By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-989644.mp3
New Orleans, LA – The head of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement met privately with two leading Republican lawmakers who say red tape is delaying oil production. Outside the bureau's New Orleans office, Congressman Jeff Landry says the system set up after last year's BP oil spill isn't keeping up with drilling demands.
"We evidently have not picked up to the pace we were before so there's something awry, and that's what we're hoping to get to the bottom of."
Anne Rolfes is director of the environmental group Louisiana Bucket Brigade. She says regulators need to be tough, especially with political leaders advocating for the oil industry.
"They're always talking about that permits need to be relaxed and oversight needs to be reduced. And, in fact, just the opposite needs to happen."
Senator David Vitter says regulators aren't helping industry work with the new rules. Bromwich said after the meeting that the process is transparent and should not be subjected to political influence.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming.