COLUMBIA, S.C. _ Saying dolphins and whales are at risk in the search for oil, environmental groups asked a federal court Wednesday to block companies from launching seismic tests to look for oil deposits off the South Carolina coast.
The request for a preliminary injunction to stop seismic blasting would prevent the search from starting until lawsuits challenging seismic testing are decided, environmentalists said.
Conservation organizations seeking the halt include the Southern Environmental Law Center, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Center for Biological Diversity. These groups are among the leading environmental organizations in the nation and the region.
"The harm seismic blasting will inflict on dolphins and whales can't be reversed, that's why it is so important to have a full and open debate in court before allowing boats in the water," said Laura Cantral, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League. "We have a chance to stop harm before it begins and to prevent the precursor to offshore drilling, something that no coastal communities in South Carolina want."
The Trump administration has given approval for five companies to begin seismic testing, which involves loud air gun blasts. Green groups say the blasting violates three federal laws intended to protect the environment and marine life.
Whether to drill for oil in the Atlantic Ocean has energized communities along the East Coast against the practice, including a large contingent of coastal cities in South Carolina, as environmental groups. In separate lawsuits late last year, 16 coastal cities and environmentalists sued to stop seismic testing. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a group of state attorneys general in the challenge.
Seismic testing's loud blasts could harm or kill marine life, critics of the practices say. That's particularly important for rare species, such as the Right Whale, a rare animal listed as endangered by the federal government.
Environmental groups say marine animals could be exposed to 5 million blasts from companies seeking to find oil.
Proponents of the search for oil off the South Carolina coast say marine life won't be harmed. They say seismic testing will help determine whether oil exists off the coast and is worth pursuing.
