Study: Drilling could hurt tourism

GULFPORT -- Stakeholders concerned about the economic and environmental impact of gas and oil drilling in state waters met at Ship Island Excursions in Gulfport on Wednesday to discuss their thoughts and a study they commissioned.

Last month, the Mississippi Development Authority released a draft of rules for leasing state waters for offshore drilling. Public comment for the proposed rules ends Tuesday at 5 p.m.

“The opening of state waters to oil and gas drilling could have a huge negative impact on billion-dollar industries like coastal tourism, and the public should be given the time and the information they need to (review) this complex proposal,” said Raleigh Hoke, Mississippi organizer of the Gulf Restoration Network.

A coalition of conservationists, business owners and concerned citizens released a study Wednesday on the economic impact of offshore drilling. One argument against drilling is the effect on tourism.

“A drop in tourism as little as 2 to 3 percent could swap any and all gains from drilling over the 20-year period, leaving the state with a net loss of revenue,” said Louie Miller, state director of Mississippi Sierra Club.

The Legislature in 2004 and 2005 changed laws to open state waters to drilling. After an outcry from Coast business leaders and residents, drilling was prohibited in most of the Mississippi Sound, but is allowed in strips along the Alabama and Louisiana lines, and south of the barrier islands. But then Hurricane Katrina hit, and the push for exploration and drilling was halted.

As he left office, Gov. Haley Barbour pushed MDA to finish drafting leasing rules and to promote exploration and drilling. New Gov. Phil Bryant said he wants to promote drilling in state waters, but said it will be done carefully and with public input.

“It’s not in the best interest of the state,” Miller said. “It’s not in the best interest of the public. But it is in the best interest of energy companies.”

Louis Skrmetta, owner of Ship Island Excursions, said Gulf Islands National Seashore is critical to Mississippi’s tourism industry and must be protected from any type of activity that could potentially impact its natural and historic value.

“People tell me the reason why they like the Mississippi islands so much is because they can leave Highway 90 and the traffic and the congestion, ride the boat out to the island and walk those quiet, long, secluded beaches out there with an unimpaired viewshed looking to the south,” Skrmetta said. “The only things you see south of Ship Island Beach are seagulls and dolphins. We have a very important economic tool with these islands.”

In addition to economic impact, conservationists are concerned with the potential environmental harm of offshore drilling.

The impact to Mississippi’s ecosystems and natural sites like Gulf Islands National Seashore has not been fully studied, said Terese Collins with Gulf Islands Conservancy. Lighting on drilling rigs can disturb migrating birds, she said. Collins also said dolphins are still dying following the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and oil spill.

Gulf Islands Conservancy has requested that the state extend the public comment period for the MDA regulations until March 31.

MDA will hold a public hearing about the leasing regulations on Friday from noon until 7 p.m. on the Jackson County campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the administration building lecture hall.

Geoff Pender, Sun Herald political editor, contributed to this article.