API's Andy Radford testifies before the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

WASHINGTON, July 12 – API called for an early return to deepwater Gulf drilling in testimony delivered in New Orleans today at the first meeting of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.  API senior policy advisor Andy Radford told the commission, “we must work to get the Gulf deepwater industry – and the tens of thousands of people it employs – fully up and running again with as little delay as possible.”

API believes industry and government should work together to oversee an early and careful resumption of drilling.  A moratorium or long delay blocking all new deepwater drilling is unnecessary to safety and jeopardizes the livelihoods of many thousands of workers and the Gulf economy.

API’s testimony emphasized the industry’s aggressive efforts to upgrade safety in the wake of the accident.  It also reminded the commission that Gulf oil and natural gas production means billions in government revenues and enhanced U.S. energy security along with thousands of jobs.

The full text of the testimony as prepared is below:

 

Updated: July 12, 2010