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RELEASE: State Officials Join Rep. Melancon in Calling on Senate to Pass Moratorium-Ending,Coastal Restoration Bills Before Leaving Town |
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House Passed Melancon Amendments Last Friday
August 3, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) called on the U.S. Senate to take action this week on his amendments to end the moratorium on deepwater drilling and dedicate up to $1.2 billion in BP penalties to coastal restoration projects. Rep. Melancon worked to pass both amendments in the House of Representatives last week. The Senate is in session this week and could pass the Melancon legislation before adjourning for August recess.
“Louisiana had two big wins last week when the House passed my legislation to end the deepwater moratorium and to jumpstart coastal restoration projects with up to $1.2 billion in penalty payments from BP,” said Rep. Melancon. “Much is at stake for Louisiana – our economy, our coastal wetlands, and our way of life – and we can’t afford to lose the momentum we have gained. The Senate has the opportunity to put politics aside and do the right thing for Louisiana, and I urge them to take care of business before they leave town.”
Joining Congressman Melancon today to discuss the need to pass both his coastal restoration provision and his moratorium-ending amendment were John Ales, former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, and N. J. Damico, former state Representative and Chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Both public servants are familiar with the natural resources regulating and permitting process in Louisiana and agreed that the Melancon amendment would lift the deepwater drilling moratorium in a safe and responsible manner that protects workers.
The Melancon Gulf Coast Restoration Amendment, which passed the House of Representatives Friday, would create a new civil penalty for any oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico of more than 1 million barrels and direct the funding to Gulf restoration projects. The penalty would be $200 million per 1 million barrels spilled. Recent estimates indicate that up to 5.2 million barrels have leaked into the Gulf as a result of the BP disaster, which would result in a penalty of up to $1.2 billion dedicated to coastal restoration along the Gulf. The amendment is deficit neutral and comes at no cost to taxpayers or to the federal government. Click here to read the Melancon Gulf Coast Restoration Amendment.
Also passed by the House Friday was the Melancon amendment to lift the deepwater moratorium on offshore drilling for companies that meet the new safety requirements issued by the Department of the Interior in the wake of the explosion. Specifically, if an application for a permit to drill complies with the “Notice to Lessees” 5 and 6, complies with any further safety measures recommended by the Secretary, and has completed all required safety inspections, the moratorium will not apply to the drilling application. Click here to read the Melancon amendment to end the moratorium.
Congressman Melancon represents in Congress the areas of coastal Louisiana most directly affected by the oil leak, including Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary and southern Jefferson Parishes. The Deepwater Horizon platform was located 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana’s Third Congressional District.
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