U.S., Mexico agree to cooperate on hydrocarbon activities in Gulf of Mexico

To improve cooperation on environmental matters stemming from offshore hydrocarbon activities in the Gulf of Mexico, officials from the United States and Mexico recently signed a letter of intent on coordination and information sharing.

U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper and Mexico Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment (ASEA) Executive Director Carlos de Regules signed the letter, which includes measures that include cooperating on shared environmental goals, applying science to environmental protection and periodic information exchanges.

“The signing of this agreement is an important step in an increased level of environmental coordination and cooperation between our agencies on offshore oil and gas issues,” Hopper said. “It is critical that we work together to ensure the highest levels of environmental protection on both sides of the U.S.- Mexico border, treating our shared Gulf of Mexico as one ecosystem.”

The agreement furthers the two countries’ history of cooperation on natural resources development and management of environmental issues and the hydrocarbons sector.

“Formal cooperation between ASEA and BOEM is an important step towards creating a familiar regulatory framework in the Gulf of Mexico, which is essential to the successful implementation of Mexico’s Energy Reform,” de Regules said.