Lafayette Reporter

WASHINGTON – Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy have joined colleagues in urging the Biden administration’s Commerce and Interior Departments to reconsider proposed regulations that could negatively impact offshore energy production in the Gulf of Mexico.

In a letter addressed to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as well as the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the senators expressed concerns about regulations affecting the Rice’s whale species. They emphasized the importance of relying on sound scientific backing before advancing such measures.

Highlighting the economic significance of the Gulf of Mexico, the senators pointed out the substantial economic impact of ports in states like Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama. They warned that imposing restrictions on development in the Gulf could directly harm economic activity and jobs in coastal communities.

The senators stressed the need for regulations with significant impacts on the economy and national security to be based on the best available science. They urged NOAA and BOEM to gather new, verified data on the species in question before moving forward with any restrictions.

The Biden administration's agreements with environmental organizations to restrict oil and gas production in the Gulf have been met with criticism. The organizations claim that ship traffic could disturb the habitat of the Rice’s whale, but the senators pointed out flaws in the methodology and lack of scientific evidence in the cited study.

The administration’s proposed restrictions could hinder America’s energy production and reduce bids for offshore lease sales, potentially impacting the region's economy and energy security.

The full letter from Senators Kennedy and Cassidy, along with their colleagues, can be accessed for further details.