Meeting means nothing changes

A long-awaited, and twice delayed, meeting last Tuesday, between Rep. Jeff Landry (R-New Iberia) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) with Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director Michael Bromwich, along with officials from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, resulted in nothing new for Louisiana or other Gulf states.

“We just got the same old company line,” Vitter said following the session intended to focus on slow restoration of offshore drilling permits following the official lifting of an exploration moratorium that had been put in place following the April 2010 BP oil spill.

“This just adds to the frustration, especially as we’ve seen 14 rigs leave the Gulf of Mexico,” Vitter said. “I’ve been very clear about my concerns with the Interior Department’s pace of permitting and its growing regulatory authority.”

In September, Vitter and Landry each unsuccessfully sought meetings with Bromwich. Landry was ignored when he showed up in person to encounter Bromwich.

Topics brought up, but not fully addressed, during last week’s meeting included permits and safety regulations.

Neither Landry nor Bromwich could be reached by telephone for comment regarding the session.

The BSEE and BOEM were formerly a joint organization identified as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement.