Page 15 - IAGC 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 MMPA PRIORIT Y
Oan America-First Offshore authorization in order to receive
Energy Strategy, elevated the their survey permit. Among the ecretary of the Department of
importance of the geophysical significant actions key to our the Interior, Ryan Zinke signed a
industry to the U.S. energy sector. In members' operations, the President SSecretarial Order on 1 May
recognition of the IAGC's efforts to directed his Administration to directing the Bureau of Ocean Energy
ensure our members' license to develop and implement a streamlined Management (BOEM) to establish
operate, the Order specifically approach to the permitting of seismic plans to expedite MMPA take
addresses the regulatory burdens surveys. authorizations from the National
impacting the geophysical industry Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for
on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf It also requires "Review of National offshore activities and seismic
(OCS) and recognizes the critical Oceanic and Atmospheric permitting, expedite consideration of
role of geophysical data to future Administration (NOAA) Technical seismic permits for the Atlantic Outer
lease planning. Memorandum NMFS-OPR-55," Continental Shelf (OCS), and to
known as the 2016 NOAA Acoustic immediately initiate a new five-year
The Order includes two sections Guidance, which has major plan. The Order also directs BOEM to
regarding seismic survey activities implications for marine geophysical "expedite consideration of appealed,
and reflects the Administration's surveys. new, or resubmitted seismic permitting
recognition of IAGC's efforts to applications for the Atlantic" regarding
elevate the importance of our The IAGC submitted comments on Geological and Geophysical (G&G)
industry to sustainable energy the Guidance in July 2017 offering permit applications previously denied
policies around the world. The recommendations for improving in January. The Order is a strong
Order directs the "expedited application of the Guidance. indication that the new Administration
consideration of Incidental supports geophysical activities in the
Harassment Authorizations, Atlantic OCS.
Incidental Take, and Seismic Survey
permits" for the Atlantic OCS.

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