HomeMy Public PortalAbout160_030_Proclamation Seismic Airgun Testing I
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CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes
seismic airgun testing along 403 miles of the Atlantic Ocean (encompassing
350,000 square miles) from Delaware Bay to Florida's Cape Canaveral; and+
WHEREAS, seismic airgun testing involves extremely loud blasts of
compressed air through the ocean and miles under the seafloor; and
WHEREAS„ the proposed tests will cause destructive impacts to marine
wildlife, coastal ecosystems and coastal communities; and
WHEREAS, the BOEM acknowledges that seismic airgun testing will
negatively impact the already critically-endangered Right Whales and result in
the death, deafening, and disruption of all marine species (e.g. dolphins and
sea turtles); and
WHEREAS, the estimated impacts to fisheries and commercial fishing possess
the potential to cause irreparable harm to fishing economies; and
WHEREAS, because of the enormous distances sound can travel in the ocean,
the dangerous noise from this activity cannot remotely be confined to the
waters off individual states that encourage it. Some impacts — particularly on
the great baleen whales — would extend many hundreds of miles, affecting
states as far north as New England. Fish and fisheries could be affected for
tens of miles around every seismic ship; and
P.O. Box 2749—403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 —FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
WHEREAS„ the estimated oil reserves in the testing area have not been
proven sufficient to offset the potential destruction of oil spills along the
Atlantic coast - the proven off-shore Atlantic reserves would be the equivalent
of just over seven years' of Gulf oil.
Now, Therefore, I Jason Buelterman, Mayor of Tybee Island, Georgia do
hereby proclaim the City of Tybee Island, Georgia is firmly opposed to seismic
airgun testing along the Atlantic coast.
In Witness Whereof, I have here unto set my hand and caused the Seal of the
City of Tybee Island, Georgia to be affixed this 15th day of January 2015.
Jason Buelterman, Mayor
Attest:
Janet LeViner, Clerk of Council
P.O. Box 2749—403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 —FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org