Press Release:
Email from the Surfrider Foundation:
With the calamity that recently taking place on the East Coast, we wanted to make sure you were aware that Wednesday, November 14th, the California Coastal Commission will be making a decision that will impact the health and welfare of surfers and thousands of marine mammals.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is seeking to conduct seismic surveying project along the Central Coast of California. The project entails the firing underwater air cannons, every 15 seconds, day and night, for 17 days. Each air gun blast is equivalent to a bomb exploding. By PG&E’s own admission, these tests have the potential to harm or kill thousands of whales, dolphins and other marine mammals.
Here is what that looks like:
Fin whale** 205
Humpback whale** 258
Blue whale** 116
Minke whale 7
Short Beaked Dolphin
920
Long Beaked dolphin 54
Small beaked whale
65
Harbor porpoise 2328
Dall’s porpoise 412
Pacific white-sided dolphin
98
Risso’s dolphin 54
Northern right whale dolphin
41
Bottlenose dolphin
13
Sperm whale 1
Harbor seal 48
California sea lion
2489
Pacific sea otter**
352
** denotes federally endangered species
Moreover, these tests could pose a significant risk to any surfers, swimmers or divers in the water during the testing period.
According to researchers, including a scientist at the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), the data derived from this project is duplicative and may not answer key questions regarding plant safety. PG&E has not made the case that these destructive tests are necessary to improve plant safety.
If we do not speak out now, we will likely be unable to stop this project from taking place. Not only will this project cause great harm to the Central Coast, it virtually guarantees a similar project to take place off San Onofre in the next few months.
The Surfrider Foundation is organizing a rally next Wednesday before the California Coastal Commission. AS WE SAW WITH THE SAVE TRESTLES CAMPAIGN, ATTENDANCE AT THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION HEARINGS ARE MASSIVELY IMPACTFUL!
RALLY DATE: Wednesday, Nov 14 (Hearing starts at 9 a.m. Surfrider will be hosting a pancake breakfast for activists at 7 a.m. at Jinky’s Café: 1447 2nd Street. Santa Monica, CA 90401.)
RALLY LOCATION: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium – East Wing 1855 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401
More info here: https://seismic.surfrider.org.
