"In light of the new national defense strategy's emphasis on the Asia-Pacific and continued presence in the Middle East, the need for maritime forces that are forward deployed, forward engaged and ever-ready to respond is more critical now than ever before," Navy League Executive Director Dale Lumme said. "This document reflects that reality, and makes specific recommendations regarding the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and the U.S. industrial base that supports them."

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Monday, February 6, 2012

The Obama administration is approving only 37 percent of the deepwater drilling plans submitted this year undefined a figure that falls below even last year’s low approval rate. It’s also taking federal bureaucrats an average of 115 days to approve the plans, nearly double the historical average.

Greater New Orleans Inc. reported the numbers as part of its Gulf Permit Index, a measure of permit issuance. The data was provided by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, which oversees shallow-water and deepwater permits.

Last year’s numbers were down sharply, a result of the worst oil spill in U.S. history and a drilling moratorium that lasted until Oct. 12, 2010. But they have continued to take a nosedive in 2011. A few highlights:

• Over the past five years, 73.4 percent of plans submitted to BOEMRE were approved. That number dropped to 52 percent in 2010 and stands at 37 percent in 2011.
• The federal government approved these plans in an average of 60.6 days over the past five years. That number increased to 67 days in 2010. But it skyrocketed to 115 days this year.
• So far in October, the government has issued just one deepwater drilling permit. The average over the past three years is seven new permit approvals per month.
  
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Escopeta Slammed with $15 Million Fine for Jones Act Violation

Obama's Interior Chokehold on America

Fed Up With ‘Games, Politics and Delays,’ Offshore Workers Offer a Solution To Create Thousands of Jobs at No Cost to Taxpayers 

Statement by Jim Adams, president and CEO,

Offshore Marine Service Association 

“President Obama wants to spend $447 billion in taxpayer’s money to create jobs, a proposal that is absolutely ridiculous, even by White House standards. We have a far simpler solution to the jobs crisis, one that won’t cost taxpayers a single dime. In fact, it will actually save taxpayers millions of dollars.

“The oil and gas industry wants to spend $19 billion of its own money to create 230,000 jobs from coast to coast. But the Obama White House undefined the same administration that wants to blow billions in tax dollars to create jobs undefined is standing in the way.

“Oil and gas workers in the Gulf of Mexico are largely idle thanks to a huge backlog of administrative approvals and permit applications at the Department of the Interior. Without those permits, we can’t get back to work exploring for oil and gas in the Gulf.

“Billions of dollars in spending and capital expenditures are tied up in red tape. Without those approvals, industry can’t order new computers, trucks, ships, or steel pipes. We can’t get America moving again.

“The White House has made the process sound complicated. So we created a whiteboard video to explain the problem undefined and the solution undefined in a simple, straightforward, and, yes, even entertaining way.

“The President implored Congress: ‘No games, no politics, no delays.’ We couldn’t agree more. This Administration has exerted its political will against domestic energy exploration for more than a year now. We’re fed up with games, politics and delays.  Let us get back to work.”