III 

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; 


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2 

•SRES 77 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

2 (1) the Nation’s economy and security depends 

3 upon full and immediate restoration of shallow and 

4 deepwater drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico; 

5 (2) the long-term economic health of the State 

6 of Alaska depends upon the responsible development 

7 of the oil and natural gas reserves of the Beaufort 

8 and Chukchi Seas; and 


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•SRES 77 IS 

1 (3) the Secretary of the Interior should— 

2 (A) streamline the review and appropriate 

3 approval of applications for both shallow and 

4 deepwater drilling permits in the Outer Conti5 nental Shelf; 

6 (B) take immediate action to provide the 

7 shallow and deepwater industry with a com8 pleted sample application which meets all of the 

9 new safety and environmental regulations for 

10 use as a template; 

11 (C) provide written guidance and clarifica12 tion to applicants regarding new safety require13 ments; and 

14 (D) provide permit applicants with timely 

15 and detailed explanations on any areas of a per16 mit which do not satisfy new requirements. 

Æ 


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