Administration’s policy would kill jobs and energy development
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) today introduced the American Energy and Western Jobs Act that would overturn new oil and gas procedures introduced by the Department of the Interior (DOI) on Monday. The bill would eliminate the bureaucratic red tape and increased delays that will result from the new procedures.
“Our country cannot afford the Administration’s new red-tape regulations for onshore oil and gas development,” said Barrasso. “These regulations will do nothing to reduce litigation and will do everything to hamstring energy jobs and energy security. Our bill will ensure that the Administration takes into account the full economic impact of their reforms on state and local economies.”
“Today we are raising a red flag that this administration is blindly driving our nation’s federal onshore oil and natural gas program into a ditch,” said Bennett. “Make no mistake – the endless and redundant new red tape required under this policy is not designed to improve the production of our energy in an environmentally safe manner. It is designed to stop new energy production before it can occur. We’ve all seen this play run before. It is the same ‘analysis paralysis’ trick from the same old playbook.”
The bill requires DOI to conduct an economic impact assessment for any proposed changes to onshore oil and natural gas leasing and development policies before they are implemented. The assessment must include certification that the policy changes will not result in the loss of jobs, increase dependence on foreign oil and gas, or decrease revenues for federal and state governments.
The legislation also requires public notice and comment on the proposed changes, an opportunity not provided to the public despite promises of transparency in the development of the recently released policy.
As members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Barrasso and Bennett have repeatedly questioned DOI regarding its direction on oil and natural gas policy and the impact it has had on western states. They joined in sending a letter to DOI last month indicating their concern that DOI is enacting significant new policy procedures without engaging the public and without analyzing the impacts. The letter also forewarned the administration that the two senators would be introducing legislation to block the department from implementing the policies until they consider the public’s views, and their impacts.
Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are cosponsors of the legislation.