Lafayette, LA – U.S. Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD, (R-South Louisiana) expressed hope today’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement’s (BOEMRE) regulatory workshop will deliver substantive results for Louisiana’s energy producers.  The Back to Work Coalition, led by Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle, is facilitating the seven-hour technical workshop to address industry concerns including Applications for Permit to Drill, subsea containment, well screening tools and request for departures.  The workshop will take place from 9AM to 5PM on Tuesday, August 30, at BOEMRE's Gulf of Mexico Regional Office, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana.  The working group will be attended by Louisiana energy producers and officials from both BOEMRE’s DC and Gulf Coast offices.

“Our efforts to bring DC and Gulf Coast regulators together with energy producers in the same room have finally paid off," Boustany said. "I am glad everyone is now coming to the table to resolve choke points in the regulatory process.  For nine months I’ve been fighting to have this request granted. I am hopeful today’s workshop will provide clarity and guidance for energy producers and small businesses to expedite restoration of American energy production in the Gulf back to early 2010 levels and provide future domestic growth.  I am committed to pursuing all avenues to eliminate bureaucratic delays so we see vibrant growth in American energy production and jobs.”

After various meetings and calls with Louisiana energy producers claiming BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich’s DC staff and BOEMRE’s Gulf of Mexico Regional staff were not on the same page, Boustany sent a December 2010 letter to Bromwich, followed by multiple conversations, demanding an all-inclusive working group be established to provide answers to energy producers along the Gulf Coast.  Rep. Boustany is the leading advocate in Congress for enhanced exploration and production of our domestic resources and is an original cosponsor of two key bills approved by the House of Representatives to promote Gulf Coast energy:

·       Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act ends the Obama Administration’s de facto moratorium on Gulf drilling to immediately increase jobs and energy production.

·       Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act expands American energy production and creates jobs by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to conduct three lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and one in offshore Virginia.

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