For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 29 2017 
Contact: Justin Williams, (202) 465-8464, jwilliams@nullnoia.org
NOIA Applauds Introduction of the SEA Act
Washington, D.C. – NOIA President Randall Luthi today issued the following statement on the introduction of the Streamlining Environmental Approvals Act of 2017:
“NOIA welcomes the Streamlining Environmental Approvals Act of 2017 (SEA Act). This bill provides a much needed update to the permitting process under the 45 year-old Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). As the energy industry saw with the delays and denials of seismic permits in the Atlantic, it is easy for offshore exploration to be dictated by political whims instead of proven science. In fact, other offshore stakeholders, including the U.S. Navy and coastal restoration groups, have faced similar costly and unnecessary delays under existing overly-burdensome and duplicative permitting processes. Thankfully, the SEA Act will simplify, clarify and set reasonable deadlines for the permitting process under the MMPA while fully protecting marine mammals.
“The SEA Act is a step in the right direction towards a scientifically-based and neutral permitting process. NOIA applauds Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) for his leadership in introducing this common-sense reform and we look forward to working with the Congress in seeing this bill moved.”
###
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.
