For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 3, 2014
Contact: Robert Myers, (202) 465-8464, rmyers@nullnoia.org
SEA Jobs Act Opens the Door to Offshore Access and Energy Jobs in the South Atlantic
Washington, D.C. – National Ocean Industries Association President Randall Luthi issued the following statement on Senator Tim Scott’s introduction of the Southern Energy Access Jobs Act (SEA Jobs Act):
"Opening federal lands and waters to energy exploration will allow us to build upon and extend, for future generations, the energy renaissance America has already witnessed on state and private lands. Currently, 85 percent of our offshore area is closed to oil and natural gas exploration. We should continue down the path of weaning America off of oil and gas imports with new access to the outer continental shelf. Senator Tim Scott’s push to cut the through the Administration’s red tape by opening the ‘South Atlantic’ to oil and gas production is a giant leap in the right direction.
“The bill also provides a base for discussions concerning the use of revenue generated from offshore oil and natural gas leasing, but the horse pulling that cart is access. Without additional access to offshore lands, there is no revenue.
“We look forward to working with the South Carolina delegation alongside North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia in a bipartisan dialogue that pushes forward the realization of greater offshore access for American energy production.”
###
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 about 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.