HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — In an uncommon political coalition, the governors of Carolina have united in requesting the White House to maintain a ban on offshore gas and oil drilling.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican aligned with Trump, and North Carolina Democrat Josh Stein on Sunday wrote a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, urging that a 2020 moratorium be extended until at least 2032.
McMaster also separately wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum earlier last week with the same request.
Stein and McMaster highlighted the 513 miles of ocean beaches and more than 6,250 miles of coastline, which are home to nearly three million people, wildlife refuges, and sensitive wetlands.
“Our coasts are also home to critical military installations that are vital to national security. Offshore oil and gas infrastructure and activities, including seismic testing, can interfere with these operations, weakening our national defense,” the governors wrote.
Monday marked the final day of a public engagement process ahead of developing the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf program, and more than 44,000 comments had been filed according to federal records.
Kristina Burch, a third-generation Myrtle Beach resident, said she backs efforts to keep oil and gas drilling exploration away from the coastline.
“The Myrtle Beach area overwhelmingly opposes an expansion of offshore drilling. Tourism is the bedrock of my community, and a healthy ocean environment is crucial for our community to thrive. A major oil spill would have long-lasting consequences for small businesses, fisheries, and the thousands of jobs that rely on a healthy coastal environment,” she wrote on Friday.
In addition to the governors, agencies including the Coastal Conservation League and Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce have endorsed the ongoing ban.
Ben Clyburn, chairman of Destination North Myrtle Beach, also spoke out against loosening the offshore drilling restrictions.
“North Myrtle Beach is a thriving community built upon tourism and commercial fishing. The care and protection of our beaches and waterways is a core objective in our long-term strategic vision,” he wrote to BOEM on June 6.
