Drilling off the Carolina coast is topic of radio show
Drilling for oil and gas off the North Carolina coast was the topic of the Radio Hatteras interview show, “To the Point,” on Sunday, Aug. 16.
The guest for the interview was Frank Tursi of the North Carolina Coastal Federation. A former award-winning environmental reporter, Tursi now is the editor of the federation’s online news service, Coastal Review Online.
The news service has recently been chosen as a winner of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s annual Governor’s Awards. It was named Conservation Communicator of the Year for its general coverage of conservation and environmental issues.
The centerpiece of the news service’s reporting this year has been a series of more than 40 articles it has published on the federal government’s plan to open up the Atlantic Ocean off the North Carolina coast to oil and natural gas drilling.
The plan has raised red flags in the state’s coastal communities whose residents remember well the fight to stop Mobil Oil’s plan to drill in the Atlantic off Cape Hatteras in the 1980s.
It also has raised many questions, which the Coastal Review Online’s series set out to answer.
In the interview, Tursi discusses in some detail what the CRO reporters found out the pros and cons of drilling, the possible impacts on the tourism economy of the coast, how the leasing process will work, and how folks feel about offshore drilling.
“To the Point,” which is hosted by Island Free Press editor Irene Nolan, airs on the island’s community radio station, FM 101.5 and FM 99.9, at 5 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month. It is repeated on the second and fourth Sunday. Those who don’t live on Hatteras can listen to the show on Sundays through live streaming at www.radiohatteras.org.
Scroll down and click on the “To the Point” logo to listen to the audio of the interview.
SOME LINKS TO THE SERIES
Drilling off the Carolina Coast: Pulse of the Coast from Corolla to Hatteras
Drilling off the Carolina Coast: Oil Prospects vs. Tourism Reality
Drilling off the Carolina Coast: A look back at the Mobil fight
And for more news and features on coastal Carolina environmental issues, go to www.coastalreview.org.
MORE ABOUT RADIO HATTERAS
Radio Hatteras is our community, non-profit radio station and depends on grants, memberships, and underwriting.
It broadcasts around the clock with news — including such things as surfing and fishing reports — community announcements, music, and special programs. The station is also now streamed live. To listen, go to www.radiohatteras.org.
Our community radio station also needs your support, and you can give that by purchasing a membership or by underwriting the station if you are a business or another community non-profit.
Radio Hatteras memberships are $50 for a family, $25 for an individual and $10 for a student. Mail memberships and other contributions to Radio Hatteras, P.O. Box 339, Frisco, NC 27936.
E-mail info@radiohatteras.org or call (252) 995-6000 for information about underwriting opportunities.
