Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-NJ) applauded the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) denial of all pending geophysical and geological (G&G) permit applications to conduct airgun seismic surveys in the Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas of the Atlantic Ocean. In April 2016, Sen. Booker led a letter to President Obama signed by Senator Menendez urging the Administration to refrain from granting permits for seismic testing, a harmful exploration process for oil and natural gas that could have serious negative impacts on marine mammals and commercial and recreational fisheries.

“Today we achieved a great victory not only for our environment, but for New Jersey’s shore economy,” said Sen. Menendez. “Seismic airgun testing poses a serious threat to fish populations, profitable fisheries and marine life. That is why I have long championed permanently banning this procedure, and will again be introducing legislation to do so in the coming year.”

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