This week, Governors from 7 states penned a letter to President Obama addressing multiple offshore energy issues. In particular, they expressed concern with proposed coastal and marine spatial planning, one facet of the President’s National Ocean Policy. The Governors urged the President to carefully consider the bureaucratic hurdles and negative impacts on energy development that could be created by this policy.

Over the past several months, the House Natural Resources Committee has conducted rigorous oversight on this issue, and plans to hold more hearings focused on the National Ocean Policy throughout this Congress. The President’s plan to zone the oceans represents a top-down, Washington, D.C.-based process that has the potential to significantly impact the way we use and manage our oceans. It is one of many examples of the Obama Administration imposing burdensome federal regulations and policies that could hinder economic growth and harm job creation. The Committee plans to hear testimony from recreational and commercial fishermen next week at its fourth hearing on the issue. For more information on the President’s plan to zone the oceans, click here.

The letter was signed by the Governors of Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Texas and Mississippi.