Tournament: SNFI Camp Tournament | Round: 1 | Opponent:  | Judge: 

1AC

Plan

The United States federal government should increase its technical and regulatory assistance toward Mexico for hydrocarbon energy resource development.

Advantage 1 Oil Spills

With absent cooperation from the US Mexico is planning the drill in gulf’s deep waters alone – lack of experience dooms its attempts

Johnson, McClatchy Newspapers, Reporter 12
~Tim Johnson, Maria Moors Cabot Prize, Winner 26 Stanford University, Knight Fellow, citing various oil experts, 3-04-12, McClatchy Newspapers, Mexico City, "Mexican plan for Gulf deepwater wells sparks new worries" http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/03/144004/mexican-plan-for-gulf-deepwater.html~~23.UdA9CvmwWuk-http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/03/144004/mexican-plan-for-gulf-deepwater.html, accessed 6-30-13~

If all goes as planned, Petroleos de Mexico, known as Pemex, will deploy two state-of-the-art drilling platforms in May to an area just south of the maritime boundary with the United States. One rig will sink a well in 9,514 feet of water, while another will drill in 8,316 feet of water, then deeper into the substrata.
Pemex has no experience drilling at such depths. Mexico’s oil regulator is sounding alarm bells, saying the huge state oil concern is unprepared for a serious deepwater accident or spill. Critics say the company has sharply cut corners on insurance, remiss over potential sky-high liability.
Mexico’s plans come two years after the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, the worst oil spill in U.S. history. On April 20, 2010, a semi-submersible rig that the British oil firm BP had contracted to drill a well known as Macondo exploded off the Louisiana coast, killing 11 workers and spewing 4.9 million barrels of oil in the nearly three months it took engineers to stop the spill.
BP has said the tab for the spill — including government fines, cleanup costs and compensation — could climb to 2442 billion for the company and its contractors.
Pemex’s plans to sink even deeper offshore wells underscore Mexico’s pressing need to maintain sagging oil production — exports pay for one-third of government operating expenses — along with oil companies’ desire to leverage technology and drill at ever more challenging depths.

Even if Pemex contracts service, it still lacks management expertise that the U.S. can provide.

Johnson, McClatchy Newspapers, Reporter 12
~Tim Johnson, Maria Moors Cabot Prize, Winner 26 Stanford University, Knight Fellow, citing various oil experts, 3-04-12, McClatchy Newspapers, Mexico City, "Mexican plan for Gulf deepwater wells sparks new worries" http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/03/144004/mexican-plan-for-gulf-deepwater.html~~23.UdA9CvmwWuk-http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/03/144004/mexican-plan-for-gulf-deepwater.html, accessed 6-30-13~

Mexico’s nationalist constitution bars Pemex from operating joint ventures with oil companies that already are experienced at very deep water. It can contract only with global oil service companies, ordering them to perform functions.
"This requires managerial expertise that Pemex lacks," said Miriam Grunstein Dickter, an oil expert at the Center for Research and Teaching of Economics, a Mexico City institute in the social sciences. "When you contract a service company, they perform the work that you command them to perform. Here, Pemex does not know how to command the service company."

US and Mexico oil deal results in joint cooperation in respect to the environment

Klapper, Associated Press, 12
(Bradley, A reporter on the State Department for the Associated Press, 2/20/12, The Huffington Post, "U.S, Mexico Agree To Cooperate on Energy,"
U.S., Mexico Agree To Cooperate On Energy," http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/20/us-mexico-agree-to-cooper_n_1288976.html-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/20/us-mexico-agree-to-cooper_n_1288976.html, Accessed: 6/23/13)

¶ — The United States and Mexico agreed Monday to work together when drilling for
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This is an area larger than the state of Delaware," Salazar said.

US cooperation with Mexico via the THA brings new regulations that prevent oil spills.

