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The GAO report findings and FWS cannot promulgate advisory NC) and Bruce Westerman (R-
recommendations for executive recommendations that exceed its AR), who also spoke at the event
action can be found HERE. authority under the ESA, and under about the need for comprehensive
the ESA the FWS’ imposition of and smart energy policy.
The IAGC provided expert mitigation measures is limited by
feedback to the GAO throughout the jurisdiction of an action agency. Sponsoring groups plan to make the
development of its report. The IAGC Summit an annual event. The IAGC
also issued a statement regarding The full comments are plans to continue its participation
the GAO findings and called for available HERE. to ensure that the geophysical
immediate issuance of permits industry’s issues and positions are
for U.S. Atlantic seismic activities. On 17 October 2016, the allied presented to federal and state level
See the IAGC Statement HERE. trades submitted comments stakeholders and decision-makers.
to the FWS’ Draft Endangered
Species Act Compensatory
IAGC and Allied Trades Mitigation Policy. The 2016 BOEM Seeks Public Input
Submit Comments for comments can be viewed HERE. for 2019-2024 National
U.S. Fish and Wildlife OCS Offshore Oil and
Service Endangered Gas Leasing Program
Species Act Compensatory IAGC’s Dustin Van Liew
Mitigation Policy Speaks at the First DC/State On 4 January 2018, the Department
Energy Policy Summit of Interior announced publication
On 5 January, the IAGC, along with of a Draft Proposed Program
API, IPAA, AXPC, and the Western IAGC Vice President of Regulatory (DPP) in support of the National
Energy Alliance, submitted & Governmental Affairs, Dustin Van Outer Continental Shelf Oil and
comments to the 6 November 2017 Liew spoke at the first DC/State Gas Leasing Program (National
Federal Register public notice, in Energy Policy Summit. Sponsored OCS Program), as well as a Notice
which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife by the Thomas Jefferson Institute of Intent (NOI) to develop a
Service (FWS) requested public for Public Policy, the Lynde and Programmatic Environmental
comment to the use of the terms “net Harry Bradley Foundation and Impact Statement (PEIS).
conservation gain” and “no net loss” the Consumer Energy Alliance,
to describe planning goals for the the summit brought together In order to obtain public input for
FWS’ Endangered Species Act (ESA) key stakeholders from across these two documents, the Bureau of
Compensatory Mitigation Policy. the U.S. to discuss American Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
energy independence and will be traveling to 23 cities to host
The Associations’ comments environmental stewardship. a series of public meetings. The
express significant concerns with meetings will feature information
many aspects of the policy, and Van Liew was part of the Summit’s stations hosted by BOEM experts,
as a consequence, it requests Offshore Energy Development who will be available to discuss the
the FWS to withdraw and revise panel, which focused on the critical National OCS Program and DPP,
the policy. It asserts that by role that seismic surveying plays in as well as potential environmental
adopting the mitigation goals of accurate resource evaluation, the issues. In addition to information
“net conservation gain” and “no status of the new Five-Year Program, stations, attendees will be able to
net loss,” the FWS inappropriately and revenue sharing. Other panelists provide hand-written or electronic
attempts to rewrite the statutory included: Randall Luthi (National comments for BOEM’s consideration.
standards in sections 7 and 10(a) Ocean Industries Association),
(1)(B) of the ESA, as well as the Brent Greenfield (National Ocean BOEM has also launched a virtual
regulatory standards implementing Policy Coalition), Tim Williams meeting room on the BOEM website
section 404 of the Clean Water (Department of the Interior), to allow those who are unable to
Act. The comments advise that the Congressmen David Rouzer (R- attend a meeting access to the
IACG Newsletter | InDepth 8 January | 2018
