Number: 1981-28
WHEREAS, the estuaries and coastal areas of the nation provide important fish and wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, in recent years these coastal resources have been threatened by the poorly planned development of numerous oil refineries in highly sensitive areas such as the proposed refineries at Portsmouth, Virginia; Eastport, Maine; Carteret and Brunswick counties; North Carolina; and Georgetown, South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the damage caused by oil refineries can be minimized by siting them in less environmentally sensitive areas; and
WHEREAS, numerous environmentally preferable alternative sites exist to those refinery locations already proposed; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation recognizes the importance of conserving our coastal resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 26-29, 1981, in Norfolk, Virginia, hereby calls for a moratorium on the construction of coastal oil refineries until a joint federal-state comprehensive survey of environmentally acceptable refinery sites is completed, including off-shore mooring systems.