At its April meeting, the Seabrook Island Town Council passed, in a 4 to 1 vote, a resolution to oppose both the inclusion of the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas in the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, and the use of seismic analysis as part of geological and geophysical exploration in such areas. The Mayor was directed to communicate council’s position on these issues to applicable state and federal officials.
Seabrook Island joins many of the surrounding towns who have taken positions opposing offshore drilling. Action was taken after careful consideration by the town. It was discussed at three consecutive meetings and not decided until the results of a Property Owners Association survey on the issue were known, which showed overwhelming opposition. Mayor Ahearn explained at a Town Council meeting that drilling would probably not commence for at least ten years, but seismic testing could start in a month or so.
—Sally Kimball