For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Contact: Nicolette Nye, (202) 465-8463, nicolette@nullnoia.org
Washington, D.C. – NOIA President Randall Luthi issued the following statement following today’s Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the proposed well control rule:
“It is in the best interest of all concerned, including the Federal regulators, industry, Congress, other stakeholders, and the general public, to get the Well Control Rule right. Congress has certainly expressed its interest in the process surrounding the rulemaking as evidenced by today’s hearing and the earlier House Natural Resources Committee hearing in New Orleans.
“A rule as complex and sweeping as this proposal requires extensive and comprehensive dialogue between drilling engineers and experts and the regulators. While there has been progress in reaching agreement and understanding on some areas of the proposed rule, we still have substantial concerns with its prescriptive and one-size fits all provisions, which may have the unintended consequence of increasing, rather than decreasing, risk.
“Safety offshore is paramount, and rushing to finalize this rule by early 2016 could produce regulations that may not meet the most current safety standards and technology. This is truly a case where additional collaboration with industry experts will result in a better, more effective and workable rule. The quality of the final rule should take precedence over a politically-imposed deadline.”
###
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 nearly 300 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.