Issues Advocacy – Bayou Industrial Group

April 13, 2022 – BIG sent letters to Senator Cassidy, Congressman Graves, and Congressman Scalise in support of FY 2023 appropriations request for Morganza to the Gulf

“On behalf of Bayou Industrial Group, I am writing today in support of the $31 million request for Community Project Funding, submitted by the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to be provided to the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). Funds would be used as a second lift in order to raise Reach F as high as 18 feet. This would elevate the connection between two key features of the Morganza system – Bayou Grand Caillou Floodgate and Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex. This reach is a main line component of the Houma Navigational Canal (it parallels the canal for four miles toward Houma). Since the canal is the easiest pathway for floodwater into the system and Houma, this levee protects immediately the communities of Dularge, Dulac, and Grand Calliou but is also vitally important to the city of Houma. This reach is four miles and includes the Bayou Grand Calliou Structure. Increasing the level of protection with this reach works in synergy with construction of the Houma Navigational Canal Lock Complex. Most importantly, this is the easiest project in the system to begin construction and has all environmental clearances needed for USACE to start work.”

BIG MtG FY 2023 Appropriation Support Letter C – signed
BIG MtG FY 2023 Appropriation Support Letter G – signed
BIG MtG FY 2023 Appropriation Support Letter S – signed

March 23, 2022 – BIG Joins GEST and other business groups asking President Biden to resume offshore oil and natural gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico

“Given the recent geopolitical strife, post-pandemic economic recovery and exorbitant fuel costs, GEST urges the Administration and the Department of Interior to resume offshore oil and natural gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico immediately and work collaboratively with the States, the communities, and the industry to develop science-based climate change solutions that will allow our energy workers to continue to produce American energy for many generations to come.”

GEST Letter to President Biden March 2022

March 4, 2021 – BIG Joins GEST and other business groups asking President Biden to rescind Executive Orders impacting American oil and gas production

“GEST and the allied associations joining this letter are asking you to rescind Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and DOI Secretarial Order 3395 given their significant impact to our local communities, our local businesses, and the energy workers along the Gulf Coast. GEST believes we can work collaboratively to ‘Build Back Better’ in a way that we can achieve your Administration’s climate change and environmental goals while also maintaining our nation’s energy independence, preserving our much-needed jobs and protecting our coastal communities.”

GEST Letter to Biden 030421

March 2, 2021 – BIG Letter of Support to Sen. Cassidy for RISEE Act, Royalty Revenue Sharing

“Local residents and business owners like our members clearly understand the inextricable link between vigorous offshore energy production and a robust coastal restoration and protection program. As such, BIG supports your RISEE Act of 2021 provisions and other efforts that would provide more equitable sharing of GOMESA royalty revenue for Louisiana, including elimination of the GOMESA state revenue sharing cap and expanding the list of eligible oil and gas leases for future GOMESA payments. We also support the bill’s revenue sharing model that would provide a fair share of offshore wind revenue to adjacent states where offshore wind farms are developed.”

Bayou Industrial Group RISEE Act Support to Sen Cassidy

February 10, 2021 – BIG Advocates for Offshore Oil and Gas Production

Bayou Industrial Group Vice President and Issues Advocacy Committee Chair Ben Malbrough spoke on behalf of BIG today during a Louisiana legislative hearing on the impacts of the Biden Administration’s recent orders to pause offshore oil and gas leasing.

“Here in the Bayou Region, we are very proficient at producing the oil and gas that fuels America. Day in and day out, we also work to build a healthy and sustainable environment while providing this energy for our nation,” he told committee members.

Malbrough highlighted the critical importance of offshore production in generating GOMESA funding for coastal restoration and levee projects, including the Mississippi River ReIntroduction into Bayou Lafourche which he oversees as Executive Director of the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District.

“GOMESA is a matter of survival for us in the Bayou Region,” he concluded.

January 25, 2021 – BIG Encourages Climate Task Force to Consider Industry Emissions-Reduction Efforts In Action Plan Development

“BIG and our members appreciate the tremendous energy and economic benefits that offshore oil and gas production contribute to our region and our nation. We also recognize Governor Edwards for the creation of the Climate Task Force to reduce greenhouse gas emissions originating in Louisiana. BIG believes that it is possible to have both a robust oil and gas industry that creates jobs and economic opportunity alongside a healthy and sustainable environment to live and work for generations. Economic and environmental benefits are not an either/or decision. In Louisiana, we can and we do have both.

“With this in mind, we encourage you to consider the significant emissions reductions that our state’s industry has achieved in recent years and companies’ continued investments in coastal restoration projects to sustain our invaluable wetlands as the Task Force develops recommendations.”

