Opposition Voices

The list of voices opposed to seismic blasting and oil & gas drilling in the Atlantic is large and growing. The below information was compiled by Oceana. Click HERE

MUNICIPALITIES

Accomack County, VA: Passed 4/15/2009 (offshore drilling); Voted to send letter 2/12/2016 (offshore drilling)
Apalachicola, FL: Passed 11/7/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Atlantic Beach, FL: Passed 9/8/2014 (seismic blasting)
Atlantic Beach, NC: Passed 11/23/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Atlantic Beach, SC: Passed 9/14/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Atlantic City, NJ: Passed 4/9/2015 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Avalon, NJ: Passed 10/12/2016 (seismic blasting)
Bald Head Island, NC: Passed 8/21/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Baltimore, MD: Passed 10/19/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Barnegat, NJ: Passed 7/28/2014 (seismic blasting)
Beach Haven, NJ: Passed 8/11/2014 (seismic blasting)
Beachwood, NJ: Passed 7/16/2014 (seismic blasting)
Beaufort, NC: Passed 8/10/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Beaufort, SC: Passed 2/10/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Belville, NC: Passed 3/7/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Berkeley, NJ: Passed 1/22/2018 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Berlin, MD: Passed 1/25/2016 (seismic blasting)
Bethany Beach, DE: Passed 3/18/2016 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Bonita Springs, FL: Passed 4/1/2015 (seismic blasting)
Bradley Beach, NJ: Passed 3/11/2014 (seismic blasting) and 1/23/2018 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Briarcliffe Acres, SC: Passed 10/19/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Brick, NJ: Passed 1/30/2018 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Brigantine, NJ: Passed 3/18/2015 (seismic blasting)
Brookhaven, NY: Sent letter 8/17/2017 (offshore drilling)
Broward County, FL: Passed 4/10/2010 (offshore drilling)
Brunswick, GA: Passed 5/20/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Cape Canaveral, FL: Passed 12/15/2009 (offshore drilling) 4/15/2014 (seismic blasting)
Cape Coral, FL: Passed 2/8/2016 (seismic blasting)
Cape May County, NJ: Passed 8/9/2016 (seismic blasting) and 1/23/2018 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Carolina Beach, NC: Passed 2/28/2014 (seismic blasting); Passed 10/13/2015 (offshore drilling)
Carolina Shores, NC: Passed 10/8/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Carrboro, NC: Passed 3/17/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Caswell Beach, NC: Passed 3/31/2014 (seismic blasting, resolution of concern); Passed 10/14/2015 (offshore drilling)
Cedar Point, NC: Passed 1/26/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Chapel Hill, NC: Passed 9/28/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Charleston, SC: Passed 3/24/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Charleston County, SC: Passed 5/5/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Cocoa Beach, FL: Passed 4/3/2014 (seismic blasting)
Columbia, SC: Passed 5/5/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Dare County, NC: Passed 12/5/2005 (offshore drilling); Renewed on 4/6/2015 (offshore drilling)
Dewey Beach, DE: Passed 12/12/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Duck, NC: Passed 9/2/2009 (offshore drilling)
East Hampton, NY: Passed 8/17/2017 (offshore drilling)
Edisto Beach, SC: Passed 5/8/2014 (seismic blasting)
Emerald Isle, NC: Passed 4/15/2015 (seismic blasting); Passed 10/13/2015 (offshore drilling)
Escambia County, FL: Passed 5/4/2017 (offshore drilling)
Fenwick Island, DE: Passed 1/22/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Fernandina Beach, FL: Passed 12/2/2014 (seismic blasting)
Folly Beach, SC: Passed 3/10/15 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Flagler County, FL: Passed 5/18/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Passed 4/19/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Ft. Myers Beach, FL: Passed 4/6/2015 (seismic blasting)
Ft. Walton Beach, FL: Passed 6/27/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Georgetown, SC: Passed 4/16/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Georgetown County, SC: Passed 7/25/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Gulfport, FL: Passed 9/15/2009 (offshore drilling)
Hilton Head, SC: Voted to send letter to BOEM 3/25/2015 (offshore drilling); Voted to send letter to state department of health and environmental control 3/19/2015 (seismic blasting)
Hinesville, GA: Passed 3/17/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Holden Beach, NC: Passed 9/8/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Holly Ridge, NC: Passed 8/11/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Horry County, SC: Passed 8/22/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Indialantic, FL: Passed 1/7/2015 (seismic blasting)
Indian Harbor Beach, FL: Passed 1/13/2015 (seismic blasting)
Indian River County, FL: Passed 12/8/2015 (seismic blasting)
Islamorada, FL: Passed 9/8/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Isle of Palms, SC: Passed 2/17/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Jacksonville Beach, FL: Passed 3/16/2015 (seismic blasting)
James Island, SC: Passed 3/19/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Kiawah Island, SC: Passed 5/5/15 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Kill Devil Hills, NC: Passed 6/9/2014 (offshore drilling)
Kingsland, GA: Passed 4/13/2015 (seismic blasting, proclamation)
Kitty Hawk, NC: Passed 9/12/2005 (offshore drilling and exploration)
Kure Beach, NC: Passed 1/19/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Lake Worth, FL: Passed 12/15/2009 (offshore drilling)
Lewes, DE: Passed 11/9/2015 (seismic blasting)
Manteo, NC: Passed 5/7/2014 (seismic blasting)
Marco Island, FL: Passed 3/15/2010 (offshore drilling)
Martin County, FL Commissioners: Sent letter 7/30/2014 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
McClellanville, SC: Passed 5/4/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Melbourne, FL: Passed 1/13/2015 (seismic blasting)
Melbourne Beach, FL: Passed 9/17/2014 (seismic blasting)
Miami Beach, FL: Passed 9/10/2008 (offshore drilling)
Miami-Dade County, FL: Passed 6/20/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Martin County, FL: Sent 7/30/2014
Milton, DE: Passed 2/24/2016 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Morehead City, NC: Passed 8/11/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Montgomery County, MD: Passed 3/1/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Mt. Pleasant, SC: Passed 5/13/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Myrtle Beach, SC: Passed 8/11/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Nags Head, NC: Passed 4/2/2014 (seismic blasting); Passed 7/2/2014 (offshore drilling)
Naples, FL: Passed 1/17/2018
Neptune Beach, FL: Passed 11/3/2014 (seismic blasting)
New Smyrna Beach, FL: Passed 12/9/2014 (seismic blasting)
Norfolk, VA: Passed 7/18/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
North Myrtle Beach, SC: Passed 8/17/2015 (offshore drilling)
North Wildwood, NJ: Passed 8/16/206 (seismic blasting)
Northampton County, VA: Passed 3/8/2016 (offshore drilling)
Oakland Park, FL: Passed 7/19/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Oak Island, NC: Passed 4/29/2014 (seismic blasting, resolution of concern); Passed 9/8/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Ocean City, MD: Passed 9/21/2015 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Ocean Isle, NC: Passed 10/13/2015 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Orange County, NC: Passed 9/1/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Palm Beach County, FL: Passed in 2010 (offshore drilling)
Pawleys Island, SC: Passed 9/14/2015 (offshore drilling, proclamation)
Pensacola, FL: Passed 5/11/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Pine Knoll Shores, NC: Passed 8/11/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Porterdale, GA: Passed 9/6/2016 (offshore drilling)
Port Royal, SC: Passed 2/11/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Punta Gorda, FL: Passed 2/3/2016 (seismic blasting)
Red Bank, NJ: Passed 3/12/2014 (seismic blasting)
Rehoboth Beach, DE: Passed 1/15/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Rockville, SC: Passed 4/20/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Sanibel, FL: Passed 12/6/2016 (seismic blasting)
Satellite Beach, FL: Passed 11/5/2014 (seismic blasting)
Savannah, GA: Passed 4/30/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Seabrook Island, SC Mayor and Councilmembers: Voted to send letter 5/8//2015 (Offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Southampton, NY: Passed 8/22/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
South Bethany, DE: Passed 6/10/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
South Miami, FL: Passed 11/7/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Southport, NC: Passed 5/8/2014 (seismic blasting); Passed 8/13/2015 (offshore drilling)
Space Coast League of Cities, FL: Passed 2/9/2015 (seismic blasting)
St. Augustine, FL: Updated 4/14/2014 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
St. James, NC: Passed 5/6/2014 (seismic blasting, resolution of concern)
St. Johns County, FL Commissioners: Sent letter 4/3/2014 (seismic blasting)
St. Lucie County, FL: Sent letter 8/11/2017 (offshore drilling)
St. Marys, GA: Passed 2/2/2015 (seismic blasting, proclamation)
St. Petersburg, FL: Passed 4/17/2014 (seismic blasting)
Stone Harbor, NJ: Passed 7/19/2016 (seismic blasting)
Sullivan's Island, SC: Passed 3/17/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Sunset Beach, NC: Passed 6/30/2014 (seismic blasting)
Surf City, NC: Passed 8/4/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Surfside Beach, SC: Passed 9/22/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Swansboro, NC: Passed 11/24/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Topsail Beach, NC: Passed 4/23/2014 (seismic blasting)
Titusville, FL: Passed 1/12/2010 (offshore drilling)
Tybee Island, GA: Passed 1/15/2015 (seismic blasting); Passed 9/10/2015 (offshore drilling)
Vero Beach, FL: Passed 11/17/2015 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Virginia Beach: Passed 6/20/2017 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Washington, DC: Passed 2/19/2016 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
West Melbourne, FL: Passed 2/3/2015 (seismic blasting)
West Wildwood, NJ: Passed 8/5/2016 (seismic blasting)
Wilmington, NC: Passed 7/21/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Wilton Manors, FL: Passed 3/14/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Wrightsville Beach, NC: Passed 9/9/2010 (offshore drilling)

BUSINESS INTERESTS

Destin, FL Chamber of Commerce: Passed resolution 1/24/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast: Sent letters to Governors Scott, Deal, McAuliffe and Carney 7/21/2017 and Cooper 7/20/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast: Sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke on behalf of more than 41,000 businesses and 500,200 commercial fishing families, urging them not to reconsider the 2017-2022 plan 4/28/17 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast: Sent letter to President Obama on behalf of more than 35,000 businesses and 500,200 commercial fishing families from Maine to Florida, uring him to permanently protect the Atlantic from offshore oil and gas drilling, and to deny all Atlantic seismic airgun blasting permits 12/13/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
66 East Coast businesses: Signed letter to President Obama 12/12/2016 (offshore drilling)
Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast: Sent letter to President Obama on behalf of more than 12,000 businesses and 400,000 commercial fishing families 10/27/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
280 East Coast Businesses: Signed letter to President Obama 2/3/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
440+ South Carolina Businesses: Signed letter to Governor Haley 12/16/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
360+ East Coast Businesses: Signed letter to President Obama 2/16/2016 (offshore drilling)
Cape May County, NJ Chamber of Commerce: Passed resolution 2/6/2015 (offshore drilling)
Greater Ocean City, MD Chamber of Commerce: Sent letter to President Obama 12/13/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Ocean City, MD Chamber of Commerce: Sent letter to Governor Hogan 1/25/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Ocean City, MD Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association: Sent letter to BOEM 2/29/2016 (offshore driling and seismic blasting)
Tampa Bay Beaches, FL Chamber of Commerce: Updated Resolution 7/21/2015 (offshore drilling)
South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce: Passed Resolution 1/12/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Outer Banks, NC Chamber of Commerce: Passed Resolution 7/7/2014 (offshore drilling)
Carteret County, NC Chamber of Commerce: Passed Resolution 9/5/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting); Reaffirmed 4/25/2016 (seismic blasting)
Wrightsville Beach, NC Chamber of Commerce: Passed Resolution 10/28/2015
Carteret County, NC Tourism Development Authority: Passed Resolution 11/12/2015
New Hanover County, NC Tourism Development Authority: Passed Resolution 10/28/2015
Dare County, NC Tourism Board: Passed Resolution 4/24/2014 (seismic blasting); Passed Resolution 6/19/2014 (offshore drilling)
Outer Banks, NC Home Builders Association: Passed Resolution 6/25/2015 (offshore drilling)
Outer Banks, NC Association of Realtors: Sent letter to BOEM 4/2/2015 (offshore drilling)
Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association: Sent letter to BOEM 1/15/2016 (seismic blasting)
Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association: Voted to oppose 11/16/2015 (offshore drilling)
Virginia Beach, VA Restaurant Association: Sent letter to BOEM 3/25/2015 (offshore drilling)
Virginia Beach, VA Hotel Association: Voted to oppose 5/4/2015; Part 1 and Part 2 (offshore drilling)
Virginia Beach, VA Resort Advisory Commission: Voted to oppose 5/6/2015 (offshore drilling)
Virginia Beach, VA Green Ribbon Committee: Sent letter to City Council 9/30/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission: Sent letter to BOEM 02/29/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)

FISHING GROUPS

New England Fishery Management Council (6/29/2017), Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (4/25/2017) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (4/25/2017): all sent letters to Interior Secretary Zinke expressing concerns with the risks posed by seismic surveys and oil and gas development to managed resources, fisheries and coastal communities along the Atlantic coast.
Northwest Marine Alliance: Sent letter to NOAA 7/21/2017 (seismic blasting)
Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association: Sent letter to President opposing offshore oil exploration and development in the Atlantic 11/10/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Snook and Gamefish Foundation: Sent letter to BOEM opposing offshore oil exploration in the Atlantic 8/30/2016 (seismic blasting)
Southern Shrimp Alliance: Sent letter to BOEM opposing offshore oil exploration in the Atlantic 6/24/2016 (seismic blasting)
36 commercial and recreational fishing interests in the Mid-Atlantic: Sent letter to the governors of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, expressing their concerns with offshore drilling and proposed seismic airgun blasting 3/29/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Updated and strengthened its policies to increase protection for fisheries and fish habitat from energy exploration and development activities for the species and areas the Council is charged with managing 2/17/2016 (Read the full policy)
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Updated and strengthened its policies to increase protection for fisheries and fish habitat from energy exploration and development activities for the species and areas the Council is charged with managing 12/14/2015
Fisheries Survival Fund: Sent letter to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council expressing concern 8/7/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Sent letter to BOEM 4/30/2015 (seismic blasting)
Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association: Submitted comments to BOEM 3/30/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Southeastern Fisheries Association: Sent letter to President Obama 12/3/2014 (seismic blasting)
Billfish Foundation: Sent letter to BOEM 5/7/2014 (seismic blasting)
International Game Fish Association: Sent letter to BOEM 5/1/2014 (seismic blasting); sent letter to BOEM and DOC 8/3/2017 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Sent letter to BOEM 5/2/2014 (seismic blasting)

ELECTED OFFICIALS AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Southeast

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper sent letter to Secretary Zinke requesting a 60-day extension for public comments on the Draft Proposed Program and more opportunities for local voices to be heard 1/31/18 (offshore drilling)
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster sent letter to Secretary Zinke requesting an exclusion for South Carolina from the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 1/16/18 (offshore drilling)
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper: Sent letter to BOEM (offshore drilling); sent letter to NOAA (seismic blasting)
32 SC State Legislators: Sent letter to BOEM 8/17/2016 (offshore drilling)
SC State Senator Chip Campsen: Sent letter to BOEM 8/10/2017 (offshore drilling)
Hilton Head, SC Mayor Bennett: Sent letter to BOEM 8/7/2017 (offshore drilling); sent letter to NOAA 6/26/2017 (seismic blasting)
SC State Representative Hewitt: Sent letter to BOEM 7/31/2017 (offshore drilling)
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster: Reiterates opposition to the media 6/26/2017 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
U.S. Representative Sanford (SC-01) and Mayors Tecklenburg (Charleston, SC) & Keyserling (Beaufort, SC): sent a letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to retain the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program in its current form, and deny any requests for seismic airgun blasting permits in the Atlantic Ocean (4/11/2017)
NC Council of Churches: Sent letter to President Obama 12/12/2016; sent letter to President Trump 8/15/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
NC Interfaith Power and Light: Sent letter to President Obama 12/13/2016; sent letter to President Trump8/15/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
NC State Representative Pricey Harrison and 21 members of the NC General Assembly: Sent letter to President Obama 5/6/2014 (seismic blasting)
Queen Quet, Gullah Geechee Nation: Sent letter to President Obama 11/3/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
5 GA Mayors led by Hinesville Mayor Allen Brown: Sent letter to President Obama 11/14/2016 (seismic blasting and offshore drilling)
70 State Legislators led by Representatives Harrison and Jones, and Senators Campsen and Jackson: Sent letter to DOI 7/26/2016 (seismic blasting)
15 SC Mayors led by Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling: Sent letter to President Obama 7/5/2016 (seismic blasting)
SC State Senator Chip Campsen: Sent letter to BOEM 3/30/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Charleston, SC Mayor John Tecklenberg: Sent letter to President Obama 12/7/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Beaufort, SC Mayor Billy Keyserling: Sent letter to President Obama 11/16/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Hinesville, GA Mayor Allen Brown: Sent letter to President Obama 10/6/2016 (seismic blasting)
Georgetown, SC Mayor Jack Scoville: Wrote op-ed in South Strand News 4/13/2015 (offshore drilling)
Charleston, SC Mayor Joe Riley: Sent letter to BOEM 4/16/2014 (seismic blasting), sent letter 7/02/2012 (offshore drilling)
James Island, SC Public Service District: Passed Resolution on 3/23/2015 (Offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Fripp Island, SC Property Owners Association: Sent letter to Governor 7/16/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
One Hundred Miles, GA: Sent letter to President Obama 11/4/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Savannah Garden Club, GA: Sent letter to President Obama 11/21/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
South Carolina Wildlife Federation: Sent letter to President Obama 11/18/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
South Carolina conservation groups : Sent letter to the Department of the Interior 5/26/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Horry County, SC Democratic Party: Passed Resolution 10/19/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Gullah/Geechee Nation, NC-SC-GA-FL: Passed 10/1/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
North Carolina Council of Churches: Adopted statement 3/1/2016 (offshore drilling)
North Carolina Interfiath Power & Light: Sent letter to President Obama 12/13/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
St. Augustine Beach, FL Mayor Andrea Samuels: Sent letter to BOEM 4/15/2014 (seismic blasting)
Jacksonville, FL (Former) Mayor Alvin Brown: Sent letter to BOEM 5/7/2014 (seismic blasting)
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: Sent letter of concern to BOEM 4/28/2015 (seismic blasting)
Florida State Department of Environmental Protection: Sent letter to BOEM "recommending delaying permitting until data/information that is currently not available can be collected and effects assessed using this new information" 4/20/2015 (seismic blasting)
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition: Sent letter to President Obama 11/15/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)

Mid-Atlantic

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Governor-Elect Phil Murphy, and Senators Booker (D-NJ) and Menendez (D-NJ)sent letter to Secretary Zinke opposing oil and gas drilling off the coast of New Jersey 1/14/18 (offshore drilling)
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe: sent letter to BOEM 8/17/2017 (offshore drilling)
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: sent letter to BOEM 8/16/2017 (offshore drilling)
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan: sent letter to BOEM 8/16/2017 (offshore drilling); letter of concern to NOAA7/6/2017 (seismic blasting)
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman: sent letter to BOEM 8/17/2017 (offshore drilling)
Delaware Governor John Carney: sent letter to BOEM 8/14/2017 (offshore drilling); issued statement 4/28/2017 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Attorneys General of Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island: sent letter to NOAA 7/21/2017 (seismic blasting)
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring: Sent letter to NOAA 7/21/2017 (seismic blasting)
Virginia Lt Governor Ralph Northam: Issued statement 7/20/2017 (offshore drilling); sent letter to BOEM2/25/2016 (offshore drilling)
14 New York State Legislators: issued citation 5/21/2017 (offshore drilling and exploration)
Brookhaven, NY Town Supervisor: sent letter 05/21/2017 (offshore drilling)
43 state and local elected officials from Delaware led by Mayors Hansen and Becker, and Senators Peterson and Lopez: Sent letter to DOI 8/2/2016 (seismic blasting)
42 state and local elected officials from Maryland led by Senator Raskin, Delegate Lierman and Council Member Hucker: Sent letter to DOI 8/2/2016 (seismic blasting)
New Jersey State League of Municipalities: 7 mayors sent letter to DOI 1/30/2015 (offshore drilling)
Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary David Small: Sent letter to DOI 4/21/2015 (seismic blasting)
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh: Sent letter to BOEM 3/30/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Maryland (Former) Governor Martin O'Malley: Sent letter to DOI 2/26/2014 (offshore drilling); Wrote an op-ed in the New York Times 2/2/2015 (offshore drilling)
Lynnhaven River NOW, VA: Sent letter to Congressman Rigell 8/25/2015 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Virginia Garden Club: Sent letter of opposition to BOEM 7/16/2016 (seismic blasting), sent letter to President Obama 11/2/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting); expressed opposition in their legislative agenda 1/25/2016 (offshore drilling)
Princess Anne Garden Club, VA: sent letter to City Council 9/8/2015 (offshore drilling); updated resolution 4/13/2016 (seismic blasting), sent letter to President Obama 11/4/2016 (offshore drilling)
Albermarle Garden Club, VA: Resolution of opposition 5/18/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
Norfolk Garden Club, VA: Passed resolution 3/16/2016 (offshore drilling)
Virginia Beach Garden Club, VA: Sent letter to BOEM 9/29/2015 (offshore drilling)
The Virginia Aquarium, VA: Sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council of Virginia Beach expressing concerns about offshore development near the Norfolk Canyon 8/18/15 (offshore drilling)
Sandbridge Civic League, VA: Sent letter to President Obama, BOEM, et al. 11/1/2015 (offshore drilling)
Resort Beach Civic League, VA: Sent letter to President Obama, BOEM, et al. 11/1/2015 (offshore drilling)
Assateague Coastal Trust, MD: Sent letter to President Obama 1115/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)

Pacific

Pacific Governors released statement condemning the federal decision to expand offshore drilling, including in Pacific waters 1/4/18 (offshore drilling)
Washington Governor Jay Inslee sent multiple letters to Secretary Zinke, including a letter signed by the Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington opposing any new proposed oil and gas lease sales in the Pacific 1/11/18 (offshore drilling)
Alaska Governor Bill Walker sent letter to Secretary Zinke requesting BOEM hold more hearings where lease sales have been proposed 1/19/18 (offshore drilling)

Multi-state

7 East Coast Governors sent letter to Secretary Zinke expressing joint opposition to the inclusion of the Atlantic Ocean in the proposed 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 1/17/18 (offshore drilling)
225 Nonprofit Organizations and Businesses: sent letter to the U.S. House of Representatives opposing the pro-offshore drilling "ASTRO" Act 11/7/2017
66 Nonprofit Organizations: sent letter to U.S. House of Representatives opposing the pro-offshore drilling "SECURE" Act 11/7/2017
67 Nonprofit Organizations: sent letter to NOAA 7/21/2017 (seismic blasting)
38 diverse community groups: sent letter to DOI 5/24/17 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
60+ local groups: Sent letter to Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) in support of H.R. 2252, a bill that would establish a 10-year moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling and seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic, Straits of Florida, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
83 East Coast State Legislators, led by State Representative Pricey Harrison: Sent letter to BOEM 3/30/2015 (offshore drilling)
95 state and local elected officials: Submitted letter to President Obama opposing seismic blasting on 5/6/2014 (seismic blasting)
28 leading marine biologists with specific expertise on the North Atlantic right whale: Submitted letter to President Obama to halt the permitting of oil and gas seismic surveys off the East Coast 4/14/2016 (seismic blasting)
75 Leading marine scientists: Sent letter to the President urging him "to reject the Interior Department's analysis and its decision to introduce seismic oil and gas surveys in the Atlantic," 3/5/2015 (seismic blasting)
100+ scientists: Sent letter to President Obama urging him to "wait on new science before permitting the use of seismic airguns in the Atlantic Ocean" 2/20/2014 (seismic blasting)
Members of the Green Group: Sent letter to the U.S. Senate urging them to vote down Senate Bill 3110 sponsored by Senators Vitter and Cassidy 7/5/2016 (offshore drilling)
50+ conservation groups: Sent letter led by the Waterkeeper Alliance to President Obama urging him to permanently protect unleased U.S. waters from offshore drilling 12/13/2016 (offshore drilling)
30+ conservation groups: Sent letter to BOEM urging them to redo or supplement the environmental impact statement for offshore oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic 5/26/2016 (seismic blasting)
60+ conservation groups: Sent letter to BOEM urging them to deny pending permits for seismic blasting now that the Atlantic has been removed from the 5 year plan 4/28/2016 (seismic blasting)
48 state/regional conservation and civic groups: Sent letter to BOEM supporting their decision to remove the Atlantic from consideration for offshore drilling 4/11/2016 (offshore drilling)
163 conservation and animal rights groups: Submitted letter to President Obama opposing seismic blasting on 5/6/2014 (seismic blasting)

Military Stakeholders and NASA

U.S. Airforce: Sent letter to Senator Nelson 6/27/2017 (offshore drilling)
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense: responded to a letter from U.S. Representative Gaetz (R-FL) stating that “the DoD cannot overstate the vital importance of maintaining [the Eastern Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and gas] moratorium” (4/26/17)
Florida Defense Support Task Force White Paper - Oil Drilling & Military Mission Compatibility: recommended that Florida maintain a united front in supporting an extension of the current moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico east of the Military Mission Line (1/31/17)
DoD Mission Compatibility Planning Assessment - BOEM 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program: outlined the large conflicting national security and current military operational uses in the U.S. OCS, especially the Atlantic Ocean, with permanent and temporary oil and gas structures (10/30/15)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) commented on the 2017-2022 Five-Year Plan Request for Information: expressed continued concern regarding the potential impacts that oil and gas development of the coast of Virginia would have on the operation at Wallops Flight Facility (8/2014)
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld: sent a letter to Chairman John Warner stating that offshore oil and gas activities within the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Military Mission Line would be incompatible with military activities (11/20/2005)

CONGRESSIONAL LETTERS (CHRONOLOGICAL)

Congressman Rutherford (R-Fl) sent a letter to Walter Cruickshank 2/01/208
Senator Cantwell (D-WA) and Pacific Northwest delegation sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to remove the Washington/Oregon planning areas from the Draft Proposed Program 2/1/18 (offshore drilling)
Rhode Island Congressional delegation sent letter to BOEM Acting Director Walter Cruickshank urging him to remove RI from the Draft Proposed Program 1/25/18 (offshore drilling)
Representative Jones (R-NC) sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to hold public hearings in Dare County, NC for the Draft Proposed Program 1/25/18 (offshore drilling)
California Congressional delegation sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to hold public hearings in Northern and Southern California coastal areas for the Draft Proposed Program 1/25/18 (offshore drilling)
Representatives Grijalva (D-AZ), Lowenthal (D-CA) and McEachin (D-VA) sent letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) to hold an oversight hearing of Zinke’s decision to remove Florida on day two of the Draft Proposed Program comment period 1/24/18 (offshore drilling)
Maryland House Democrats sent letter to Maryland Governor Hogan urging him to ask Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to remove MD from the Draft Proposed Program 1/19/18 (offshore drilling)
Florida Congressional delegation sent letter to Defense Secretary Mattis urging him to weigh in on the Draft Proposed Program to protect military interests in region 1/19/18 (offshore drilling)
Senators Warner (D-VA) and Kaine (D-VA) sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to hold public hearings in coastal VA for the Draft Proposed Program 1/18/18 (offshore drilling)
Representatives Reichert (R-WA) and Herrera-Beutler (R-WA) sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to remove WA from the Draft Proposed Program 1/18/18 (offshore drilling)
Representative Pallone (D-NJ) and more than 150 other House Democrats sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to remove the Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific and Eastern Gulf of Mexico planning areas from the Draft Proposed Program 1/18/18 (offshore drilling)
Senator Reed and 21 other Senate Democrats sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to their coastal states from the Draft Proposed Program 1/11/18 (offshore drilling)
New Jersey Congressional delegation 1/11/2018
New Hampshire Congressional delegation 1/11/2018
Massachusetts Congressional delegation 1/10/18
Representative LoBiondo (R-NJ) 1/10/18
New Jersey Congressional delegation sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to visit NJ and hold public hearings in coastal towns during the Draft Proposed Program 1/11/18 (offshore drilling)
Senator Merkley (D-OR) and 36 other Senate Democrats sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to maintain the 2017-2022 plan 1/9/18 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Senators King (I-ME) and Collins (R-ME) sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to remove ME from the Draft Proposed Program 1/8/18 (offshore drilling)
Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Pallone (D-NJ) sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him to remove NJ from the Draft Proposed Program 1/05/2018 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Representative Rice (R-SC): sent letter to BOEM 8/17/2017 (offshore drilling)
30 U.S. Senators led by Sens Merkeley (D-OR) and Markey (D-MA): sent letter to BOEM 8/17/2017 (offshore drilling)
68 U.S. Representatives led by Reps. Pallone (D-NJ) & Sanford (R-SC): sent bipartisan letter to BOEM 8/11/2017 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Senators Carper and Coons: sent letter to Commerce Secretary Ross 7/21/2017 (seismic blasting)
U.S. Senator Nelson: sent letter opposing the proposed issuance of 5 IHAs to authorize harassment of marine mammals by companies seeking to conduct oil and gas seismic testing off the Atlantic coast (7/2/2017)
U.S. Senators Cardin and Van Hollen: sent letter to MD Governor Hogan urging him to request a Coastal Zone Management Act consultation for new seismic airgun blasting permit applications off the coast of Maryland (6/30/2017)
103 U.S. Representatives led by Reps. Rutherford (R-FL) & Beyer (D-VA): sent bipartisan letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him not to authorize Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) and deny pending seismic airgun blasting permits in the Atlantic (6/28/2017)
New Jersey's entire Congressional delegation: sent bipartisan letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service voicing concerns over the proposal to issue seismic airgun blasting permits in the Atlantic, requesting an extension of the comment period for IHAs, and field hearings for their constituents (6/9/2017)
14 U.S. Senators led by Sen. Nelson (D-FL): sent letter to Commerce Secretary Ross opposing the issuance of Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for Atlantic offshore oil and gas exploration, including seismic airgun blasting; and requested the agency extend the public comment period, and hold field hearings (6/9/2017)
107 U.S. Representatives led by Reps. LoBiondo (R-NJ), & Lowenthal (D-CA): sent bipartisan letter to Interior Secretary Zinke urging him not to include the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the new OCS Five-Year Plan as re-initiated by President Trump’s Executive Order (5/11/2017)
U.S. Reps. Pallone (Ranking Member, House Energy and Commerce Committee; D-NJ) & Grijalva (Ranking Member, House Natural Resources Committee; D-AZ): sent letter to Interior Secretary Zinke expressing concerns over President Trump's instructions via Executive Order to review the 2017-2022 OCS Five-Year Plan (5/2/2017)
