It’s hardly surprising that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) does not want oil and gas exploration in the state’s coastal waters. The state agency also recently used its authority under the 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) to indirectly disapprove conducting oil and gas seismic surveys in adjacent federal waters.
The CZMA gives coastal states that have developed their management plans for waters they oversee the right to certify or reject nearby activity if their agencies believe potential adverse consequences would extend into their jurisdiction. That’s basically what South Carolina’s DHEC has done.
Western Geco LLC requested a consistency certification from the agency on Mar. 12 in connection with a 2D seismic survey it planned to conduct 30 km off southeastern Maryland to 80 km off St. Augustine, Fla. DHEC notified the offshore surveyor 3 days later that public comments would need to be gathered along with the state agency’s feedback. They executed a 30-day stay agreement on June 7 which established a July 8 decision date.
DHEC received 1,720 public comments from federal and state elected officials; locally elected officials who represent coastal cities and towns; the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council; the state’s Natural Resources Department; and numerous public interest organizations, small businesses, and private citizens. All expressed opposition.
“Specific to seismic surveying activity, the basis of comments ranged from objection to physical impacts to the marine environment and endemic species (i.e. marine mammals, commercial and recreational fish, reef fish, and sea turtles) to economic impacts associated with potential decline in recreational and commercial fishery abundance,” DHEC said in its July 8 letter to Western Geco.
Based on its review of the provided information, DHEC said it objected to Western Geco’s Consistency Certification because the proposed activities are not consistent with the applicable enforceable policies of the state’s coastal zone management plan.
Cites additional studies
“While DHEC previously issued Conditional Coastal Zone Consistency for seismic activities to other companies in 2015, additional scientific research has been conducted and published since that time. DHEC considered this body of literature in its review of Western Geco’s proposed activities,” it said.
The agency determined that the state’s coastal communities and broader state economy depend on a healthy, productive, and accessible coastal zone. Key maritime economic drivers include tourism, commercial and recreational fisheries, ports and working waterfronts, it indicated.
The state’s Natural Resources Department said South Carolina has well-established commercial and recreational fisheries that generate approximately $329 million/year in economic benefits. “Recreational and tournament fishing in federal waters also contribute to local economies where marinas, charter fleets, restaurants, and lodging establishments are concentrated,” it said.