Commissioners restate opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling, adopt resolution

The Commissioners of St. Mary's County on Tuesday adopted a resolution restating the county’s opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities, including seismic testing and lease issuance in the Mid‑Atlantic.

Buffy Giddens, county attorney, introduced the resolution and noted that advocacy group Oceana joined remotely to answer technical questions. Oceana representative Claudia Davis (on Zoom) described concerns with seismic air-gun testing and its potential harm to fisheries, marine mammals, and tourism, and urged renewed county opposition to federal leasing or testing in the Mid‑Atlantic.

Several commissioners framed the resolution as protecting the Chesapeake Bay and local tourism and naval operations. One commissioner compared drilling at the bay mouth to prior local debates about offshore wind siting, saying both posed risks to tourism and Navy interests. Another commissioner opposed the resolution on the basis that the evidence of negative impacts was insufficient and preferred further study; that commissioner recorded a 'no' vote.

Commissioner Alderson moved to adopt the resolution restating the county’s opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling and to authorize the commissioner president to sign related documents. The motion passed; the record shows at least one commissioner cast a no vote.

The adopted resolution instructs the county to communicate opposition to federal agencies considering lease sales or seismic testing in the Atlantic/Mid‑Atlantic region. The resolution is a policy position; no permit, contract, or legal prohibition was enacted by the county in this action.