PennEnergy, Editorial Staff, 13’
(PennEnergy Editorial Staff, PennEnergy, April 18, 2013, "Bill introduced to approve transboundary hydrocarbon agreement with Mexico", http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2013/04/bill-introduced-to-approve-transboundary-hydrocarbon-agreement-w.html, Accessed 6/26/13)

This bill would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and provide the legal
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framework for the safe management of transboundary hydrocarbons along the whole maritime border.
"This bill is another step towards embracing an all-of-the-
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continue dragging its feet on energy development," said Rep. Jeff Duncan.

US and Mexican borders in the Gulf of Mexico key to oil spill prevention

HRC, High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council 12
(HLRCC, 2/28/12, United States-Mexico High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council, "UNITED STATES-MEXICO ¶ HIGH-LEVEL REGULATORY ¶ COOPERATION COUNCIL ¶ WORK PLAN," p. 11-12, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/oira/irc/united-states-mexico-high-level-regulatory-cooperation-council-work-plan.pdf-http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/oira/irc/united-states-mexico-high-level-regulatory-cooperation-council-work-plan.pdf, Accessed 6/30/13)

Mexico and the United States border the Gulf of Mexico. This means that the
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Offshore Recommended Practices that apply to operators working ¶ in the United States.
On February 19, the two countries signed the Agreement Between the United Mexican States
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identify elements of a common ¶ approach for the entire Gulf of Mexico. 

Oil spills kill birds, marine life, coral reefs— throws off food chain.

Mims Albuquerque Academy 11 
~Jim, 4/6/11, "The Effectiveness of Chemical Dispersants for Oil Spill Cleanup", http://www.supercomputingchallenge.org/archive/10-11/finalreports/6.pdf-http://www.supercomputingchallenge.org/archive/10-11/finalreports/6.pdf, p. 5-6, accessed 6/30/13~

The major effects of oil on life and the environment stems from the toxicity of
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infamous coral bleaching, causing¶ whole regions of coral to die off.

Coral reefs key to biodiversity

Mims Albuquerque Academy 11 
~Jim, 4/6/11, "The Effectiveness of Chemical Dispersants for Oil Spill Cleanup", http://www.supercomputingchallenge.org/archive/10-11/finalreports/6.pdf-http://www.supercomputingchallenge.org/archive/10-11/finalreports/6.pdf, p. 8, accessed 6/30/13~

Coral is composed of small animals called polyps. These polyps have a mutualistic symbiotic
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wide-reaching, affecting some of the world’s richest¶ ocean ecosystems.¶
Other potential impacts of bleaching is the loss of coral reefs as a source of food, as coral reefs¶ support many coastal economies. Coral reefs also protect the coastlines from hurricanes, tropical¶ storms, and heavy waves. Additionally, corals are being increasingly used as a source for biomedical¶ chemicals.2

Collapse of marine biodiversity causes extinction- collapse of biological cycles

Craig, Indiana University Professor of Law 3 
~Robin Kundis, Winter 2003, McGeorge Law Review, "Taking Steps Toward Marine Wilderness Protection? Fishing and Coral Reef Marine Reserves in Florida and Hawaii", accessed via LexisNexis 7/1/13~

Biodiversity and ecosystem function arguments for conserving marine ecosystems also exist, just as they
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, human degradation of marine ecosystems impairs the planet’s ability to support life.
Maintaining biodiversity is often critical to maintaining the functions of marine ecosystems. Current evidence shows that, in general, an ecosystem’s ability to keep functioning in the face of disturbance is strongly dependent on its biodiversity, "indicating that more diverse ecosystems are more stable." n859 Coral reef ecosystems are particularly dependent on their biodiversity.~*265~
 Most ecologists agree that the complexity of interactions and degree of interrelatedness among component species is higher on coral reefs than in any other marine environment. This implies that the ecosystem functioning that produces the most highly valued components is also complex and that many otherwise insignificant species have strong effects on sustaining the rest of the reef system. n860
  Thus, maintaining and restoring the biodiversity of marine ecosystems is critical to maintaining and restoring the ecosystem services that they provide. Non-use biodiversity values for marine ecosystems have been calculated in the wake of marine disasters, like the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. n861 Similar calculations could derive preservation values for marine wilderness.
However, economic value, or economic value equivalents, should not be "the
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its territory relatively pristine marine ecosystems that may be unique in the world.
We may not know much about the sea, but we do know this much
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jelly." n864 More importantly, the Black Sea is not necessarily unique.

