Threats Still Remain Despite Major Victory
Editor:
Tuesday, March 15 was a day to celebrate. On that day, the Obama Administration unveiled the latest draft of their offshore drilling plan for the years 2017-2022. A previous version, released in January of 2015, included plans to lease areas of the Atlantic for offshore drilling. The plan unveiled last Tuesday reversed course and removed all of the proposed leasing areas in the Atlantic thus removing the threat of drilling off our coast through 2022. The Administration cited overwhelming concern from citizens and stakeholders as one of the major reasons the Atlantic was taken out of consideration. An astounding 86% of coastal communities from Delaware south to Cape Canaveral, Fla. passed resolutions opposing the offshore drilling plan and airgun seismic surveys, over 120 resolutions in all including 10 here locally from the Delmarva Peninsula.
While this demonstration of democracy in action should be celebrated, the fact is there still is a looming threat to our coastal economy and environment. The decision on Tuesday still permits companies to conduct airgun seismic surveys for oil and gas in the Atlantic. It is important to note that these types of surveys for oil and gas are far different and have a much greater environmental impact than the ones currently being conducted for offshore wind and beach replenishment projects. The reason for this difference comes from the airguns themselves which emit a sound approaching 250db underwater every few seconds, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of a mapping exercise, which is often several weeks. The persistence of such a high-energy, intense sound has huge and devastating impacts to wildlife and fisheries.
In the federal government’s own report on the environmental impacts of airgun seismic surveys, they estimated 2,000 to 11,700 Bottlenose Dolphins would potentially be physically harmed or even killed as a result of seismic surveys employing airguns in the Atlantic and over one million would be impacted in other ways such as forced migration or disruption to breeding and feeding. For comparison, the same report estimated the impact of seismic surveys not employing airguns at less than one to two Bottlenose Dolphins physically harmed and 630 impacted in other ways.
The impact of these airguns also extends to fisheries. Studies in the Barents Sea demonstrated an 80% reduction in fish harvest in an area extending 20 nautical miles outside of the airgun seismic testing region and fisheries off the coast of Africa saw a similar 80% reduction in tuna catch coinciding with seismic testing there.
Even the inventor of the seismic airgun, Stephen Chelminski, has said, “It’s apparent now that we need to do better,” when asked about the impact of their use and is working to design a better alternative.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently reviewing all eight of these permit applications and must issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization for the permit process to proceed. This authorization essentially gives permission to carry out activities that could potentially impact species listed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If NMFS issues this authorization, the permits will then be open to public comment before the ultimate approval decision is made.
It is essential that we remain vigilant and, if a public comment period opens, ensure our voices and the voice of the Atlantic is heard.
Matt Heim
Berlin
(The writer serves as the outreach and communications coordinator for Assateague Coastal Trust.)
Celebrating Social Workers
Editor:
March is National Social Work Month. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of social workers nationwide. In Maryland, the Department of Human Resources envisions a state where people independently support themselves and their families and where individuals are safe from abuse and neglect.
It is their mission to aggressively pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need; give them the tools for successful, independent living; provide education and awareness of the programs available for assistance; increase prevention efforts and protect vulnerable children and adults.
Here in Worcester County our Department of Social Services is charged with these responsibilities. A staff of dedicated men and women are charged with empowering individuals to become self-sufficient and productive while assuring that prevention efforts protect our vulnerable population. They go to work each day with a heavy burden and rise to the challenges that exist in our community today. They will encounter individuals, infants, senior citizens and many individuals who are in need of the very basics most of us take for granted such as shelter, food and a safe environment. They are a group of very dedicated, supportive and caring individuals that we are fortunate to have serve our community.
During this month, we would like to recognize and thank this special group of people who work tirelessly to help others often facing very difficult situations.
I am honored to be chair of the Worcester County Department of Social Services Advisory Board. We are a group of volunteers appointed by the Worcester County Commissioners to serve a term of three years. Our duties include reviewing the Department’s programs, assessing the need for new programs and additional resources, advocating for resources from local and state government and promoting awareness of services provided by the Department.
I like to think of us as advocates for the staff that we see first hand doing a fantastic job. So, please, join with me in thanking the Worcester County Department of Social Services in doing an almost thankless job that assists those most in need.
Nancy L. Howard
Ocean City
(The writer is the chair of the Worcester County Department of Social Services Advisory Board.)
Support Appreciated
Editor:
On behalf of the Angels United To Fight team, thank you so much for your generous donations to our dance event from the American Legion Post 123 Berlin Women’s Auxiliary.
We thanks the band Days Gone By for providing entertainment and all the businesses and the people who provided us with the wonderful gifts for our basket or even complete baskets. We also thank all the people who helped with our event.
We raised a lot of money for Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.
With the generous support of people like you, we will be able to help stomp out cancer.
Thank you again, and we look forward to your continued support. Watch for our third annual dance in 2017.
Barbara Ogurcak
Berlin