NATURAL GAS SUPPLY ASSOCIATION

DATE: October 8, 1997

CONTACT: Charlotte LeGates

PHONE: 202/326-9316

FAX: 202/326-9334

E-MAIL: clegates@ngsa.org

Following is our response to the legislation introduced this week in the House and Senate to make permanent the drilling moratorium off the coast of North Carolina:
 

• We oppose continuation of the current offshore moratorium. Thus, we oppose any legislative extensions.


• Initial reservoir assessments indicate that the resources offshore of North Carolina are predominantly natural gas.


• Offshore natural gas exploration and production has an outstanding safety record. Its environmental risk is low.


• Failure to access its offshore natural gas could confront North Carolina and other states with a need to continue or increase oil imports and move oil products through coastal waterways--approaches to energy supply with higher risk than that posed by offshore natural gas exploration and production.


• We believe this legislation does not fully consider the nation's needs for domestic, environmentally friendly fuels like natural gas.


• We hope that the legislators who have introduced these bills will reconsider.