BIG letter to Climate Task Force 1/25/21

January 11 2021 Meeting Presentation – by Charles Sutcliffe, Chief Resilience Officer

October 29, 2020 – BIG Supports Funding for East Leeville Marsh Creation Project

In a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bayou Industrial Group offered its support for Phase 2 Construction Funding from the CWPPRA program for the East Leeville Marsh Creation Project in Lafourche Parish.

Bayou Industrial Group Support for Leeville Marsh Creation Project

October 15, 2020 – BIG Supports Constitutional Amendment #2

The Board of Directors of the Bayou Industrial Group passed a resolution on October 19, 2020 in support of LA Constitutional Amendment #2 and urges you to vote YES on the November 3 ballot!

A YES vote on CA-2 will bring fairness and accuracy to the assessment process for oil and gas wells, and is supported by Louisiana assessors and industry representatives. Although there are three ways to assess property – cost, market and income methods – the state Constitution presently only includes the use of the first two in the assessment of oil and gas wells in Louisiana. CA-2 would include the income approach as the third methodology to value wells for property assessment.

The income method values wells on their ability to produce revenue.

CA-2 flyer

September 30, 2020 – BIG Urges Congress to Secure Gulf of Mexico Access for Oil and Gas Production

In a letter to members of Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation, Bayou Industrial Group joined the Gulf Economic Survival Team in calling for Congress to pass legislation that will secure access to the Gulf of Mexico for future oil and gas leasing and production.

As stated in the letter, “BIG and our members appreciate the tremendous energy and economic benefits that offshore oil and gas production contribute to our region and our nation. We also understand too well how reductions in production of American oil and gas has devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of workers and small businesses along the Gulf. That is why we urge you today to secure a consistent, long-term commitment to Gulf of Mexico energy access to ensure continued American energy dominance and economic security.”

READ FULL LETTER HERE

May 6, 2020 – BIG Supports Lawsuit Reform Legislation

Bayou Industrial Group joined 20 other parish, regional and state organizations in signing a letter of support today for SB 359, authored by Sen. Bob Hensgens (R-Abbeville). The bill keeps the state’s focus on enforcing state permits and ensures that 100% of any funds recovered under the enforcement guidelines of Louisiana’s State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act (SLCRMA) are spent directly on coastal restoration and hurricane protection as the Louisiana Legislature originally intended.

SB 359 Letter Press Release 050620

Industry Support Letter SB359 050620

April 9, 2020 – Royalty Relief for Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

Bayou Industrial Group submitted a letter to President Donald Trump today asking for his support of initiatives that would provide relief to our offshore oil and gas industry during this economic crisis.

“BIG and our members appreciate the tremendous economic benefits that offshore oil and gas production contribute to our region and our nation. We also understand too well how reductions in production of American oil and gas has devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of workers and small businesses along the Gulf. That is why we urge you today to provide immediate relief to help ensure that America’s oil and gas industry, local small businesses and our communities survive this current economic crisis and continue to play a critical role in supplying energy, jobs and tax revenue for our nation,” the letter states.

The letter requests that the President suspend or reduce royalty rates, among other recommendations put forth by the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.

BIG letter to President Trump on offshore industry relief

LMOGA Letter to President Trump

Since its founding in 1973, BIG has a strong history of supporting economic development, infrastructure, coastal restoration and protection, education, and public health and safety initiatives in our Bayou Region communities. This provides an opportunity for our members to advocate for or against critical issues in our area as part of a strong, active group of local businesses with a shared goal of growing and strengthening our region.

BIG and its members have taken action on the following recent legislative, regulatory and policy issues:

SUPPORTED Act 443 of the 2019 Louisiana Legislative Session, which provides $150 million for the LA 1 Improvement Project from Golden Meadow to Leeville and a total of more than $500 million for several other state infrastructure projects.
SUPPORTED key levee and coastal restoration projects for our region in the FY2020 Louisiana Coastal Annual Plan.
SUPPORTED efforts by the Lafourche Parish School District in the 2019 Louisiana Legislative Session to secure $2.6 million in oil and gas royalty funds collected by the state from 2007-2010 and owed to the District.
SUPPORTED federal regulatory reform initiative to revise Oil and Gas Preventer Systems and Well Control Rules to restore certainty and predictability to the offshore permitting and regulatory process and ensure continued safety and environmental protection on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
SUPPORTED the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District’s request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for “New Start” designation for the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project and federal construction funding.
SUPPORTED expanded access to oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico OCS as part of the 2019-2014 Offshore Leasing Program.