President Donald Trump recently announced a moratorium on offshore drilling and exploration along the southeastern coastlines along South Carolina and Georgia.
Governor Henry McMaster and Attorney General Alan Wilson both applauded the President’s decision.
“South Carolina is blessed with the most beautiful and pristine beaches, sea islands, and marshes in the nation,” McMaster said in a press release. “Seismic testing and offshore drilling threatens their health and jeopardizes the future of our state’s $24 billion tourism industry. Today’s announcement is good news, but we must remain vigilant in the conservation and preservation of our coastline.”
McMaster has been advocating against offshore drilling for the past two years in a letter and meeting with Ryan Zinke, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
His main point of argument was that the refineries and resource storage required for offshore drilling were “not compatible with South Carolina’s coastline and protected sea land.”
Later in 2018, nine other east-coast governors joined with McMaster in signing a letter that was sent to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary Zinke in opposition to offshore drilling and exploration along the Atlantic coast.
The major environmental and economic impact drilling would have on the affected states was a major point of concern expressed in that letter.
“I want to thank the Trump administration for listening to our concerns and announcing this moratorium,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson in a press release. “We had sued the federal government to protect South Carolina’s coast from oil and gas exploration and drilling. This is a step in the right direction and we will remain vigilant in protecting South Carolina’s coast and economy.”