Seismic: A Conversation With Jeffrey Vorberger Of NOIA

wilmingtonWilmingtonBiz Insights | June 9, 2016 | David McGowan, III

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jeffrey Vorberger, the vice president for policy and government affairs at the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA). NOIA is the only national trade organization representing all segments of the offshore energy industry. Vorberger is responsible for leading NOIA’s outreach and advocacy strategies with external stakeholder groups, with particular emphasis on Atlantic coastal states and communities. His six years with NOIA also include leading the organization’s policy and legislative agenda before Congress.

Recently, Vorberger’s work has dealt mostly with seismic surveying. As North Carolinians, we know this is a big issue along our coast. We are concerned with the potential dangers to the environment and want to better understand the impacts the data could have on industry in our state. He gave me the following answers to some frequently asked questions.

Is seismic surveying safe? What evidence exists to prove it?

The geophysical industry has demonstrated for nearly 50 years its ability to operate seismic and other geophysical exploration activities in an environmentally safe and responsible manner. The federal government affirms that sound from geophysical surveys has not been found to be injurious to marine life. In the March 4, 2014, Federal Register (Vol. 79, No. 42, Page 12166), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), stated, “To date, there is no evidence that serious injury, death or stranding by marine mammals can occur from exposure to [seismic air source] pulses, even in the case of large [source] arrays.” In its August 22, 2014 Science Notes, BOEM stated, “To date, there has been no documented scientific evidence of noise from [seismic air sources] used in geological and geophysical (G&G) seismic activities adversely affecting marine animal populations or coastal communities …”

Read the full piece here.

National Ocean Industries Association
1120 G Street, NW • Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202.347.6900 | Email: media@nullnoia.org