Lafayette's Hilton is today the site of the eighth and final fact-finding forum the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is holding to collect information and views about deepwater drilling safety reforms and oil spill response.
Photo by Robin May
Lt. Gov. Scott Angelle (from left) and U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany and Charlie Melancon participate in Monday's forum.
Lafayette's Hilton is today the site of the eighth and final fact-finding forum the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is holding to collect information and views about deepwater drilling safety reforms and oil spill response. BOEM Director Michael Bromwich is conducting the forums as he evaluates whether to end the deepwater drilling moratorium announced by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on July 12.
The series kicked off in New Orleans Aug. 4; Lafayette's forum got under way at 9 a.m. today.
Since then Bromwich, the administration's lead regulator on drilling issues, has been briefed by panels of experts from academia, the environmental community, and the oil and gas industry on technical issues related to deepwater drilling and workplace safety, well containment and oil spill response. The forums also have been providing an opportunity for input from federal, state and local leaders on these same issues.
The forums were open to the public, which was encouraged to submit comment via forms provided at the forums, by mail or online.