Gulf Coast wins against 'far-left activists' in NOAA decision, Alabama officials say

U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville applauded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rejecting a petition to establish a mandatory 10-knot speed limit and other vessel-related mitigation measures in the Gulf of Mexico.

“I was glad to see the NOAA come to their senses and reject this part of the Biden Administration’s overreaching regulatory agenda in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn), who has written two letters to administration officials on the issue. “Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Designating a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale throughout this expansive area would impose undue burdens and restrictions on all vessel traffic, especially in and out of the Port of Mobile.”

Britt (R-Montgomery) led a letter joined by most members of Alabama’s U.S. House delegation to NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad urging the denial of the petition.

“I am happy to say that NOAA heard our request and today rejected the nonsensical Rice’s whale petition pushed by far-left activists,” said Britt. “This proposal would have significantly impeded operations at the Port of Mobile, damaged Alabama’s economy, and harmed commercial and recreational fishing operations off the Gulf Coast.”

Britt was joined in sending the letter by U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), Mike Rogers (R-Saks), Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Dale Strong (R-Huntsville), and Gary Palmer (R-Hoover).

However, Friday’s announcement is not the final pending regulatory question related to NOAA’s treatment of the Rice’s whale. Britt and Tuberville are fighting a critical habitat designation of 28,000 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico for the Rice’s whale.

“I will continue to fight for common sense to prevail, so that hardworking families in every corner of our nation have the opportunity to live their American Dream,” Britt said.

Critical habitat designation and the rules that could potentially result from that designation has the potential to adversely affect the Port of Mobile, the Alabama fishing industry as well as the oil and gas industry.

“Designating a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale throughout this expansive area will impose undue burdens and restrictions on all vessel traffic, especially in and out of the Port of Mobile,” said Tuberville. “The Port of Mobile covers over 4,000 acres, generates nearly 313,000 jobs, provides approximately $2 billion in state and local tax impacts, and $85 billion in economic value to Alabama as a whole.”

Britt and the other Congress delegation members cited the state’s reliance on commerce in their letter.

“As a coastal state, Alabama relies heavily on commercial activity in and out of the Gulf of Mexico,” they wrote. “The port handles more than 55 million tons of commercial goods each year, reaching every state in the nation and providing clothing, tools, construction materials, automobiles, and parts that Americans rely on each and every day.”

Environmentalist groups asked NOAA to set a 10-knot per-hour speed limit through the 28,000 square mile area, forbidding transit of the ships through the area after dark.

“Requiring all lessees and operators to comply with reduced speeds of 10-knots or less and preventing them from traveling after dusk and before dawn within the designated areas will detrimentally impact our nation’s ability to domestically produce oil and gas in hopes of becoming energy independent,” Tuberville said.

“I will continue to fight back against Joe Biden’s attempts to make us reliant on our enemies for energy when we can be producing it right here in the United States, and especially in Alabama.”

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