The Northampton Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to readopt their earlier resolution opposing offshore drilling of Virginia’s eastern seaboard.
Chairman Spencer Murray noted that the county had received communication from representatives Kaine, Warner, and Taylor regarding the current plan which was announced on Jan. 4 by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. While current regulations mark 94 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf as off limits for offshore drilling, the new plan would make more than 90 percent of that area available for oil exploration. The announcement came nearly two years after the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, removed coastlines spanning from Virginia to Georgia from a preexisting offshore drilling plan.
Supervisor Coker was concerned that just one oil spill such as occurred with Deepwater Horizon, could affect jobs in the aquaculture and tourist industries, and it was not worth the risk
for the limited economic upturn that may result from this initiative.
Drilling could also have an adverse effect on the entire Coastal Virginia region. If one aircraft carrier was moved from Naval Station Norfolk to a different military base in another state, Hampton Roads could lose $1 billion in economic activity.
A DOD study shows offshore drilling could also impact military operations. The study evaluated the military’s mission compatibility with areas that were originally proposed for the offshore drilling program. It then ranked those areas using a color-coded system to show where oil exploration would be possible and impossible in order for the military to continue operating in potentially affected locations.
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I guess farm chemicals run off into the bay killing fishing, polluting our waters both above and below drinking water, destroying water grass is ok by the BOS, farmers are protected to poison the environment that’s ok by the BOS. The BOS did not mention that offshore drilling would lower energy prices for the poor here in Northampton County and create thousand high paying jobs badly needed by the people to give them a better standard of living, better then the BOS will not do. Shame on them to put politics ahead of the people of Northampton. This vote by the BOS to kill the chances to create jobs is a strike against and to embarrass our President Trump against him trying to make America great again and rebuild the poor Rural counties of America, remember people of Northampton we are the poorest county in Virginia and one of the ten poorest counties in America and our BOS want to keep it that way. Our chairman is only a puppet for the few money grubbers and no backbone to lead our county out of poverty where single moms work three jobs just to survive month to month. With offshore drilling, it could bring lower taxes, new schools, attract more business, create a building boom, take all off welfare, increase the balance sheet of our Banks to loan more money to fix homes, start up a business, save money to send their children to a college, get a new car every three years instead of trying to repair at high cost, have fuel for winter instead of going to bed with no heat. the BOS is telling you all its all ok to be poor, they’re making you all a bunch of fools and they got you believing it. Fight them at their meetings, fight them at the polls, fight them in your churches, fight them in the newspapers and don’t be afraid of them the constitution is on your side and the Courts are on tour side. Believe in yourself, believe in your country and believe in GOD
I agree but who are the money grubbers?