Drill
All of this downside brings no advantages for South Carolinians. Consumption of oil in United States will peak in 2028, according to the US Energy Information Agency. Cars and trucks are becoming more efficient, meaning we’re using less oil. Falling demand is happening as the domestic supply of natural gas is increasing, due to increased domestic production.
Seismic Testing Hurts Our Oceans
To find oil and gas off our coast, exploration companies want to use seismic testing, loud airguns to test the ocean floor for fossil fuels. Ships haul the guns for hundreds of miles, blasting the air guns every 10 seconds and sending noise louder than jet engines into the ocean.
Marine mammals like the endangered North Atlantic right whale depend on sound to feed and reproduce. Studies show that no North Atlantic right whales were born in 2017. The Interior Department estimates that seismic testing kills more than 130,000 marine mammals.
Seismic testing would imperil fisheries on which thousands of jobs depend. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has expressed concerns: “Multi-million dollar recreational and commercial fisheries in our region may potentially be affected by seismic testing.”
And scientists recently discovered a major coral reef system off the shore of South Carolina. There has not been time to study and understand the potential impact of drilling on this natural wonder. The federal government has a positive legal duty to carefully analyze these and other potential impacts as part of any offshore drilling decision.