2010-0263
INTRODUCED BY: PAUL J. HOGAN, PE, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT IV
V.J. ST. PIERRE, JR., PARISH PRESIDENT
CAROLYN K. SCHEXNAYDRE, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION. A
TERRY AUTHEMENT, COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION B
MARCUS M. LAMBERT, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
BILLY RAYMOND, SR., COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT I
SHELLEY M. TASTET, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT II
WENDY BENEDETTO, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT III
LARRY COCHRAN, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT V
DENNIS NUSS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VII
RESOLUTION NO. 5763
Title
A resolution urging President Obama to reduce the six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling in the Gulf to no more than thirty (30) days, and during that time task Minerals Management Service (MMS) with conducting thorough inspections of all deep-water drilling facilities in the Gulf as well as implement strict safety measures and take enforcement actions to ensure compliance with safety mandates, thus greatly reducing the job loss and negative economic impact felt by our region while ensuring a safer industry.
Body
WHEREAS, the moratorium on offshore deep-water drilling will cause significant harm to Louisiana's energy service industry as well as to the many coastal communities already suffering tremendously from the environmental and economic impacts of the BP oil spill; and,
WHEREAS, an estimated thirty-three percent (33%) of the Nation's domestic oil comes from the Gulf of Mexico; and,
WHEREAS, eighty percent (80%) of the oil and forty-five (45%) of the natural gas coming out of the Gulf of Mexico is from deep-water drilling operations in more than 1,000 feet of water; and,
WHEREAS, suspension of deep-water drilling operations will result in at least 33 deep-water drilling rigs being idled for six months or longer; and,
WHEREAS, Port Fourchon located in Lafourche Parish services ninety percent (90%) of deep-water operations in the Gulf of Mexico; and,
WHEREAS, an average of two (2) supply boats work each rig per day with rates of $15,000 - $30,000/boat. Suspension of the drilling activity will result in a nearly $1 million loss per day in just supply boat rental income; and,
WHEREAS, each drilling rig averages 180-280 employees for each two-week shift, and each job supports four other jobs in our local communities. Thus, the suspension of drilling activity will result in a loss of up to 6,000 jobs in two to three weeks, and more than 20,000 Louisiana jobs over the next 18 months; and,
WHEREAS, Louisiana coastal communities such as Houma, Morgan City, and Lafayette are home to businesses, from welders and divers to caterers and drivers, that support the offshore oil and gas industry, with 1 in 3 jobs being related to the industry; and,
WHEREAS, it is estimated that each exploration and production job represents four supporting jobs in and around the region, thus a six-month moratorium will result in the loss of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in wages; and,
WHEREAS, Louisiana coastal communities will begin experiencing severe and irreversible economic impacts within thirty (30) days of the moratorium; and,
WHEREAS, idle drilling rigs in the gulf will likely be contracted overseas for work in other locations such as Africa and Brazil, and may not return to the Gulf of Mexico for several years, greatly extending the BP Oil Spill induced economic crisis for our State; and,
WHEREAS, it is unlikely that deep-water work in the Gulf would resume quickly even after the moratorium is lifted, given the time and expense involved in relocating rigs; and,
WHEREAS, several of the safety recommendations set forth in the Department of Interior's May 27, 2010 Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf can be implemented within the next thirty (30) days including MMS verification of the safety of the (1) MMS certification of the safety of the BOP stacks, (2) MMS verification of BOP equipment compatibility, (3) development and implementation of new inspection procedures and reporting requirements, (4) establishment of new fluid displacement procedures, and (5) verification of compliance with existing regulations and National Safety Alert requirements; and,
WHEREAS, other measures set forth in the Department of Interior's May 27, 2010 Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf such as those requiring emergency rule making along with the National Commission on the BP Deep-Water Horizon Spill and Offshore Drilling investigation can be conducted simultaneously with the continued operations of offshore deep-water drilling; and,
WHEREAS, MMS could, and should, maintain a full-time presence on all ongoing deep-water drilling locations, with a 7-10 day rotation schedule and enforce that strict compliance with API standards be maintained on all equipment used in well construction; and,
WHEREAS, any failure in compliance should mandate immediate closure of the offending rig, rather a complete shutdown of all deep-water drilling operations which would unjustly punish those companies that have provided this country's energy needs while operating safely and in compliance with all regulations, as well as those coastal communities already facing an economic crisis as a result of this being the most challenging economic periods in decades coupled with the devastating economic impacts of the BP oil spill on the fishing, tourism, and ancillary industries; and,
WHEREAS, the last thing the Gulf Coast area needs is a public policy that will certainly destroy thousands of existing jobs while preventing the creations of thousands more.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT:
SECTION I. A resolution urging President Obama to lift the six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling, and instead conduct a thorough review of all deep-water drilling facilities, implement and enforce strict safety measures to ensure compliance with safety mandates.
SECTION II. Further, let it be resolved that, while we support efforts to make the offshore deep-water drilling industry safer, we urge President Obama to reduce the six month moratorium on deep-water drilling in the Gulf to no more than thirty (30) days, and during that time task Minerals Management Service (MMS) with conducting thorough inspections of all deep-water drilling facilities in the Gulf as well as implement strict safety measures and take enforcement action to ensure compliance with safety mandates, thus greatly reducing the job loss and negative economic impact felt by our region while ensuring a safer industry.
SECTION III. That the Police Jury President, Carl A. Pierson, Sr., forward a copy of said resolution to the U.S. President Barack Obama, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senator David Vitter, U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon, U.S. Representative Steve Scalise, State Senator Joel Chaisson, State Representative Gary Smith, State Representative Ernest Wooton, and all 64 Parishes in Louisiana and the National Association of Counties.
Vote
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: SCHEXNAYDRE, AUTHEMENT, RAYMOND, TASTET, HOGAN, COCHRAN, NUSS
NAYS: NONE
ABSENT: BENEDETTO, LAMBERT
And the resolution was declared adopted this 9th day of August , 2010, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
Paul - Revised Oil spill Res .doc
CHAIRMAN:______________________________________________
SECRETARY:_____________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:_________________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:__________________
PARISH PRESIDENT:______________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:_______________________________________
AT:_______________ RECD BY: _____________________________