NOIA Applauds Statements by Virginia Leaders on Offshore Energy

For Immediate Release:                                            Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Wednesday, January 27, 2010                                                      (202) 347-6900          

NOIA Applauds Statements by Virginia Leaders on Offshore Energy

 Statement of NOIA President Tom Fry

WASHINGTON, DC – National Ocean Industries Association President Tom Fry today issued the following statement in response to the letter sent by Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

“NOIA and its member companies applaud the stand taken today by the Senators Webb and Warner from Virginia, along with an earlier letter from Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, in calling on the Secretary of the Interior to expedite steps for exploration and development of offshore oil and gas resources in the Atlantic Ocean.

“Over the past five years, numerous political leaders in Virginia’s state house, the Governor’s mansion and among the delegation in Congress have repeatedly expressed a desire to see the offshore energy resources of their state opened to development. In recognition of this fact, every possible effort should be undertaken by the Department of the Interior to see that the already-scheduled Lease Sale 220 go forward as scheduled.

“NOIA encourages Senators Webb and Warner and Governor McDonnell to continue to press for timely permitting of the much-needed energy resources off their state’s shores.”

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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 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.