Dec 12, 2014 IPAA Praises Senate for Extending BLM Energy Permitting Project
Washington, D.C. – The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) welcomed Senate passage of bipartisan legislation to reform and extend a successful pilot program that helps the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) address a backlog of drilling permit applications and reduce permit delays for new oil and natural gas production on federal lands. The legislation — the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 — now heads to the president’s desk for his signature.
“The BLM energy permitting program plays an essential role as independent producers consider future American energy opportunities on federal lands,” said IPAA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Political Affairs Dan Naatz. “Production of oil and natural gas on federal lands benefits the entire nation through more reliable and affordable American energy production, good-paying jobs, greater energy security, and millions of dollars in additional revenue to the United States Treasury. In these uncertain times of price volatility, it’s encouraging for America’s job creators to have regulatory certainty through a streamlined permitting process. Continuing this program will increase new oil and natural gas production on federal lands by reducing permit delays and allow greater flexibility for the federal government to respond to the changing needs of the industry. We applaud the Senate for continuing this successful program and are hopeful the president signs this measure in a timely fashion.”
Reauthorizing the BLM pilot office program has been one of IPAA’s highest priorities in 2014. Below is a list of IPAA-led initiatives regarding the BLM pilot project over the past year:
January:
- Worked with Congressman Rob Bishop’s (R-UT) and various senators offices to formulate ideas on how to best approach program reauthorization
February:
- Praised efforts of joint, bipartisan letter from Rep. Rob Bishop and Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) to the Secretary of the Interior requesting reauthorization of the BLM pilot office program
March:
- Formed a working group with Western Energy Alliance, US Oil & Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, and interested stakeholders to discuss what industry would like to see in a program reauthorization bill
March to June:
- Held educational meetings with Senator Udall and Congressman Bishop’s offices on the importance of introducing legislation
June:
- Senators Udall and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduce the bipartisan BLM Permit Processing Improvement Act of 2014 (S. 2440) with the full support of IPAA
July:
- Joined American Petroleum Institute, US Oil & Gas Association, and Western Energy Alliance in sending a letter to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Mary Landrieu (D-LA) expressing support for S. 2440 and urging consideration
- Submitted testimony for the record in support of S. 2440 for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing on “Breaking the Logjam at BLM: Examining Ways to More Efficiently Process Permits for Energy Production on Federal Lands”
September:
- S. 2440 passes out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent
- Commended the U.S. Senate for acting swiftly and passing S. 2440 by unanimous consent
- Organized numerous meetings, in association with American Petroleum Institute and Western Energy Alliance, with House Leadership, Members, and staff on the House Natural Resources and Appropriations Committees urging passage of S. 2440
November:
- Joined seven energy trade groups on a letter to House Speaker John Boehner urging the House of Representatives to consider S. 2440, the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Act of 2014
December:
- Applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which included language to reauthorize the BLM pilot office program