27 U.S. Senators led by Sens. Markey (D-MA) & Menendez (D-NJ): sent letter to Sec. Zinke urging him not to revise the 2017-2022 OCS Five-Year Plan (4/27/2017)
15 Members of Florida's Congressional delegation led by Reps. Gaetz (R-FL) & Dunn (R-FL): sent bipartisan letter to Defense Secretary General James Mattis requesting he maintains the moratorium on oil and gas leasing activities in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (3/24/2017)
17 Members of Florida's Congressional delegation led by Sen. Bill Nelson: sent bipartisan letter urging the Trumpadministration to keep offshore drilling out of the eastern Gulf of Mexico (3/24/2017)
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6): sent letter asking President Obama to permanently protect the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans from any future offshore oil and gas leasing 11/16/2016
14 U.S. Senators: sent letter asking President Obama to permanently protect the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans from any future offshore oil and gas leasing 10/6/2016 (offshore drilling)
74 U.S. Representatives: sent bipartisan letter asking President Obama to permanently protect the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans from any future offshore oil and gas leasing 9/28/2016 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Senators Carper and Coons (DE): sent letter to DOI opposing seismic airgun blasting in the Mid-Atlantic region 9/1/2016 (seismic blasting)
U.S. Representatives Sanford (SC-1) and Connolly (VA-11): sent bipartisan letter with 53 colleagues urging President Obama to halt consideration of G&G permits in the Atlantic 6/8/2016 (seismic blasting)
7 U.S. Senators: sent letter to the State Department and DOI expressing concern over Canada's decision to allow offshore drilling off the coast of Canada, near George's Bank 5/19/2016 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA): sent letter with 28 colleagues to Secretary of State John Kerry expressing serious concern over offshore oil and gas exploration and development in Nova Scotia waters tangential to critical U.S. fishing waters 5/19/2016 (offshore drilling and seismic blasting)
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6): sent letter to NOAA requesting a public hearing on pending permit applications for seismic blasting in the Atlantic 5/11/2016
18 U.S. Senators: sent letter to President Obama urging the administration to refrain from permitting seismic blasting in the Atlantic 4/28/2016
51 U.S. Representatives: sent letter to President Obama thanking the administration for removing the Atlantic from consideration in the five year plan 4/25/2016 (offshore drilling)
36 U.S. Representatives: sent bipartisan letter to DOI asking to remove the Atlantic Ocean from the next five year plan 2/11/2016 (offshore drilling)
10 U.S. Senators: sent letter to DOI asking not to issue any new leases in federal waters 2/3/2016 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Senator Menendez and Rep. Pallone (NJ-6): sent letter to President Obama asking him to place the Atlantic off-limits in the next lease sale auction 2/1/2016 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Representatives Scott (VA-3) and Sanford (SC-1): sent bipartisan letter with 31 colleagues to BOEM asking to halt seismic testing in the Atlantic 12/14/2015 (seismic blasting)
53 U.S. Representatives: sent letter to DOI 3/9/2015 (offshore drilling)
12 U.S. Senators: sent letter to DOI 3/9/2015 (offshore drilling)
U.S. Representative Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2): sent letter to BOEM opposing offshore drilling in the Mid-Atlantic 3/18/2015
U.S. Representative Mark Sanford (SC-1): sent letter to President urging him "to reject the Interior Department's analysis and its decision to introduce seismic oil and gas surveys in the Atlantic" 4/20/2015 (seismic blasting)
U.S. Representatives Scott (VA-3), Beyer (VA-8), and Connolly (VA-11): sent letter to DOI opposing Atlantic offshore drilling 2/20/2015
U.S. Senators Menendez and Booker, Rep. Pallone (NJ-6): sent letter to President Obama opposing Atlantic offshore drilling 1/30/2015
13 members of Florida's Congressional delegation: sent letter to DOI opposing offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico 8/27/2014
7 Southeast U.S. Representatives: sent letter to President Obama opposing seismic testing 8/1/2014
8 members of Maryland's congressional delegation: sent letter to President Obama opposing seismic testing 7/31/2014
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (FL-1): sent letter to DOI opposing offshore drilling and seismic testing 7/31/2014
11 members of Florida's congressional delegation: sent letter to President Obama opposing seismic testing 7/18/2014
U.S. Representative John Carney (DE-At Large): sent letter to President Obama opposing seismic testing and offshore drilling 7/3/2014
9 U.S. Senators: sent letter to DOI requesting that the seismic airgun PEIS not be released without incorporation of the "best available science" 2/26/2014
4 members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources: sent letter to DOI and NOAA expressing their concern and requesting information about seismic testing and offshore drilling 1/8/2014
6 Southeast U.S. House of Representatives: sent letter to DOI urging Secretary Jewell to "use extreme caution when considering any proposals to allow drilling off the Atlantic Coast" 5/24/2013
13 members of Florida's congressional delegation: sent letter to President Obama opposing seismic testing 4/17/2013
U.S. Reps Scott (VA-3), Moran (VA-8, retired), and Connolly (VA-11): sent letter to DOI opposing seismic testing 1/31/2013
27 U.S. Representatives: sent letter to President Obama opposing seismic testing 1/30/2013
8 U.S. Senators: sent letter to President Obama opposing seismic testing 1/30/2013