[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 77 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 77

Expressing the sense of the Senate that domestic oil and gas resources 
are critical to our Nation's security and economy and the Secretary of 
the Interior should take immediate action to streamline the shallow and 
                     deepwater permitting process.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 28, 2011

Mrs. Hutchison (for herself, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Wicker, Ms. 
   Murkowski, Mr. Begich, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Shelby) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                    on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate that domestic oil and gas resources 
are critical to our Nation's security and economy and the Secretary of 
the Interior should take immediate action to streamline the shallow and 
                     deepwater permitting process.

Whereas the Gulf of Mexico produces about 30 percent of oil in the United States 
        and 10 percent of natural gas in the United States;
Whereas on May 30, 2010, the Department of the Interior enacted a deepwater 
        moratorium which lasted until October 12, 2010;
Whereas more than 400,000 jobs across the Gulf Coast are tied to the offshore 
        drilling industry;
Whereas in 2009, the offshore drilling industry accounted for $70,000,000,000 in 
        economic value and provided about $20,000,000,000 in revenue to Federal, 
        State, and local governments through royalties, bonuses, and tax 
        collections;
Whereas the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and 
        Offshore Drilling recognized the importance of the industry in a report, 
        stating, ``the development of offshore energy resources contributes 
        substantially to local economies, supporting businesses small and large 
        and employing tens of thousands of workers'';
Whereas the Department of the Interior has issued less than 35 new shallow water 
        permits since the shallow water moratorium was lifted and has failed to 
        issue any new permits for deepwater exploration; and
Whereas as a result of the de facto moratorium, at least 12 rigs (shallow and 
        deepwater) have departed the Gulf of Mexico, and more are expected to 
        follow: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the Nation's economy and security depends upon full and 
        immediate restoration of shallow and deepwater drilling 
        operations in the Gulf of Mexico;
            (2) the long-term economic health of the State of Alaska 
        depends upon the responsible development of the oil and natural 
        gas reserves of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas; and
            (3) the Secretary of the Interior should--
                    (A) streamline the review and appropriate approval 
                of applications for both shallow and deepwater drilling 
                permits in the Outer Continental Shelf;
                    (B) take immediate action to provide the shallow 
                and deepwater industry with a completed sample 
                application which meets all of the new safety and 
                environmental regulations for use as a template;
                    (C) provide written guidance and clarification to 
                applicants regarding new safety requirements; and
                    (D) provide permit applicants with timely and 
                detailed explanations on any areas of a permit which do 
                not satisfy new requirements.
                                 <all>