January 24, 2018

The Honorable David Price
2108 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Price,

The Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast (BAPAC) is supportive of your efforts and legislation to codify two rules by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) that were put in place following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. These rules, that address production safety systems and well control, are critical to helping to prevent a similar disaster and were recommended by a bipartisan national commission.

Unfortunately, the BSEE intends to roll back these rules and rely on the oil and gas industry to police itself as to the safety of their offshore oil drilling practices. Clearly this is a mistake and abdicates our federal government’s responsibility to protect our water and land from corporate behavior that prioritizes their profits at the expense of citizens, communities and local economies.

While offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean has not and hopefully never will be permitted, that possibility exists. Should this happen, BAPAC believes that reasonable and responsible regulations for the oil and gas industry must already be in place to offer more protection for our vibrant tourism, commercial fishing and recreation economies of the Atlantic Coast.

Thank you for your attention to this issue and your legislative efforts.

Sincerely,

Frank Knapp Jr.
President & CEO