Relations Advantage

Scenario 1 Economy

We isolate 2 internal links for a better economy

First is domestic development – energy development in the Gulf is key to the economy by creating jobs, lowering energy prices, increasing domestic supply, generating federal revenue, and expanding exploration
Hastings, Chairman on the Natural Resource House Committee, 5/15/13
~Doc, 5-15-13, Committee on Natural Resources, "House Committee Approves Legislation to Approve Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement with Mexico", http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=334042, accessed 6-30-13~

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 15, 2013 - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 1613, the "Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act" with a bipartisan vote of 25-16.  This important legislation would approve and implement the terms of the U.S. - Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement that governs the development of shared oil and natural gas resources along the U.S. – Mexico maritime border in the Gulf of Mexico.
The bill would lift the current moratorium on drilling along the maritime border and provide new access to an area estimated to contain as much as 172 million barrels of oil and 304 billion cubic feet of natural gas.  This will expand energy development, create new American jobs, lower energy prices, generate new revenue, and make America more energy secure.
"Today we took another step towards embracing an all-of-the-
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towards becoming law," said Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03).
"Approval of this legislation by the Committee is important to finalizing this agreement and
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reserves." said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04).
The House Natural Resources Committee recently held an oversight hearing-http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=330029 on H.R. 1613 where the Obama Administration and expert witnesses both voiced their support of the "Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act."

Second is trade cooperation – opening up the Gulf to increased development spurs bi-lateral economic cooperation and stimulates their economies
Simmons, economist at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C., 4/30/13
~Daniel, 4-30-13, Master Resource, "U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement: A Rare Victory for Oil and Gas in the Obama Era", http://www.masterresource.org/2013/04/u-s-mexico-transboundary-hydrocarbons-agreement/, accessed 6-30-1~

The energy and economic welfare of the United States and Mexico are intertwined by our shared geography, geology, and peoples. The Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement will help to tie our countries together and grow our economies."
- Daniel Simmons, Testimony-http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2013/04/24/testimony-of-daniel-simmons-subcommittee-on-energy-and-mineral-resources/ before House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, "U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement and Steps Needed for Implementation-http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=330029," April 25, 2013.
Mexico is America’s third largest trading partner-http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/toppartners.html and has been one of the largest-http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbblpd_a.htm sources of oil exports to the United States. Mexico is the largest recipient-http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_expc_a_epm0f_eex_mbbl_a.htm of U.S. gasoline exports and the second largest recipient-http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_move_expc_s1_a.htm; Energy Information Administration, U.S. Natural Gas Imports by Country, http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_move_impc_s1_a.htm of our natural gas exports.
The energy trade between the United States and Mexico is growing, especially for America’s finished petroleum and natural gas exports. Mexico’s heavy oil production is falling, but that means more spare refining capacity on the Gulf Coast if Canadian oil sands can be transported to the Gulf Coast.
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most prolific hydrocarbon-producing areas for both the United States and Mexico. Oil production, especially in deepwater on the U.S. side of the border, has moved closer to the U.S.-Mexico maritime border in recent years. Until last year, however, there was no agreement on how to divide resources between the United States and Mexico for resources that straddle the border.
The Agreement A Fact Sheet-http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/02/184235.htm released by the U.S. Department of State on February 20th announced and described the Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreement.
The United States and Mexico today signed an agreement concerning the development of oil and
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exploitation of transboundary reservoirs with the highest degree of safety and environmental standards.
Elements of the Agreement

US and Mexico’s economies are interdependent
WC, Wilson Center 9 ~January 2009 "THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO: Towards a Strategic Partnership" http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/The20U.S.20and20Mexico.20Towards20a20Strategic20Partnership.pdf-http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/The U.S. and Mexico. Towards a Strategic Partnership.pdf p. 3 6/30/13~

Mexico also remains vital for the U.S. economy, although the current
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emphasis on improving the well-being of average citizens in both countries.

