Chamber Board Adopts Resolution Opposing New Offshore Drilling

At its June 6 meeting, the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution opposing the inclusion of new offshore oil and gas leasing areas off the coast of North Carolina in the federal government’s 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

The resolution highlights the importance of a healthy marine environment to Carteret County’s economy, including its tourism, fishing, aquaculture, and boatbuilding industries. It also acknowledges the long-term risks posed by offshore drilling—including potential oil spills, habitat disruption, and water pollution—and urges both the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and our federal representatives to prioritize the protection of coastal communities and ecosystems.

A copy of the resolution has been sent to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, as well as to Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, and Representative Greg Murphy.

View the full resolution below.