Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition was present at the House Committee On Natural Resources, Full Committee Oversight Hearing on “Offshore Energy: Interior Department’s Plans for Offshore Energy, Revenue, and Safety Reorganization” on July 15th.
Discussed at the hearing was the reorganization of BOEMRE after taking over for the Minerals Management Service (MMS). The hearing reviewed what issues needed to be addressed to make improvements as well as potential legislation to make the necessary changes. The Interior Department will finish its schedule for reorganization of MMS by October 1, 2011.
The Honorable Doc Hastings, Committee Chairman, highlighted four points in his opening statement that he believes are necessary in the reform of the Interior Department’s offshore energy agencies. The first being to improve safety of, second to increase government accountability, third to run efficiently, and last to ensure the highest ethical standards.
The Honorable Michael R. Bromwich gave the first testimony. Bromwich is the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE). Bromwich discussed the reorganization of the MMS, changes in the regulation of oil and gas drilling and development on the Outer Continental Shelf. Bromwich’s full testimony can be found here http://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/BromwichTestimony07.15.11.pdf
Following the Honorable Michael R. Bromwich in the second panel was Gregory J. Gould, Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue. Gould was brought to the committee to discuss the reorganization of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR). Gould discussed the ONRR’s strategic review and the closure of the RIK program. Gould’s full testimony can be found here http://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/GouldTestimony07.15.11.pdf