First Deepwater Drilling Permit is a Good Start, But Much More Needs to be Done

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA), representing thousands of Americans providing essential services to domestic energy production, welcomes today's announcement that the Obama Administration has approved the first deepwater drilling permit in nearly a year. But granting a single permit will have no practical impact on the thousands of workers left idle by the White House's de facto moratorium on deepwater oil drilling," said Jim Adams, president and CEO of OMSA.  

Mr. Adams continued, "It's puzzling that the administration claims to be acting 'diligently' and yet only seems to act when forced by Congress or the courts. A federal judge has held the Obama administration in contempt and ordered it to start acting on applications for drilling permits. It's notable that the permit approved today was involved in that litigation.

"Much more is needed, and soon. There are over 100 deepwater development plans that have yet to be cleared to even become eligible for a permit," Adams said.

"Stopping all permits, and then approving a single one, only prolongs the suffering of thousands of workers and their families," continued Adams. "It's a manufactured energy crisis for Americans, who are stuck paying skyrocketing gasoline prices."

Mr. Adams concluded, "President Obama and White House officials claim that the moratorium on deepwater drilling is over. But Americans know a moratorium when they see one, and approving a single permit doesn't change that."

OMSA represents the owners and operators of U.S. flag offshore service vessels and the shipyards and other businesses that support that industry.

SOURCE Offshore Marine Service Association