Page 34 - The Voice 2017

IAGC PARTICIPATES IAGC PRESENTS ON
IN NCBIWA ANNUAL IAGC RESPONDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL
CONFERENCE AS BELIZE'S HALT OF RULES PANEL AT
SPEAKER AND SEISMIC SURVEY 2017 SPE HSSE
SPONSOR CONFERENCE

Dustin Van Liew, the IAGC In response to the suspension of a The IAGC's Director of
Director of Regulatory & seismic survey in Belize, the IAGC Regulatory & Governmental
Governmental Affairs was a issued a statement which encouraged Affairs, Dustin Van Liew was a
presenter at the North Carolina the people of Belize to learn about panelist at the Society of
Beach Inlet & Waterway seismic surveys and the industry's Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
Association (NCBIWA) Annual long track record of safe, responsible Health, Safety, Security,
Conference in North Carolina 14 operations around the world. The Environment & Social
- 15 November 2016. His statement went on to say, Responsibility Conference -
presentation, "Vantage Point II - "Unfortunately, the dialogue on this North America. Dustin's
Seismic Surveying, Incidental critical issue is too often marred by presentation titled, "Exploration
Harassment Authorizations and false and exaggerated claims from within the Gulf of Mexico and the
the future of Atlantic OCS anti-oil and gas groups. In order to New Environmental Regulations"
Exploration" was the counter make sound decisions, it is important provided an overview of the
perspective of Oceana's to have healthy conversations based challenges new GOM regulations
presentation. Van Liew's on science and to provide tools that present to the geophysical
presentation focused on dispelling inform and educate, not resort to industry.
misinformation propagated by speculation."
anti-oil and gas interests and
promoted science-based and The Belize government halted a
data-driven decision-making. seismic survey in October 2016 in
response to an effort by a coalition of
In addition to IAGC's speaker anti-oil and gas environmental
participation, the IAGC was also organizations. The goal of the
one of the Silver General Sponsors environmental groups is to have the
of the event. This is the second government ban any future oil and
year that IAGC has been invited gas exploration and development.
to take part in the program as a
speaker and is invited to present at
the November 2017 annual event.

IAGC HOLDS GULF OF MEXICO PERMITTING
WORKSHOP

On 6 June 2017, The IAGC and API held a joint Gulf of Mexico
(GOM) permitting workshop to provide members an update on the
status of permitting issues in the GOM and to discuss issues contractors
face in permitting.

Barry Obiol and staff from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
(BOEM) held a panel session on regulatory status review in the Gulf
of Mexico and also fielded questions on the new updates regarding
the Atlantic OCS. Ryan Steen from Stoel Rives provided a regulatory
review of NEPA, MMPA, & ESA as well as updates on permitting of
G&G activities in the GOM.

34 THE VOICE