CITIZEN CALL TO ACTION! Hours Remain! Stop Ocean Blasting

CALL TO ACTION:

Last day to write a comment and Save Our Seas from Seismic

YOUR voice is needed TODAY! Seismic ships could be blasting by the END of THIS SUMMER.

Only hours remain in the comment period. Submit your comment NOW!!

What can you do?

Follow the easy steps below to help stop this man made disaster.

Instructions :
1. Copy and paste the template below
2. Fill in the template below- Use the text as is, reword it, and/or add your own statement.
3. Email your comments to ITP.Laws@noaa.gov and please copy (cc) Advocate@cleanoceanaction.org

What is Seismic Blasting?

Companies hired by the oil and gas company search for hydrocarbon deposits and blast the ocean floor with air-guns producing oppressively loud blasts which SHOCK, STUN, and can KILL marine life. It is the first step towards offshore drilling in the Atlantic.

What are IHAs?
Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) which will authorize the corporations SHOCK STUN AND POSSIBLY KILL at least 138,000 marine mammals in the process of conducting the seismic blasting.

Where?

From Delaware down the entire coast to the tip of Florida (5 companies blasting at the same time, in overlapping places).

When?

5 companies over the course of an entire year. Every 24 seconds, 24 hours a day, for an entire year, possibly as soon as the end of this summer.

Why is this bad?

Its the first step towards off shore drilling in the Atlantic.
It will shock, stun, and possibly kill ALL marine life.
The current authorizations treat each company as if it will operate independently in a vacuum. By failing to account for the collective, cumulative and consecutive impacts of all five companies blasting concurrently they GROSSLY underestimate the amount of marine mammals which will be harmed. Not to mention they don’t even take in to account the fish, invertebrate species, and zooplankton which will be harmed and possibly decimated.

CITIZEN Sample Letter template

To: ITP.Laws@noaa.gov
CC: Advocate@cleanoceanaction.org

Subject: IHA comment- Citizen strongly against Seismic Blasting

I, ________, am a citizen of _____________.

I strongly oppose seismic testing in the Atlantic because…._____________________________
____________________________________________________________________________.

The IHA (intentional Harassment Applications) should be denied because…

Seismic testing will harm marine life and is a gateway to oil and gas drilling, both of which threaten the ocean ecosystem and clean ocean economy.

The IHA process is lacking in transparency and due process. I call on NMFS to extend the comment period and hold public hearing in each affected state.

I will be watching this process, and I look forward to your reply to my concerns.

Your Name,

————————

Fisherman Sample letter template

TO: ITP.Laws@noaa.gov

cc Advocate@cleanoceanaction.org

Subject: IHA comment -Citizen strongly against Seismic Blasting

I, __________, am a citizen of ___________.

My boat is docked at _________________ and my fishing supports ____________.
________ (bait shops, gas stations, marinas, mechanics, restaurants, etc.)

Fishing is my ___________ (e.g. livelihood, passion, subsistence)

If applicable: When Rutgers Geology Department conducted its seismic blasting off NJ, I saw a change ____________________________________

I strongly oppose seismic testing in the Atlantic because
______________________________________.

The IHA (Intentional Harassment Applications) should be denied because _____________________________

The impacts of these seismic tests will have an extensive impact on fish populations and the proposed project presents imminent irreparable injury to the commercial and recreational fishing industry, as well as the many surrounding industries which benefit from the fishing industries.

The IHA process is lacking in transparency and due process. I call on NMFS to hold public hearings in each affected state to gather information on the economic harm this testing will cause. (use this, reword it, or make it your own)

Seismic testing will harm marine life and is a gateway to oil and gas drilling, both of which pose an imminent threat to the clean ocean economy. (use this, reword it, or make it your own)

I will be watching this process, and I look forward to your reply to my concerns.
Your Name,

*Please note: From the National Marine Fisheries Services --NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. Comments received electronically, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25-megabyte file size. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF file formats only. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted online at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/ permits/ incidental/ oilgas.htm without change. All personal identifying information ( e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. See. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/06/06/2017-11542/takes-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-specified-activities-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to

Please be the voice for the ocean, share with friends, and help oppose seismic testing today!

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Waves of Thanks for Your Ocean Advocay!