Comment from Rollosson, Martha
Martha RollossonOpposeIndividual
Summary: An individual commenter opposes the proposed commercial leasing for offshore mineral mining in Virginia. They argue that mining will damage marine life, cause coastal erosion, and negatively impact the local aquaculture and restaurant industries.
I am exceedingly opposed to the prospect of mining the sea floor off the coast of Virginia.
Disturbing the sea floor this close to the coast will have a detrimental effect on marine life. Disturbing the sea floor will cause erosion during tropical storms and have a dire effect on the coastline, which is a fragile ecosystem. Erosion of the coastline will have negative consequences on aquaculture - oysters, clams, scallops. Many people will lose income if these species are affected by this proposed project. Not only the people who farm and sell them for their livelihood, but also on the restaurant business that relies on these local shellfish. Once the coastline is destroyed it will be decades before it can rebound, if it ever does. Numerous local projects and countless hours have gone into restoring the coastline from storms decades ago. Mining the shallow waters off the coast of Virginia will destroy the progress that has been made.