Trump OKs seismic testing, putting critically endangered right whale population at risk

[Judi Lynn]

Trump OKs seismic testing, putting critically endangered right whale population at risk
Only 450 right whales are left on Earth — and the administration just authorized seismic testing in its habitat

NICOLE KARLIS
DECEMBER 4, 2018 11:00PM (UTC)

There's a lot of oil and gas on Earth, but only 450 right whales. Now, the Trump Administration has signaled that it is more interested in opening up more oil and gas deposits for corporations than it is in protecting this critically endangered cetacean, whose survival is threatened by seismic blasting in the North Atlantic.

Though numerous scientists and conversation groups have repeatedly warned about the dangers seismic testing could pose to one of the world’s most endangered whale populations, last Friday the Trump Administration approved requests from five oil companies — CGG, Ion, Spectrum Geo Inc., TGS-NOPEC, and WesternGeco — to conduct seismic surveys in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Researchers and various East Coast politicians opposed the plan. Conservationists say the testing will only cause more stress to the estimated 450 right whales left on Earth who are struggling to survive and reproduce.

The authorizations came a week after the Trump Administration released an alarming (to put it mildly) report on the public health and economic challenges the country will face in the wake of climate change — a report that President Donald Trump then summarily dismissed.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued the final authorizations “under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to incidentally, but not intentionally, harass marine mammals to companies proposing to conduct geophysical surveys in support of hydrocarbon exploration in the Atlantic Ocean.”

More:
https://www.salon.com/2018/12/04/trump-oks-seismic-testing-putting-critically-endangered-right-whale-population-at-risk/

[Control-Z]

1. Of course he did.

We should probably just try and find out if he ever actually helps anyone, builds something, gives a hand up...

I'll go first: So far he has done only one thing beneficial to mankind, imo. He signed The "Right to Try" bill.

https://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/food-and-drug-administration-news-315/trumps-signs-bill-allowing-terminal-patients-to-try-unproven-medicines-734380.html

Okay. Now it's your turn. I honestly doubt there are any others but if there are please post them here.

[mr_lebowski]

2. This is so f-d up, man ... I HATE THESE PEOPLE!!! (nt)

[Duppers]

3. K&R