Save Georgia's Shores
The door is still open to drilling off Georgia's shores, where an oil spill would threaten endangered sea turtles and right whales. We're calling on our state and federal leaders to permanently protect our shores from offshore drilling — and to keep our beaches natural and beautiful while they're at it.
Stop the next drilling disaster
Tens of millions of gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 after the BP rig exploded.
Despite this accident, oil companies are still pushing to expand drilling to more than half of Georgia's waters on the Gulf Coast.
Big Oil's plans for our beaches
Incredibly, the oil industry is still aggressively pushing legislation that threatens our world-famous coast.
And some elected leaders in Georgia and Washington, D.C., are still supporting proposals that would promote drilling closer to our beaches and undermine Georgia's existing protections — including a repeal of the ban on drilling just six miles offshore. In December 2010, the Obama administration announced a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling in new areas, including the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. However, legal and legislative efforts to allow expanded drilling are underway. That means we still have a great deal of work ahead of us.
As the president appears to waver, it's more important than ever to embrace meaningful energy reform that eliminates the pressure of drilling offshore.
Our plan to keep Jekyll Island wild
Unfortunately, drilling is not the only threat to face our pristine coastline.
Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s most beautiful places — and a state park that belongs to all Georgians. But in recent years, developers have threatened the island’s forests, marshes and beaches with overdevelopment.
Jekyll Island is one of Georgia's 12 barrier islands and a truly unique spot for appreciating Georgia's beautiful coast and salt marsh; viewing wildlife; and learning about Georgia's history. It's both our most accessible and most natural barrier island.
Back in 1971, legislation protected 65% of the island from future development, a step that preserved the wild character of the island and that has allowed the island to flourish as an important nesting ground for sea turtles.
The remaining 35%
But in recent years the status of the remaining 35% of the island has been the source of much debate. There's no doubt that redevelopment of some of the older facilities on the island is needed — but it's also clear that overdevelopment could mar the island's most beautiful scenery.
Environment Georgia supports redevelopment that prioritizes preservation of Jekyll's ecosystem and environment; protection of Jekyll’s magnificent beaches by keeping redevelopment away from the dunes; and implemention of green, low-impact building standards.
In 2012, the authority that oversees the island is expected to revise Jekyll’s "Master Plan." That will be an important opportunity to make sure the island's wild places and habitat are protected — and we'll be there urging a smart plan for Jekyll Island, every step of the way.
Urge the Obama administration to permanently protect Georgia's shores from drilling.
Key Facts
- An oil spill off Georgia's shores would threaten endangered sea turtles and right whales.
- Our research shows that clean beaches in Georgia create $20 for every $1 that drilling would generate.
- Jekyll Island is a nesting ground for endangered sea turtles. Off the Island’s shore you can find endangered right whales.
- Environment Georgia commented on a recent Conservation Plan written for the island.