Casinos raise offshore drilling questions

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi casino operators say they trust state leaders that exploration and drilling would be low-key for natural gas and out of sight of most of the mainland.

However, the operators say in a letter to the Mississippi Development Authority, that they don't want tourist areas overrun by industrial equipment, boats and workers.

The Sun Herald reports that the letter was sent to the MDA by lawyers for Beau Rivage, Island View and IP casinos. The Beau Rivage and IP are in Biloxi and the Island View is in Gulfport.

The letter was among those MDA received during a comment period and in public hearings on its draft of offshore leasing and seismic surveying rules.

MDA officials say they will consider the casinos' concerns and meet with tourism leaders.

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Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com