Like to vacation at the Mississippi Gulf Coast? oh well

[AnnInLa]

Wilderness Site May See Oil Drilling By Julie Cart Times Staff Writer
Tue May 31, 7:55 AM ET



GULFPORT, Miss. — Tucked away in the 96-page emergency military spending bill signed by President Bush this month are four paragraphs that give energy companies the right to explore for oil and gas inside a sprawling national park.

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The amendment written by Sen. Thad Cochran (news, bio, voting record) (R-Miss.) codifies Mississippi's claim to mineral rights under federal lands and allows drilling for natural gas under the Gulf Islands National Seashore — a thin necklace of barrier islands that drapes the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico.

As a preliminary step to drilling, the rider permits seismic testing, which involves detonating sound-wave explosions to locate oil and gas deposits in the park. Two of the five Mississippi islands are wilderness areas, and the environs are home to federally protected fish and birds, a large array of sea turtles and the gulf's largest concentration of bottlenose dolphins.

The legislation marks the first time the federal government has sanctioned seismic exploration on national park property designated as wilderness — which carries with it the highest level of protection

[Maddy McCall]

1. There is a committee of Coast citizens who are fighting this like crazy

I don't think it'll happen. The coastal cities know how important tourism is to their economies.

If it DOES happen anyway, my family won't visit anymore. We don't do casinos, so the beauty of the coast is the only draw.

[Gildor Inglorion]

2. Oh, crap! I live 30 miles north of Gulfport...

and I LOVE visiting the coast. What a thrill it will be to see gas well derricks dotting the horizon. And probably oil slicks on the water, too. Thad Cochran is a scuzzy whore. I wish someone would do a bit of "seismic exploration" on him...

:mad: :nuke:

[jobycom]

3. Perkinston?

I went to JC there.

[Gildor Inglorion]

6. Wiggins...Perk is a bit south of here!

I'm originally from north Georgia, but I LOVE south Mississippi. Hot, humid climate agrees with my old bones and joints.

[jobycom]

7. I know Wiggins well!!

It was the only place to eat anything late night in Perkinston.

I really miss that climate. Wasn't just the humidity, but something about being that close to the beach, and something about the smell of pine trees. I really miss them in Austin.

I don't miss the politics, though! I like Austin better for politics.

[jobycom]

4. I'm surprised Lott let it happen, he's from the Coast. I'm surprised

Cochran would do something like that, too. He used to be pretty moderate. I worked for a retired senator in Austin once, a very liberal Democrat, and he always praised Cochran as one of the few Republicans he respected. Sad to see him surrender to the dark side.

[funkybutt]

5. From Ft. Morgan AL, I could see a rig

I'm not sure exactly where it was but it was to the west of Ft. Morgan. I didn't know there were visible rigs over there until I saw this a couple of years ago. I'll be going back in August.

I sure hope this doesn't pass.