WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Michael R. Bromwich’s announcement that they are lifting the moratorium on offshore exploration, Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy issued the following statement:“The reality of the Obama administration’s action today is that they are lifting the moratorium on offshore exploration in name only. While the administration has finally heeded our call, their actions are too little too late to prevent significant economic harm to the Gulf region and to America’s energy security. Five of the thirty three deepwater rigs have already left the Gulf of Mexico, nearly a quarter of all shallow rigs are idled, and thousands of American jobs are still in limbo.“By the administration’s own admission, it will be months before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) will issue any new permits to explore offshore. The ‘dynamic regulatory environment’ that Secretary Salazar promised last week is likely to cause more rigs to depart, more jobs to be lost, more economic pain for the region, and more risk to our energy security. Instead, we believe the administration should promote safe exploration and investment in America’s resources to get our nation’s economy back on its feet and Americans back to work.”The U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy has been an active voice in the debate to promote safe exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico. Through a growing coalition of state and local business groups, the U.S. Chamber has generated more than 6000 letters over the last several months urging President Obama to lift the moratorium and adopt policies to put Americans back to work and promote economic growth in the Gulf region.
The mission of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a common sense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean. Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful action at the local, state, national, and international levels.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.