On Tuesday, Representative John Culberson met with employees at Halliburton and Apache Corporation to discuss their concerns about the local Houston economy.
Employees from both firms expressed apprehension over the restraining and time-consuming deepwater drilling permit procedure. They noted the negative impact it has had on the greater-Houston economy. The de facto moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has lead to the elimination of an estimated 12,000 jobs in the region. Furthermore, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE), has found a way to manipulate the permitting system by not responding to an application within the mandated 30 days after its submission. Some applications have taken up to six months to collect a response from the BOEMRE.
Congressman Culberson has supported legislation that would reinstitute drilling in the Gulf. H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act, will completely eliminate the de facto moratorium President Obama has implemented. Likewise, H.R. 1230 will unlock drilling permits in the Gulf as well as off the coast of Virginia.
Congressman Culberson will continue to work to end these overzealous government regulations.
