Back to Work Coalition is a group of twelve offshore oil and gas industry stakeholders and trade associations that have banded together to oppose the federal and regulatory policies placed on the industry following the Deepwater Horizon oil well explosion of April 2010 . After the explosion , the Obama administration imposed a federal moratorium on deepwater drilling that lasted through mid-October 2010 . The Back to Work Coalition was created in December 2010 to combat what the members believe is a " de facto " moratorium caused by the federal government 's hesitance in issuing drilling permits on the gulf 's Outer Continental Shelf ( OCS ) . The coalition was founded by Louisiana Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ) Secretary Scott Angelle . The coalition is facilitated by the Gulf Economic Survival Team ( GEST ) , a nonprofit organization created to restore Louisiana 's economy following the moratorium
Deepwater Horizon oil well explosion
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Back to Work Coalition