State environmental officials will conduct three public hearings to gather comments on the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s request for information and comments on the preparation of the 2019-24 national outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing program.
The first public hearing will be Aug. 7 at the New Hanover Government Center, 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 135, Wilmington. The second public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City. The third public hearing is planned for Aug. 10 at the Dare County Government Complex, 954 Marshall Collins Drive, Manteo. All hearings will be held from 5-7 p.m.
The bureau is seeking information and requesting comments on the preparation of a new five-year national outer continental shelf program for 2019-24, in accordance with the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Upon completion, the program for 2019-24 will replace the program for 2017-22, which was approved on Jan. 17.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public input and information on the potential impact of oil and gas exploration and development on the biological, social, economic and aesthetic values of North Carolina’s coast.
People can comment at the hearings or comments may be submitted in writing to: Timothy Webster, 217 West Jones St., 1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1601, or by email to: timothy.webster@ncdenr.gov. All comments are due by Aug. 15, 2017.
For more information, go to: https://www.boem.gov/Five-Year-Program/.
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