WesternGeo Seismic Surveys

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
To: Daniel Govoni, Policy Analyst - Division of Coastal Management
Through: Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor - Water Quality Regional
Operation Section, Division of Water Resources RT
From: Anthony Scarbraugh, Environmental Specialist II 4,5'
Subject: Comments on Federal Consistency Review for WesternGeco to conduct
Geological and Geophysical (G&S) surveys in the Atlantic Ocean off the
North Carolina coast related to oil and gas resource development
Date: May 24, 2019
The following comments are in response to the proposal to G&S surveys in the Atlantic Ocean
off the coast of NC related to oil and gas resources development. Upon review of the
proposed activities, this Office has the following comments:
• Under the North Carolina General Statute 141-6 (a), the jurisdictional eastern limit of
North Carolina's boundary is one marine league (three nautical miles) from the
Atlantic seashore, measured from the extreme low-water mark.
• Any discharge, as defined by Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 02B .0202
(25), within North Carolina's jurisdictional waters must comply with State water
quality standards as set forth in Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code
02B .0200.
• Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 02B .0220 (2), which sets forth Tidal
Salt Water Quality Standards for Class SC Waters, states that "the waters shall be
suitable for aquatic life propagation and maintenance of biological integrity, wildlife,
and secondary recreation. Any source of water pollution that precludes any of these uses,
including their functioning as PNAs, on either a short-term or a long-term basis shall be
considered to be violating a water quality standard".
• This Office has concerns regarding the impacts of G&S surveys on marine organisms
and their habitats.
NORTH
D E�
0d51rtmeinal Emlronmanhl quaff
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Washington Regional Office 1943 Washington Square Mall I Washington, North Carolina 27889
252.946.6481

• This Office has concerns regarding the closure of waters during G&S surveys and the
resource impacts to the commercial and recreational fisheries that utilize these
waters.
If you should have any questions or require additional information, you may e-mail me at
[e-mail] or contact me by phone at 252-948-3924.