News Media Contact:
Nicole Daigle / Brendan Bradley
202.857.4722 / 800.433.2851

For Immediate Release
March 31, 2010

WASHINGTON - Following an announcement today by President Obama regarding access to billions of barrels of American oil and trillions of cubic feet of clean-burning, homegrown natural gas along the nation's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Barry Russell - president and CEO of the Independent Petroleum Association of American (IPAA) - issued the following statement:

"The announcement today from the President is a welcomed first step to addressing the nation's future energy needs. For decades, Washington has failed to make the tough decisions necessary to develop a responsible, 21^st century American offshore oil and gas program. Both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for the short-sighted missteps that have kept these enormous amounts of homegrown energy off-limits.

"Just two summers ago, when gas prices were shattering record highs day after day, the American people sent a clear and resounding message to Washington that we must move forward with commonsense policies that leverage American energy resources into jobs, economic growth, security and stable costs. Even though the congressional and executive bans on offshore energy development were lifted in 2008, this Administration and Congress have by all accounts prolonged and made access to our nation's job-creating offshore resources more difficult.

"It is also important to remember that offshore energy development will not happen overnight. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) 5-year plan is the basis for the entire American offshore leasing program. It is an extremely long and thorough process involving extensive public comment and consultation with interested parties. The process includes solicitation of public comments; development of a draft proposed program; development of a proposed leasing program; development of a final leasing program; and approval by the Secretary of the Interior. Given the lengthy process, it is imperative that the Administration and Congress put their plans in motion today. Otherwise, the U.S. will continue to further its dependence on foreign resources and send more American dollars overseas.

"Independent oil and gas operators - who produce 9 out of 10 wells nationwide - are eager to work with the Administration as this process continues to move forward. Bold action and sound national energy policies that promote domestic oil and gas production, especially offshore, will help drive down our dangerous dependence on unstable regions of the world to fuel our economy and keep prices stable for struggling families, seniors and small businesses during these difficult economic times."