Economic decline impacts extinction- studies prove
Royal, Director Cooperative Threat Reduction DOD, 2010
(Jedediah, Director Cooperative Threat Reduction DOD, 2010,"Economic Integration, Economic Signaling and the Problem of Economic Crises" in ’Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives’ ed. Goldsmith and Brauer, p. 213-215, Accessed: 6/30/13)

Less intuitive is how periods of economic decline may increase the likelihood of external conflict
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not featured prominently in the economic-security debate and deserves more attention.

Scenario 2 Hegemony

US/Mexico relations low

Barnes, ’11  (Joe, Bonner Means Baker Fellow at James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, "Oil and U.S.-Mexico Bilateral Relations", http://www.bakerinstitute.org/publications/EF-pub-BarnesBilateral-04292011.pdf-http://www.bakerinstitute.org/publications/EF-pub-BarnesBilateral-04292011.pdf, p.10-15, YYu)

The U.S.-Mexico relationship has traditionally ranked rather low as a U
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-related violence in Mexico. Where does petroleum fit in this picture?

Mexican cooperation is key to US hegemony
Valenzuela, Georgetown Center for Latin American Studies Director, et. al 12 ~Arturo, Otto Reich, president of Otto Reich Associates LLC and former U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Donna Hrinak, member of the Inter-American Dialogue’s board and president of Boeing Brazil, and John Maisto, member of the Advisor board and director of U.S. Education Finance Group, December 17, 2012 "Is the United States Losing Influence in Latin America?" http://www.thedialogue.org/page.cfm?pageID=3226pubID=3179-http://www.thedialogue.org/page.cfm?pageID=3226pubID=3179 6/30/13 EYS~

Q: The trope that the United States is losing influence in the region is
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to government, how do private sector and civil society initiatives factor in?
A: Arturo Valenzuela, founding director of the Center for Latin American Studies at
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private sector is neglecting a continent vital to U.S. interests."    
A: Otto Reich, president of Otto Reich Associates LLC and former U.
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If we really have influence in the region, why not use it?."
A: Donna Hrinak, member of the Inter-American Dialogue’s board and president
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up to assume their roles, in terms of both rights and responsibilities."
A: John F. Maisto, member of the Advisor board and director of
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It is re-boot time, particularly with progress in Central America."

US-Mexico relations increase both countries’ leadership
Mares, USCD political science professor and Cánovas, El Colegio de Mexico international studies professor, 10 ~David R., Gustavo Vega, 01-01-2010, "The U.S.-Mexico Relationship: Towards a New Era?", http://usmex.ucsd.edu/assets/024/11635.pdf-http://usmex.ucsd.edu/assets/024/11635.pdf p. 6-7 6/30/13 EYS~

Globalization is an economic process that seeks to determine the allocation of land, capital
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itself must want to and adopt the appropriate responses to promote that development.

Hegemony prevents extinction
Barnett 11 (Thomas P.M., Former Senior Strategic Researcher and Professor in the Warfare Analysis 26 Research Department, Center for Naval Warfare Studies, U.S. Naval War College American military geostrategist and Chief Analyst at Wikistrat., worked as the Assistant for Strategic Futures in the Office of Force Transformation in the Department of Defense, "The New Rules: Leadership Fatigue Puts U.S., and Globalization, at Crossroads," March 7 http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/8099/the-new-rules-leadership-fatigue-puts-u-s-and-globalization-at-crossroads-http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/8099/the-new-rules-leadership-fatigue-puts-u-s-and-globalization-at-crossroads)
Events in Libya are a further reminder for Americans that we stand at a crossroads
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the 20th century, setting the stage for the Pacific Century now unfolding.

Tournament: ASU | Round: 3 | Opponent: Vashon SZ | Judge:
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