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Industry and conservation witnesses split on permitting and conservation standards in MMPA debate
Summary
Industry witnesses told the subcommittee that ambiguous MMPA language and litigation have stalled exploration and surveys; conservation witnesses highlighted recoveries made under the MMPA and urged caution before weakening standards. The Fish and Wildlife Service offered technical cooperation.
Several witnesses on the hearing’s second panel testified for and against aspects of the MMPA discussion draft and other bills under consideration.
For industry, Forrest Burkholder, president and CEO of SA Exploration, described delays in receiving authorizations for geoscience surveys on the outer continental shelf and in Alaska. He told the subcommittee that NGOs repeatedly challenge issued permits and that clear statutory terms, longer incidental take…
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