Statement of NOIA President Tom Fry on the 2010-2015 Draft Proposed 5-Year Leasing Program

For Immediate Release:                                                                       Contact:  Nicolette Nye or Michael Kearns

Friday, January 16, 2009                                                                                       (202) 347-6900          

Statement of NOIA President Tom Fry on the 2010-2015 Draft Proposed 5-Year Leasing Program

WASHINGTON, DC – “The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) applauds the Department of the Interior for issuing the Draft Proposed 2010-2015 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program today. 

Today’s action marks the latest step in a multi-year effort to plan for safe development of our domestic offshore energy resources.

The draft proposed program allows for analysis of a wide range of offshore areas, some which have been safely developed for decades, and others which had been held off-limits for over twenty years by blanket Congressional and Executive proclamations. 

In developing the draft proposed program, the Department solicited the input of individual states, providing them the first of several opportunities to shape and influence the outcome of a final offshore leasing program.

The energy resources on the OCS are vital to the nation’s economic prosperity, and safety records show that they can be produced in an environmentally responsible manner. 

The National Ocean Industries Association and its member companies look forward to participating in this multi-step public process to determine where and when it makes the most sense to explore for and produce energy resources from the OCS.” 

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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 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.