The Biden administration has rolled out new restrictions on oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico, aiming to safeguard a whale species.
This move comes after the administration settled with a coalition of eco radical groups in the previous month.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), responsible for energy development in federal waters, issued a Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) on Monday that outlines enhanced protections for the Rice’s whale, a species listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is shutting down the production of domestic oil & gas in the Gulf of Mexico due to the possible sighting of the Rice’s Whale some seven years ago. . . https://t.co/EpoBFVwMPZ
— Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) August 13, 2023
While the NTL was initially expected to be published last week, it was postponed until Monday, Fox News Digital reports.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from energy industry leaders.
National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito expressed concern, stating, “This decision by the Biden Administration does an end-around legal requirements and the public process, imposing unwarranted restrictions on U.S. energy production at a time of continued inflation with prices rising at the pump for consumers.”
Milito highlighted the broader implications of these restrictions on energy production capabilities, affecting high-paying jobs and potentially compromising energy independence.
He pointed out that the agreement reached with environmental groups sidesteps scientific evidence and contradicts congressional intent under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The NTL introduces a wide-ranging protection zone across the Gulf of Mexico with various conditions for industry operators. BOEM recommends that trained visual observers be present on all vessels in the area, imposes a speed limit of 10 knots for all ships, and limits vessel travel to daytime hours.
These stipulations will be applied to Lease Sale 261, an upcoming offshore oil and gas lease auction, and around 11 million acres of potential oil-rich lease blocks were removed from the auction.
Milito criticized these measures, cautioning that they could hinder exploration, construction, and development of energy projects in the Gulf of Mexico. The restrictions, he argued, might adversely impact established and efficient activities, ultimately affecting the nation’s energy sector.
“Today’s notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is yet another example of the Biden administration working to restrict American energy, which could lead to higher energy costs and weaken U.S. security,” said Holly Hopkins, the American Petroleum Institute vice president of upstream policy.
