Director Bromwich to Host Forums in Alabama and Florida to Discuss Deepwater Drilling Safety, Containment and Spill Response

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM) today announced that Director Michael R. Bromwich will hold the next two events in a series of fact-finding forums in Mobile, Ala. and Pensacola, Fla. the week of August 9, 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.

Additional forums will be held in August in Santa Barbara, Calif. and Anchorage, Alaska. Meetings will be held in September in the following cities: Biloxi, Miss., Houston, Texas and Lafayette, La.

What:	Forums on Offshore Drilling
Who:	Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Director Michael R. Bromwich
When	*August 10, 2010: Mobile, Alabama **August 11, 2010: Pensacola, Florida
Where:	*The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel 26 North Royal Street Mobile, Alabama **New World Landing 600 S. Palafox Street Pensacola, Florida 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.

Media Contact:   Nicholas Pardi   (202) 208-3985

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior