Page 15 - The Voice 2017

U.S. PRESIDENT

ACKNOWLEDGES G&G U.S.

AS KEY TO U.S. ENERGY REGULATOR

SECURIT Y MAKES

SEISMIC

n 28 April, an Executive Currently, survey applicants are
Order titled, Implementing required to obtain Marine Mammal PRIORIT Y
Oan America-First Offshore Protection Act (MMPA)
Energy Strategy, elevated the authorization in order to receive ecretary of the Department of
importance of the geophysical their survey permit. Among the the Interior, Ryan Zinke signed
industry to the U.S. energy sector. In significant actions key to our Sa Secretarial Order on 1 May
recognition of the IAGC's efforts to members' operations, the President directing the Bureau of Ocean
ensure our members' license to directed his Administration to Energy Management (BOEM) to
operate, the Order specifically develop and implement a streamlined establish plans to expedite MMPA
addressed the regulatory burdens approach to the permitting of seismic take authorizations from NMFS for
impacting the geophysical industry surveys. offshore activities and seismic
on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf permitting, expedite consideration
(OCS) and recognizes the critical It also requires "Review of National of seismic permits for the Atlantic
role of geophysical data to future Oceanic and Atmospheric Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and
lease planning. Administration (NOAA) Technical to immediately initiate a new five-
Memorandum NMFS-OPR-55," year plan. The Order also directs
The Order includes two sections known as the 2016 NOAA Acoustic BOEM to "expedite consideration of
regarding seismic survey activities Guidance, which has major appealed, new, or resubmitted
and reflects the Administration's implications for marine geophysical seismic permitting applications for
recognition of IAGC's efforts to surveys. the Atlantic" regarding G&G permit
elevate the importance of our applications previously denied in
industry to sustainable energy The IAGC submitted comments on January. The Order is a strong
policies around the world. The the Guidance in July 2017 offering indication that the new
Order directs the "expedited recommendations for improving Administration supports geophysical
consideration of Incidental application of the Guidance. activities in the Atlantic OCS.
Harassment Authorizations,
Incidental Take, and Seismic Survey
permits" for the Atlantic OCS.

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