See below for a statement from Environment Virginia on yet ANOTHER assault on the environment by the heinous, comic-book-villain Trump administration. Seriously, f*** them…and anyone who supports them. By the way, this is from the same pathological liars who falsely claimed to care about supposed damage to whales from offshore wind turbines. Insanity.
STATEMENT: Seabed mining proposal would put Virginia’s coast at risk
Public has until July 23 to weigh in on dangers to whales, other marine life
Richmond, Va.. — The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) announced on Monday that it is considering leasing federal waters off the coast of Virginia for seabed mining. If it moves forward, seabed mining would threaten life at the seafloor in a part of the ocean that hosts migratory species, from critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to Atlantic Bluefin Tuna.
The area under consideration for leasing, which is larger than the state of Delaware, stretches along much of Virginia’s Eastern Shore and out to the continental shelf. Mining operations in the area would likely target heavy mineral sands and phosphorites in shallower waters, rather than the deep sea nodules sought by mining companies in the Pacific.
Opposition from Virginians has halted similar proposals in the past. When the DOI put forward plans in 2015 and 2018 to start leasing for oil and gas drilling off the Commonwealth’s coastline, Virginians successfully pushed back, permanently protecting state waters from drilling and halting federal plans.
Members of the public concerned about the impact mining would have on Virginia’s coast will have until July 23 to submit a comment on the Federal comment portal.
Elly Wilson, state director with Environment Virginia, issued the following statement:
“From dolphins breaching the waves to seabirds soaring above our heads, a visit to Virginia’s coast is a reminder of the vibrant ecosystems we are lucky enough to have right over the horizon. Ripping up vast swaths of the seafloor puts this ocean heritage at risk.
“Whether you spend time on the water or not, we need to make it clear: beginning this new, untested industry off the coast of Virginia is unacceptably risky. Everyone who cares about the future of our ocean should comment by July 23 and make it clear: we do not want seabed mining off our coast.”
