联邦法院给予美国国家海洋渔业局（NMFS）更多时间来完成对美国墨西哥湾的新生物学鉴定，并避免对美国能源安全造成重大影响。

今年早些时候，美国马里兰州地方法院撤销了美国国家海洋渔业局关于墨西哥湾石油和天然气活动（BiOp）的 2020 年生物学意见，该意见自 12 月 20 日起生效。由于没有给美国国家海洋渔业局发布新意见留出足够时间就撤销了 BiOp，法院的这一判决有可能关闭美国墨西哥湾新的和现有的石油和天然气业务。

美国墨西哥湾的能源生产不仅对于满足当前和未来的能源需求至关重要，而且对于支持保护计划、推动州和地方经济以及帮助美国实现减排目标也至关重要。预计到 2024 年，美国原油总产量的 14% 和天然气产量的 2% 将来自墨西哥湾。

美国国家海洋工业协会主席埃里克·米利托表示：“我们很高兴法院决定批准所要求的救济，这让联邦政府有更多时间发布新的墨西哥湾生物意见。这项裁决对于维护我们的能源安全、负担能力和国家安全至关重要，所有这些都依赖于墨西哥湾不间断的石油和天然气供应。”

“墨西哥湾是全球能源领域的一个强大力量。如果它是一个国家，它将跻身全球前十二大石油生产国之列。该地区支持近 435,000 个就业岗位，每天生产约 200 万桶石油，并为重要的保护和沿海复原计划提供资金。它作为一个重要且完善的能源枢纽的作用对美国经济和国家安全不可或缺。”

API 高级副总裁兼总法律顾问 Ryan Meyers 表示：“我们欢迎法院做出务实的决定，允许 NMFS 有更多时间完成针对美国墨西哥湾石油和天然气作业的新的生物学意见。今天的裁决只能提供暂时的缓解，我们仍需开展工作以避免中断我们国家能源供应的支柱。我们随时准备与 NMFS 合作，并提供我们行业的专业知识，以完成新的生物学意见，从而平衡环境保护和世界对经济实惠、可靠能源日益增长的需求。”

A federal court granted the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) more time to complete a new biological opinion for the US Gulf of Mexico and avoid significant consequences for American energy security.

Earlier this year, the US District Court for the District of Maryland vacated the NMFS 2020 Biological Opinion for Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas activities (BiOp) effective December 20. By vacating the BiOp without allowing enough time for NMFS to issue a new one, the court decision had threatened to shut down new and existing oil and natural gas operations in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Energy production in the US Gulf of Mexico is critical for not only meeting current and future energy demand, but also for supporting conservation programs, driving state and local economies and helping the U.S. meet our emissions reduction goals. In 2024, 14 percent of total US crude oil production and 2 percent of natural gas production is projected to come from the Gulf of Mexico.

National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito said, “We are pleased with the court’s decision to grant the requested relief, allowing the federal government additional time to issue a new Gulf of Mexico Biological Opinion. This ruling is crucial for maintaining our energy security, affordability, and national security, all of which depend on the uninterrupted supply of oil and gas from the Gulf of Mexico.

“The Gulf of Mexico is a powerhouse in the global energy landscape. If it were a country, it would rank among the top twelve oil producers worldwide. This region supports nearly 435,000 jobs, produces approximately two million barrels of oil daily, and funds essential conservation and coastal resilience programs. Its role as a vital and well-established energy hub is indispensable to the U.S. economy and national security.”

API Senior Vice President and General Counsel Ryan Meyers said, “We welcome the court’s pragmatic decision to allow NMFS more time to complete a new biological opinion for oil and natural gas operations in the US Gulf of Mexico. Today’s ruling provides only temporary relief and work still must be done to avoid disruptions to the backbone of our nation’s energy supply. We stand ready to work with NMFS and offer our industry’s expertise to complete a new biological opinion that balances environmental protection and the world’s growing need for affordable, reliable energy.”