State Launches Lawsuit Challenging Federal Government’s Effort to Allow Offshore Drilling in New Jersey.
Jersey Shore Partnership attended a press conference to voice opposition to offshore drilling in New Jersey and to support the State’s legal challenge to the Federal government.
The federal government has granted permits to five companies eyeing potential drilling off the Jersey shore. In response, New Jersey and eight other eastern coastal state plaintiffs are suing the federal government over offshore seismic testing in a bid to halt potential offshore oil drilling off the coast of the state.
Seismic testing is a precursor to offshore oil and gas drilling, whereby drilling companies blast loud sounds in the ocean floor to search for areas to drill. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said that the process alone should be grounds to halt the seismic testing because it would violate several environmental protection laws enacted by Congress.