Document rBnwQgyBgO8RRye1KarReXKkV

To: leila_getto@ios.doi.gov[leila_getto@ios.doi.gov] From: Erik Milito, API Sent: 2018-02-14T09:26:48-05:00 Importance: Normal Subject: Safe Offshore Energy Exploration Benefits Economy, Security Received: 2018-02-14T09:26:58-05:00 Click to view this email in a browser The economic and security benefits of expanding offshore energy exploration are undeniablele. Safe offshore production - largely concentrated in a small section of the Gulf of Mexico -- has supplied more than 1 million barrels of oil per day to the U.S. economy for the last 20 years. Unlocking natural gas and oil resources in additional offshore areas could more than double that, further reducing reliance on overseas energy while supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. As a Washington Post editorial puts it: "We have long supported opening more U.S. waters to offshore drilling. As long as the economy requires oil, it must come from somewhere, and better the United States than a country with much weaker environmental oversight. It is arrogant of Americans to benefit from the interconnected global oil market yet insist that their shores remain closed." Indeed, U.S. natural gas and oil operations are the world's gold standard for safety and environmental protection. And offshore development is safer than ever thanks to technological advances and continuous, collaborative efforts from industry experts and government regulators. Decades of experience in the Gulf of Mexico confirm that energy development can safely coexist with fishing and tourism. Citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy notes that "roughly half of the jobs in commercial and recreational fishing in the Gulf exist in states where there is also oil and gas production." Former Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu agrees, stating in 2017 congressional testimony: "You can have a coast that is a working coast for fisheries, commercial, recreation, eco-tourism, barges, ships, tourism, hotels - we have it all." These officials, one a Republican, one a Democrat, agree that offshore energy is safe and beneficial because they've seen it up close in their own state. Energy development is also compatible with military operations. The Department of Defense coordinates with the Interior Department to ensure that energy activities follow any necessary stipulations - a longstanding collaboration that has been successful in the central Gulf of Mexico, where energy is developed near thriving ports and active military bases. Previous Pentagon assessments found that energy development would be compatible with military operations in 89 percent of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and 95 percent of the Atlantic. In a letter to the Interior Department, Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick M Shanahan recognized that an expanded offshore energy strategy "is intent on increasing domestic energy production to fortify national security objectives and reduce our dependency on imported energy" adding, "The Department of Defense supports the development of national domestic energy resources in concert with enabling military operations, training and testing." A majority of U.S. voters support increased domestic natural gas and oil production, and experts confirm we can safely develop our wealth of offshore energy resources without jeopardizing other vital priorities. As the Interior Department's proposed plan for offshore energy expansion proceeds through the review process, the facts point to one conclusion: U.S, energy security will be better off the more offshore options we keep on the table. Sincerely, Erik Milito Group Director, Upstream API The Meaning of 10 Million Barrels per Day The U.S. Energy Information Administration (ElA) reports that in November, U.S. oil production hit 10.038 million barrels per day the most in half a century. Learn more about the benefits of plentiful domestic energy, including falling imports, rising self-sufficiency, economic growth and greater strength for our country around the globe. Follow our Blog to stay up-to-date To stay up-to-date on the latest energy-related news, there is no better place to check than the Energy Tomorrow Blog. About API: API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 10.3 million U.S. jobs and nearly 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API's more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation's energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans. To learn more about API and the value of oil and natural gas, please visit API.org. Click to view this email in a browser If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe Erik Milito, API 1220 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 US