Director Bromwich to Host Forums in Texas and Mississippi to Discuss Deepwater Drilling Safety, Containment and Spill Response

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM) announced that Director Michael R. Bromwich will hold the next two events in a series of fact-finding forums in Houston, Texas and Biloxi, Miss. the week of September 6, 2010. The forums are designed to collect information and views about deepwater drilling safety reforms, well containment, and oil spill response, which Director Bromwich will consider in evaluating whether to recommend any modifications to the scope or duration of the deepwater drilling suspensions announced by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on July 12, 2010.

During these forums, Director Bromwich will be briefed by panels of experts from academia, the environmental community, and the oil and gas industry on technical issues related to deepwater drilling and workplace safety, well containment, and oil spill response. The forums also will provide an opportunity for input from federal, state and local leaders on these same issues.

The forums will be open to the public. Members of the public will be encouraged to submit comments via forms provided at the forums, by mail or online.

The eighth and final additional forum will be held in mid-September in Lafayette, La.

What: Forums on Offshore Drilling

Who: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Director Michael R. Bromwich

When/Where: September 7, 2010: Houston, Texas
The Crowne Plaza Houston- Downtown
1700 Smith St. Houston, TX 77002

Doors open at 8 A.M., event begins at 9 A.M.

September 10, 2010: Biloxi, Miss.
Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center
2350 Beach Blvd. Biloxi, Miss. 39531

Doors open at 8 A.M., event begins at 9 A.M.

NOTE: All media will be required to provide government-issued identification and press credentials at the registration area. Members of the media may begin arriving at 8 A.M., all cameras must be pre-set no later than 8:30 A.M.