Cathy Landry | 202.682.8114 | landryc@api.org
WASHINGTON, November 19, 2010—The American Petroleum Institute thanked Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) for standing behind the oil and natural gas workers in her state and region, placing a hold on OMB nominee Jack Lew until the administration demonstrated greater commitment to ending the de facto moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Yesterday’s lifting of the hold is welcome news, according to a statement by API President Jack Gerard:
“We applaud Senator Landrieu’s resolve in standing up for her constituents, a commitment that lifted the spirits of the millions of Americans across the country whose jobs rely on oil and natural gas exploration and production. We share her concern and frustration about the harmful effect the drilling ban was having on jobs and the economy.
“Now it is up to the administration to end the de facto moratorium by expeditiously approving pending plans and permits in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. It is also incumbent upon the administration to demonstrate a commitment to promptly complete environmental analysis, commence offshore leasing, and complete the offshore oil and gas program for 2012-2017. Our economic and energy security depend upon a regulatory system that provides certainty for investments in U.S. projects so that associated jobs and revenues stay here in the U.S.
“The oil and natural gas industry will continue working with Interior Secretary Salazar and BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich in their efforts to move forward with Gulf operations. We have taken considerable steps since the Deepwater Horizon incident to significantly improve safety and operations, and to advance spill response capabilities, and it is time to allow the industry to get back to providing the energy this country needs to grow the economy and create jobs.”
API represents more than 400 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America’s energy, supports more than 9.2 million U.S. jobs, accounts for 7.5 percent of the U.S. economy, and, since 2000, has invested nearly $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives, while reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.
Updated: November 19, 2010