Susan C. Dayton: Scrapping offshore drilling a boon for Outer Banks

Regarding the March 16 business article “Obama scraps Atlantic offshore drilling plans in major reversal”: I am one of the so-called “far-left activists” that Gov. Pat McCrory has continuously referred to as the reason why the plan for offshore oil drilling was halted by President Barack Obama.

I live on Ocracoke Island. I am a North Carolina resident, a small business owner and a home owner. Like many other communities on the Outer Banks, Ocracoke’s economy is rooted in tourism – and fishing.

People who live on Ocracoke Island rely on a delicate, two-part ecosystem for sustenance that is a way of life for us. If offshore oil drilling had been given the green light it would simply be a question of time before an accidental offshore oil spill would ruin our waters posing a substantial threat to the ocean and all of marine life, our island community, our families, our economy – and perhaps most important – the amazing fishermen and fisherwomen on the island who provide our state with healthy and locally caught food from the sea.

McCrory obviously does not understand our way of life on the Outer Banks. Nor does he understand how absolutely exquisite and fragile and precious the coast of North Carolina truly is. Nor does he understand what type of leadership is required to protect the way of life for the people of our beautiful state.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Susan C. Dayton: Scrapping offshore drilling a boon for Outer Banks."