Conservation groups are holding a forum on drilling for oil and gas off the North Carolina coast.
The Thursday sessions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are sponsored by the Southern Environmental Law Center and other groups.
The event includes an afternoon session with scientific experts and an evening forum discussing the impacts of the industry in areas already open to drilling.
The federal Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management is now taking public comment on a proposal to open wide areas off the coast of the Carolinas to oil and gas exploration.
Those who favor such exploration say offshore oil and gas means needed energy for the nation. Opponents worry about spills and their effects on fisheries and tourism.
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