NOIA Statement on Reorganization of the Minerals Management Service

For Immediate Release:                                                                        Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Wednesday, May 19, 2010                                                                     (202) 347-6900 

NOIA Statement on Reorganization of the Minerals Management Service

Washington – The National Ocean Industries Association today issued the following statement regarding the restructuring of the Minerals Management Service into three separate agencies:

The National Ocean Industries Association supports any administrative action that leads to ensuring safer exploration and development of the offshore oil and gas our nation relies on for nearly a third of its domestic energy. 

As we move forward, oil and gas will continue to be a major part of our nation’s energy portfolio, a portfolio that must enhance our energy needs, security and at a reasonable price for our families and economy.  Energy production from the Outer Continental Shelf not only provides significant domestically produced energy for our nation, it also provides hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans.  In addition, the industry pays tens of billions of dollars a year to the Federal government, states, and various conservation funds, including the Land and Water Conservation fund.

NOIA is encouraged that this restructuring will include the necessary funding and resources to reassure the American public that oil and gas will continue to be produced at home in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.  That is certainly the goal of our member companies and we look forward to working with the Administration and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.

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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.  The NOIA membership comprises more than 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.