Page 18 - The Voice 2017

IAGC SUPPORTS SEA ACT

LEGISLATION TO OVERHAUL

THE MMPA

AGC momentum for greater marine mammals caused by
offshore access continues overfishing and overhunting.
Iwith U.S. Congressman
Mike Johnson's (LA-04) Today, amid stable and
introduction of the Streamlining increasing marine mammal
Environmental Approvals Act populations, the SEA Act will
of 2017 (SEA Act). Introduced provide a balanced approach
on 27 June, the SEA Act offers to ensure that critical activities
a common-sense approach to and projects such as coastal
correct flawed Marine Mammal restoration, offshore energy and
Protection Act (MMPA) of the mineral exploration and military
1970s. The SEA Act addresses operations can move forward.
many of the inadequacies and
misapplications of the MMPA The IAGC supports
to industries and projects for Congressman Johnson's efforts
which it was never designed and appreciates his leadership
to regulate. The MMPA was on this crucial issue that has
enacted to address significant hampered exploration in the
declines in some species of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04)

IAGC SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTS INDUSTRY'S

RIGHT TO DEFEND PERMITTED ACTIVITY

ith IAGC's amicus brief or seeking new relief, then it must the case). A defendant-intervenor
in Chester v. Laroe, the demonstrate standing. would only have to demonstrate
WU.S. Supreme Court standing if it were filing a cross-
declined to require standing In its amicus brief, the IAGC claim or counterclaim. This
for a defendant-intervenor. The urged the Court to avoid decision ensures that industry
Supreme Court's 5 June 2017 establishing a new rule requiring organizations will continue to
decision narrowly focused on the defendant-intervenors, which have the opportunity to defend
specific facts before the Court industry stakeholders often are, in court positive agency actions,
regarding a plaintiff-intervenor's to demonstrate standing (i.e., such as decisions to permit seismic
need to establish standing and sufficient connection to and harm surveys, that are challenged
unsurprisingly concludes that if from the law or action challenged to by environmental advocacy
an intervenor is raising new claims support that party's participation in organizations.

18 THE VOICE