Bipartisan Legislation Opening Up Federal Lands And Offshore Areas To Energy Development Moves Through Congress
Join us and tell your reps how you feel!
What’s the story?
The SECURE (Strengthening the Economy with Critical Untapped Resources to Expand) American Energy Act was greenlighted by the House Committee on Natural Resources Wednesday. The goal of the Act is to streamline regulatory frameworks in order to open up federal lands as well as federal territory in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to oil, gas and wind development.
The bill was introduced by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and has 11 co-sponsors, including two Democrats.
Why does it matter?
The federal government owns approximately 640 million acres of land, about 28 percent of the United States, according to the Congressional Research Service. The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) comprises four "lease regions" — Gulf of Mexico OCS, Atlantic OCS, Pacific OCS and Alaska OCS, and includes thousands of nautical miles. All of this land would be made available for energy development.
The SECURE American Energy Act, according to a summary provided by the House Natural Resources Committee, would open up the entirety of the OCS to energy development. Currently 94 percent of the OCS is restricted for those uses. The Committee projects development of these resources would create 840,000 jobs and generate $200 billion in revenues.
6.25 percent of those revenues would be dedicated to the, "Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Transportation for projects within the National Park System and energy infrastructure projects in coastal ports."
Environmentalists have serious concerns, however, because the Act would also amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which protects the ecosystems of marine wildlife in order to maintain an optimum sustainable population for the good of the coastal economy and the environment.
The Act would also prohibit the enforcement of the Obama administration’s Arctic Rule by the Department of the Interior. Using an "obscure provision" of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Barack Obama declared a permanent ban on offshore drilling in much of the Atlantic, from Virginia to Maine, and along much of Alaska’s coast in the last days of his presidency.
The onshore focus of the bill, according to the Committee, is to simplify the regulatory process in order to "make federal lands a competitive and attractive place to develop energy resources." The Act would allow states with established regulatory programs to manage and gain larger benefit from oil and gas development within their borders.
In exchange for revenue being dedicated to supporting infrastructure projects and funding public services, including community colleges and healthcare, the Bureau of Land Management would be prevented from "intruding" on energy development on state and private lands via “unnecessary permits and additional federal environmental reviews.”
The federal government would also be prohibited from enforcing federal regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing on federal lands in states with "corresponding rules" in place.
Countable will continue to keep you abreast of changes to the bill as it makes its way to the House floor and, potentially, the Senate and its committees.
What do you think?
Do you support opening up federal lands on and offshore to increased energy development? Do you think this will spur needed economic growth and enhance our energy independence? Do you fear it will wreak havoc on the environment for short term monetary gain? Is oil and gas development a dead end for the good of future generations, or is there some middle ground where public land can be used responsibly for the public good?
Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!
— Asha Sanaker
(Photo Credit: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement via Flickr / Creative Commons)
RELATED READING:
SECURE American Energy Act Passed by House Committee — Maritime Executive
IPAA Welcomes House Bipartisan SECURE American Energy Act — Independent Petroleum Association of America
Position on H.R. 4239, SECURE American Energy Act — National Parks Conservation Association
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