Page 5 - IAGC July Newsletter

IAGC Newsletter IAGC Newsletter

Executive Order Aimed at Opening IAGC Momentum for Offshore Access Continues

Alaska for Leasing SEA ACT OFFERS COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO

CORRECT FLAWED MMPA FROM THE 70S
AT AOGA’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON 31 MAY, INTERIOR SECRETARY RYAN ZINKE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
AIMED AT OPENING MORE OF THE NORTH SLOPE TO OIL LEASING. On 27 June 2017, U.S. exploration and military operations can DOI Announces
Congressman Mike Johnson (LA- move forward. This important piece of
lanked by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Governor Bill Along with other recent Executive and Secretarial 04) introduced the Streamlining legislation will provide certainty in the Updates to Five-
Walker, Secretary Zinke ordered new studies on the oil and Orders which emphasize the importance of seismic in oil Environmental Approvals Act of application process, in line with the
Fgas potential of federal land on the North Slope, including and gas exploration, this Order set in motion a review of 2017 (SEA Act). original intent of the MMPA. Year Plan
the coastal plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). the management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve- By setting reasonable deadlines,
Alaska (NPR-A), with changes aimed at providing more he SEA Act addresses many of the the Act will ensure the regulatory The U.S. Department of the Interior
land for oil and gas leasing. inadequacies and misapplications process will adhere to existing announced work on a new five-year
Zinke stated, “The President has now declared that the Tof the Marine Mammal Protection statutory timelines to prevent future offshore oil and gas leasing plan with
war on North American energy is now over.” Act of 1972 (MMPA) to industries and applications for MMPA authorizations a Request for Information (RFI) for
This is one of many steps resulting from the IAGC’s direct projects for which it was never designed from unwarranted and inexcusable public input. Of significance, the RFI
efforts to ensure the geophysical industry remains at the to regulate. The MMPA was enacted to delays. In addition, the Act recognizes contemplates leasing in the Atlantic
forefront of energy exploration and development policies, address significant declines in some the success of the MMPA as the OCS and notes the “tremendous
and to communicate the message that energy starts here. species of marine mammals caused by highest standard for marine mammal advances in instrumentation and
President Martin’s also presented at AOGA’s Conference. overfishing and overhunting. Today, in conservation and ensures that other technology for the acquisition and
Secretary Zinke Signs Executive Order See details on page 14. the midst of stable and increasing marine environmental review processes that analysis of G&G data” since the
mammal populations, the SEA Act will provide no additional benefit, nor a Atlantic was last surveyed which
provide a much-needed common- higher threshold of review, cannot be demonstrate “the need to better
NMFS Moves Forward with Regulatory Reform Following sense approach to ensure that critical used to unnecessarily stall the permitting understand the scope of existing

activities and projects such as coastal of offshore activities that pose no threat resources.”
Executive Order; Member Feedback Needed restoration, offshore energy and mineral of harm to marine life populations.

From the DOI:
On 7 July 2017, NMFS has result of the “offshore energy” applicable law within the BOEM is currently evaluating several
opened a public comment Presidential Executive Order agencies. G&G permit applications. With
period requesting feedback on requiring agencies to review IAGC Environment and the initiation of a new Program
identifying existing regulations policies and procedures America’s Offshore committee development process and the renewed
that eliminate jobs, or inhibit which may be creating an members are asked to submit potential for a lease sale in the
job creation; are outdated, unnecessary bureaucratic their comments to Jameson Atlantic region, BOEM may receive
unnecessary, or ineffective; process hindering the White at jameson.white@iagc.org new G&G permit applications in the
impose costs that exceed development of offshore by 15 August 2017 to compile the near future. The last lease sale held in
benefits; and/or create a serious energy supplies. The idea responses and return to NMFS by the Atlantic OCS was in 1983.
inconsistency or interfere with is to create an efficient and the 21 August 2017 deadline.
regulatory reform initiatives effective regulatory process The IAGC will continue to work with
and policies. This is a direct to streamline and expedite partner trade associations to comment
on the RFI.

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U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04)