For almost a year, all deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has been suspended. With the new Marine Well Containment System in place, the moratorium on drilling is entirely unjustified.

Small businesses like mine are struggling mightily since BP won’t payout to anyone suffering economic losses related to the drilling ban and federal regulators won’t let us get back to work. This new system represents an opportunity to reverse this harmful and unnecessary policy caused by one company’s bad behavior.

The Marine Well Containment System uses the latest technology to guarantee that another disaster doesn’t happen again. It is the most effective and state-of-the-art spill containment system ever produced: It was created for use in deepwater depths of up to 10,000 feet, and it contains a subsea containment assembly that can create a permanent seal to prevent oil from ever entering the ocean.

Perhaps most impressively, this technologically advanced system was designed, developed, and constructed by a U.S.-led group of energy companies working in conjunction with the federal government. This continued cooperation between the oil and gas industry and the federal government is crucial if we are to safely and effectively develop our much-needed energy resources. I don’t need to explain to my fellow Louisianians how vital this industry is to our area and how much a continued moratorium on drilling threatens our economy.

Ongoing delays are unreasonable and unwarranted. It’s time to rescue the Gulfs economy, start issuing permits, and get people working again.