Environmental leaders, business leaders, fishermen and elected officials will unite to display their opposition to oil and gas development off the Delaware coast. The Bureau of Energy Management, directed by the Trump administration, is holding public hearings throughout the country to outline their plans for seismic testing and oil and gas drilling in every coastal area in the U.S., with the exception of Florida. These hearings are being held in the state capitals, so an informational forum is set in Lewes for the convenience of coastal residents.

“The threat to the local communities from the development of oil and gas infrastructure, seismic testing, and a potential oil spill is not worth the risk,” said Suzanne Thurman, founder of Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute. “Coastal communities are on the front line, and it is their livelihoods that are at risk. Our nation does not need new offshore oil and gas extraction. Coastal Delaware is fighting for the protection of our coastline, the environment, coastal economy and a clean energy future.”

Delaware residents will be joined by members of the fishing and business community, political representatives and environmental organizations including the MERR Institute, Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club, Delaware Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, Assateague Coastal Trust/Assateague CoastKeeper, Delaware Interfaith Power and Light, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Oceana.

The forum will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 3, in Cannon Lab Room 104, at the University of Delaware's Hugh Sharp Campus, 700 Pilottown Road.

The public forum will include special guest speakers from various sectors of Delaware's coastal community, national organizations, and from neighboring coastal areas. This informational event will provide facts and information about the proposals for oil drilling, and the impacts that will occur to coastal communities as a result of potential exploration, operations and oil spills. Participants will receive information and guidelines for comment submission to the Bureau of Energy Management, and will be provided with other ways to join in the collective effort to oppose oil drilling off the Delaware coast.

The event will also include a film, a kid's corner, refreshments and exhibits.

Feel free to contact 302-228-5029 for additional information.