NOIA Applauds Committee Passage of the SEA Act

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Contact:  Justin Williams, (202) 465-8464, jwilliams@nullnoia.org

Washington, D.C. – NOIA President Randall Luthi issued this statement following passage of the Streamlining Environmental Approvals (SEA) Act by the House Natural Resources Committee:

“NOIA commends the House Natural Resources Committee for passing the much needed SEA Act. In light of the recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report on seismic permits, it is past time that new mechanisms are introduced that ensure that seismic permitting decisions are policy decisions – not political decisions. Ocean stakeholders, such as the offshore energy industry, the U.S. Navy and coastal restoration groups have all faced similar costly and unnecessary delays under the existing overly burdensome and duplicative seismic permitting process. Thankfully, the SEA Act will install a reasonable and enforceable time-frame along with an objective and politically neutral regulatory regime for seismic permits, and still fully protect marine mammals.

“NOIA applauds Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) for his continued leadership on this issue as well as the House Natural Resources Committee for tackling such an important issue so early in the year. NOIA looks forward to working with Congress as this bill moves to the House floor.”

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ABOUT NOIA

NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  NOIA’s mission is to secure reliable access and a fair regulatory and economic environment for the companies that develop the nation’s valuable offshore energy resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The NOIA membership comprises about 250 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.