Page 19 - IAGC The Voice 2017

U.S. REGULATORY

COMMENTS

The IAGC has been very active in U.S. government regulatory actions,
submitting numerous comments to several U.S. departments and agencies
on various actions affecting our industry.

The IAGC and allied trade associations' comments
oppose new or expanded national marine
NOAA'S DESIGNATIONS & sanctuaries and marine national monuments. The
EXPANSION OF NATIONAL MARINE trades outline members' significant interest in
ensuring that future opportunities for offshore oil
SANCTUARIES & MARINE NATIONAL and natural gas exploration and development are
MONUMENTS not unduly restricted by expanding sanctuaries to
include new geographic areas for which expansion
is not necessary or with boundaries more than
those needed to protect appropriate areas.

The IAGC and five other trade associations joined forces to
oppose the expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National
Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). The August 2016 comments
support establishment of sanctuaries that satisfy the statutory
factors required for designation of sanctuaries, including
special places of national significance, balancing resource
protection and resource development needs, consideration FLOWER GARDEN BANKS
of multiple and compatible uses, and the availability of
resources for management. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
most active areas of oil and natural gas exploration in the PROPOSED EXPANSION
world. Our industry has successfully co-existed within and
around the FGBNMS since its designation in 1992, and is
vested in the protection and health of the FGBNMS.

The Associations oppose Alternatives 3 - 5, and specifically
Alternative 3 selected by NMFS, because they fail to meet the
requirements set forth in the NMSA for designation of
additional sanctuary areas. Alternative 3 represents an
almost 40% increase in the spatial area covered by the
expansion above that recommended.

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