Interior Department Says Shallow Water Drilling Will Continue
Under fire from Gulf Coast lawmakers and many in the oil industry, the Interior Department wants you to know that not all drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has been halted. The department sent a readout to reporters today of a meeting between Michael Bromwich, who has been charged with restructuring the former Minerals Management Service, and various stakeholders on drilling issues.
The message: If you meet new safety standards, shallow water drilling will not be restricted.
According to the readout:
“„In a meeting with representatives of shallow water drilling companies and elected officials from Louisiana, including Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Louisiana Lt. Governor Scott Angelle, Director Bromwich said that shallow water drilling may continue to go forward in compliance with new safety requirements. Director Bromwich and industry officials also discussed steps that can be taken to help shallow water drillers implement the new safety standards effectively and in a timely manner. Director Bromwich committed to ensuring that BOEM provides clear and swift guidance on questions that operators may have as they move forward with shallow water drilling.
The drilling moratorium that the administration reissued earlier this week (in the midst of a legal challenge) only applies to deepwater projects. The Interior Department says it’s approved a handful of permits under the new safety standards and more are pending.
