Juan R. Palomo | 202.682.8283 | palomoj@api.org
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2010 – The American Petroleum Institute (API) today issued the following statement regarding the expected proposal by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to split the functions of the Minerals Management Service (MMS):
"Our industry’s priority is to provide safe, technologically sound and environmentally responsible offshore operations and we remain committed to working with Secretary Salazar to achieve this goal.
"We have a strong record of working cooperatively with the government to promote safe offshore operations, while maintaining a strong offshore leasing program. Both are vitally important to producing the oil and natural gas American consumers need – and providing the energy and jobs crucial to the economy of the Gulf region and the nation, so we look forward to learning the details of the proposal.
"We remain committed to responding to the current situation and supporting the ongoing investigations. In fact, the two industry task forces API created in response to the Deepwater Horizon incident have already begun to hold sessions. It is our hope that this process will allow all of us to learn from this experience."
Updated: May 11, 2010