AVALON – New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Ed Potosnak joined Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2) and other advocates on Monday to voice opposition to renewed federal efforts to open up the waters off the New Jersey coast to oil and gas exploration.
LoBiondo, who represents South Jersey, has been a leading opponent of offshore drilling and of underwater seismic blasting. He is sponsor of a bill to ban blasting and co-sponsor of legislation to bar offshore drilling.
The Atlantic and other coasts were put at heightened risk of drilling in April when President Trump signed an executive order mandating the Interior Department to take another look at its five-year offshore drilling plan.
“There is no way to prevent an oil spill from happening, and the consequences would be devastating to our environment and our economy,” said Potosnak. “Now is not the time to backslide to a coal- and natural gas-dependent economy, but to move toward a renewable energy portfolio that relies heavily on clean sources such as solar and wind.”
Seismic blasting releases loud, repetitive noise to help locate possible oil and gas reserves deep underground. The explosive blasts interfere with the auditory systems that whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other species use to navigate, find food, and avoid predators. Sea life can easily become confused, lost, or stranded by the piercing sounds.
“We in the environmental community wish to thank Rep. LoBiondo for his leadership in protecting our state from this renewed threat,” Potosnak added.