Coastal Delegation Files Legislation Opposing Offshore Drilling

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A bipartisan group of lawmakers filed legislation that says Georgia should be opposed to offshore drilling.

Members of Georgia’s coastal delegation announced a pair of resolutions Wednesday that would protect the state’s 100 or so miles of coastline from offshore drilling – or even testing for it.Members of Georgia’s coastal delegation announced a pair of resolutions Wednesday that would oppose testing for oil off Georgia’s coast.

Senator Lester Jackson (D-Savannah) said that banning testing and drilling is about the economy as much as the environment.

“Our fishery industry depends on coastal Georgia,” he said. “The shrimping industry depends on us; the oyster industry depends on us.”

Gov. Brian Kemp has indicated he is opposed any sort of drilling, saying he would ‘fight” against it if needed.

Last fall, the federal government announced plans to allow seismic testing along the Atlantic coast, which is a first step in drilling for oil and natural gas.