Public Hearing on Offshore Drilling

Monday, March 5, 2018 - 12:50 Press Release

I borrowed this offshore oil spill photo from the Ocean Institute website. This isn't N.C. But it could be.

TODAY at 5pm, the Hyde County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing....

... on the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2019-2024.

This meeting will be held at the Hyde County Government Center and the Ocracoke Community Center prior to the regular monthly Board of Commissioners meeting.

Citizens will be given the opportunity to provide oral and written comment on offshore oil drilling and seismic testing at the public hearing. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

Background on the issue: On Jan. 4, 2018, the U.S. Dept. of Interior announced plans to open waters off of North Carolina and other Atlantic Coast states to offshore oil and gas exploration and development.

Currently, the state is under a 60-day public comment period on the Draft Proposed Program. The comment period ends on March 9. After the 60-day comment period, there will be a 90-day public comment period on the proposed program and draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).

Finally, there will be a 60-day period for the President and Congress to review and approve the final program and draft a decision. See a more detailed graphic on the process and its timeline.

Citizens can also submit comments online or via mail/hand deliver to the Bureau of Ocean Management.