For Immediate Release: Monday, October 21, 2024
NOIA Contact: jwilliams@nullnoia.org
Federal Court Decision to Grant Biological Opinion Relief is Welcome News
Washington, D.C. – National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito issued the following statement after a federal court granted the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) more time to complete a new Biological Opinion (BiOp) for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Under a previous ruling, the BiOp would have been vacated effective December 20, 2024, threatening to halt new and existing oil and natural gas production and activity in the region. Today's decision grants NMFS until May 21, 2025 to complete a new BiOp.
"We are pleased with the court’s decision to grant the requested relief, allowing the federal government additional time to issue a new Gulf of Mexico Biological Opinion. This ruling is crucial for maintaining our energy security, affordability, and national security, all of which depend on the uninterrupted supply of oil and gas from the Gulf of Mexico.
"It has become readily apparent to elected officials on both sides of the aisle that an impairment of production from the Gulf of Mexico could lead to a cascading effect throughout the American economy, delivering an unwelcome blow to consumers still reeling from inflationary impacts.
"The Gulf of Mexico is a powerhouse in the global energy landscape. If it were a country, it would rank among the top twelve oil producers worldwide. This region supports nearly 435,000 jobs, produces approximately two million barrels of oil daily, and funds essential conservation and coastal resilience programs. Its role as a vital and well-established energy hub is indispensable to the U.S. economy and national security.
"Potential permitting and operational delays or logjams pose significant risks, injecting unnecessary uncertainty into this critical sector. We must continue to support and protect the Gulf of Mexico’s energy production to ensure stability and growth for our nation and reduce dependence on volatile global markets and adversarial nations such as Russia or Iran."