That’s the consensus of Louisiana business and political leaders after Monday’s meeting with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and BOEM Director Michael Bromwich.
The meeting was a result of a deal brokered by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).
Oil and gas industry leaders disappointed with Obama administration’s latest announcement on drilling
On Friday, Landrieu announced she was releasing a hold on a key presidential appointment based on her expectation that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar would make an announcement that would boost confidence in the future of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The secretary will come to Louisiana on Monday to meet with industry and express the administration’s support for the oil and gas industry,” Landrieu said Friday. “He will outline the path forward so that permits will be issued and the people of Louisiana can get back to work in this vital industry.”
The reaction of industry and Louisiana’s political leadership was unanimous:
Meh.
Lt. Gov. Angelle called the meeting a “filibuster”, adding:
“If this was a dog and pony show, the dog was sick and the pony didn’t show up.”
(With the swearing-in of Jay Dardenne to the remaining year of the Lt. Governor’s term, Angelle has returned to his previous position as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Gov. Jindal’s legislative liaison. Angelle changed his party affiliation to Republican just one month ago, citing the Obama Administration’s and the national Democrats hostility to domestic oil and gas development as the primary reason.)
“All of us from Louisiana hoped to hear some new policy, some permitting breakthrough, maybe a handful of new permits approved. But we heard none of that – absolutely nothing.
“I told the secretary that this permit logjam had to change – this vital industry is virtually shut down. And I highlighted, along with industry representatives, the key issues that the Obama administration has to address to put people back to work,” said Vitter.
DOI doesn’t think there’s a problem:
“Since June, BOEMRE has been in frequent communication with representatives from the oil and gas industry and the shallow water drilling coalition regarding shallow water drilling permits,” said Director Browmich. “Our ongoing discussions underline our commitment to working with industry to clarify any confusion in the federal regulations. BOEMRE is working as expeditiously as is safely possible on processing shallow and deep water permits.”
Salazar, Strickland, and Bromwich told oil and gas industry representatives that BOEMRE will continue to work as expeditiously as is safely possible to review drilling permits under new and existing rules and regulations.
As of today, BOEMRE has approved 16 new shallow water applications for permits to drill (APDs) and 48 revised applications for permits for existing wells submitted since June 8. The revised applications BOEMRE has approved included compliance information related to the drilling safety NTL. There currently are four pending applications for APDs for new wells and zero pending for revised permits for existing wells.
Well, that’s technically true, as far as it goes. Sixteen new well drilling permits have been approved in seven months, about equal to one month’s normal approval volume before the BP spill.
But counting new drilling permits is deceptive. Under BOEM’s byzantine regulatory structure, drilling permits (APDs) are issued subject to previously-approved Plans of Exploration (POEs) or Development Operations Control Documents (DOCDs). Approval of new POEs and DOCDs have ground to a halt as operators and the various state and federal regulators struggle with the new requirements for oil spill containment.
New lease sales are also on hold as the agency struggles with a requirement for Environmental Impact studies for new sales.
Obama, Salazar and Bromwich, despite their rhetoric indicating dedication to domestic oil and gas, really aren’t comfortable being in the position of being a lessor, or of supporting oil and gas development. Plus, a weaker oil and gas industry is a plus for their “green agenda” (or so they think).
Senator Landrieu has apparently never heard the old saw about the three biggest lies in the world:
- “The check is in the mail.”
- “It’s only a cold sore.”
- “[Redacted]”
Even though that third “big lie” may be unfit to repeat in these pages, the reader can rest assured that no bodily fluids were exchanged in Monday’s meeting.
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