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RES-2018-012 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE EXPLORATION, DRILLING <br />ACTIVITIES AND SEISMIC BLAST ACTIVITIES OFF THE COAST OF <br />NORTH CAROLINA <br />WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to being a sound steward of the <br />environment; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County stands with coastal municipalities in their pursuit of <br />prudent shoreline protection and preservation; and <br />WHEREAS, seismic air guns firing intense blasts of compressed air are among <br />the loudest human-made sounds in the ocean; and <br />WHEREAS, these seismic blasts can occur as frequently as every ten seconds, <br />for days to weeks at a time and are loud enough to harm marine and aquatic life; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the full impacts of seismic blasting and offshore drilling in the <br />Atlantic are not yet fully understood by scientists, the oil and gas industry, the <br />Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or the Federal Government; and <br />WHEREAS, exploratory and commercial drilling, extraction, and the <br />transportation of offshore oil and gas resources poses significant economic and <br />environmental risks; and <br />WHEREAS, offshore drilling activities pose specific threats for the offshore <br />marine ecosystems and coastal and river wetlands which are of intrinsic <br />ecological value for numerous migratory bird species, serve as essential nursery <br />habitats for our recreational and commercially important fisheries, and act as <br />natural buffers from storm surge and hurricanes; and <br />WHEREAS, commercial and recreational fishing are critical economic and quality <br />of life drivers; and <br />WHEREAS, tourism is the economic backbone of the North Carolina coast; and <br />WHEREAS, one oil spill could devastate the economy, environment and social <br />fabric, as demonstrated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico <br />in 2010; and <br />WHEREAS, a waiver has already been granted to the State of Florida based on <br />the multiple concerns raised and in the interest of coastal tourism; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Orange County <br />Commissioners is opposed to offshore oil and gas exploration, offshore drilling <br />2