Since the tragic accident, our thoughts and prayers have been with our workers and their neighbors along the coast. Our focus, however, has been on helping to stop the spill, clean up the oil and — once the causes of the spill are known — prevent it from happening again.

By Jack N. Gerard

Since the tragic accident, our thoughts and prayers have been with our workers and their neighbors along the coast. Our focus, however, has been on helping to stop the spill, clean up the oil and — once the causes of the spill are known — prevent it from happening again.

In fact, we have already begun. We have assembled  five expert task forces to address issues related to offshore equipment, operating practices, oil spill containment and cleanup. Two of those task forces have submitted recommendations to the Department of the Interior, which incorporated them in its report to the president.

The industry’s commitment to safety and environmental protection is real and strong, but the tragedy in the Gulf clearly demonstrates the need to review our practices. Investigations will identify  needed changes. We will make them.

We support the efforts to halt the spill, make the Gulf whole and find ways to prevent future spills.  We have great concerns, however, about what an extended moratorium could mean to the nation.

It could endanger our nation’s economy and its energy security. And, because it will place in j eopardy thousands of offshore and onshore jobs, it will particularly hit hard those already suffering, the Gulf states’ residents.

An extended moratorium wouldn’t reduce our need for oil and natural gas. It would only force us to import more because idle rigs can move to operate in other countries’ waters. It would take months or longer to bring them back once they are gone.

Americans are frustrated, and they expect better industry performance. We accept that and are c ommitted to providing energy safely and reliably. But halting offshore development, despite  successful safety reviews of every Gulf rig, without a definite end date, must be evaluated with a realistic view of the energy needed to keep our economy moving, and an understanding of what it would do to Gulf coast states.

Jack N. Gerard is president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute.