From a release out of the office of U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany…

Representative Charles Boustany (R-Southwest Louisiana) today expressed his concerns about the creation of two new federal agencies to oversee offshore energy operations in the wake of the moratorium on deepwater drilling.

“This administration doesn’t listen,” Boustany said.  “Today’s announcement creates an even larger bureaucracy and put up more hurdles for our energy producers to jump.  The permitting process has dragged out long enough since the moratorium was lifted, and creating more agencies will not help to quickly get our workers back on the job. 

“I have called for working groups consisting of energy producers and administration officials from the Gulf Coast and Washington, but that recommendation has not been enacted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE),” Boustany explained.  “I have pushed for all parties to work together on this issue, and it seems like a sensible idea to bring American energy producers together with both BOEMRE entities to iron out ways forward, before creating a further divide between the workers and bureaucrats.”

The new directives by Secretary Ken Salazar and BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich will restructure the safety and resource management organizations within the bureau.  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will be tasked with overseeing leasing, administration and environmental studies of the nation’s offshore resources, while the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement will oversee all safety and environmental regulations.  Changes are scheduled to take effect by October 1, 2011.

Congressman Boustany has been working diligently to restore American energy production, and has fought efforts by the administration to stall and delay the permitting process for deep and shallow water exploration.