WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito co-authored an op-ed in Fox News warning about the damage of the Biden administration’s new proposed rule which expands the protected area for Rice’s whales to cover 28,000-square-miles.
The piece follows Senator Tuberville’s letter last week to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Director Richard Spinrad and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Liz Klein, where he cited the severe economic impacts the rule would have for Alabama businesses and the Gulf’s energy industry as a whole.
The public comment period for the rule is open until October 6.
Excerpts from the op-ed can be found below or read the full op-ed here on Fox News.
“Buried deep in a summer Friday news dump, the Biden administration quietly imposed the latest barriers targeting American energy. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) struck a consequential voluntary agreement with activist organizations, locking away millions of highly prospective acres in the Gulf of Mexico from oil and gas development and imposing wide-ranging vessel restrictions.”
“To put it generously, these restrictions are the latest misstep in the Administration’s energy policy. For decades, America’s energy producers have worked diligently to successfully improve efficiency, productivity, and safety, while lowering emissions. The new nighttime and low visibility restrictions reduce vessel transit windows by up to 50%, unnecessarily slowing American energy production. Vessels will needlessly idle, potentially for hours, waiting for daylight or better visibility and further delaying supply chains and increasing emissions.”
“These recent restrictions further limit American energy production, particularly amid rising inflation and global supply chain problems. Instead of adding more red tape, the Administration should collaborate with Congress to make smart environmental choices while encouraging domestic energy production.”
“The Biden regulatory agenda has dire consequences not only for the energy sector, but for the entire Gulf economy. We can walk and chew gum at the same time – we can be both environmentally responsible while protecting American jobs and energy.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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