SUPPORT OIL AND GAS REFORMS ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS

The House Natural Resources Committee is now considering H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act which addresses a wide range of energy issues including safety provisions for offshore and onshore oil and gas development.

The Gulf disaster is a tragic reminder of the risks of oil and gas development when adequate protections are not in put place to prevent accidents.   While the nation's attention has been focused on the perils of offshore drilling, onshore oil and gas development accounts for nearly 65 percent of our yearly domestic oil production and about 88 percent of our yearly natural gas production. [1]  Thousands of spills from onshore drilling operations have released millions of gallons of oil and gas related fluids.[2]

The CLEAR Act includes several common sense reforms that ensure drilling on our public lands is done safely.  Key elements to onshore reforms include:

Safe drilling required (Mandatory Best Management Practices)

Whether drilling offshore or on, the oil and gas industry cannot be trusted to police itself.  The mandatory Best Management Practices provision calls for the use of safety and environmental standards on our public lands that are required, not voluntary.

Shortcuts eliminated (Eliminate Categorical Exclusions)

As news reports have shown, many of the permits that allowed drilling in the Gulf were approved using shortcuts called Categorical Exclusions.  The CLEAR Act must include the elimination of Categorical Exclusions onshore as well as off and instead require adequate safety and environmental review. (Sec. 241)

Protections for taxpayers (competitive bidding, reclamation bonding, fines for breaking rules)

Oil and gas companies get the rewards of drilling on America's public lands, taxpayers should not have to shoulder the risk.  The CLEAR Act calls for a series of provisions that ensure oil and gas drilling companies pay their fair share for the right to drill on public lands.  These provisions include requiring competitive bidding for leases; financial guarantees that clean up will be done or paid for by the companies – not the taxpayers; and higher fines for companies that break the rules.  (Title II, subtitle B, Title III)

Protections for critical wildlife habitat (wildlife sustainability)

With many iconic wildlife populations in decline, it's time to give our land managers science-based tools to ensure our elk, mule deer and sage grouse populations are healthy.  (Section 228)

Disclosure of chemicals used in drilling

The oil and gas industry tells us the chemicals they use to drill are safe but refuse to tell the public what chemicals they are using.  The CLEAR act calls for public disclosure of those chemicals, giving landowners the information they need to test their drinking water for contamination and protect their families.  (Section 229)

Congress has an opportunity to change the course of energy production in America and make smarter choices for the future.  By eliminating the shortcuts of the past and ensuring that protections for water, land, wildlife and public health are mandatory – not just voluntary – we can work toward a cleaner, safer future.  

Please call your Representative and urge his support for strong onshore oil and gas reforms in the CLEAR Act.

[1] Data is from the Energy Information Administration's Web site. The most recent oil production figures are available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_crpdn_adc_mbbl_m.htm The most recent natural gas production numbers can be accessed at are available at http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/ng_prod_sum_a_EPG0_FGW_mmcf_a.htm

[2] Since 2008 there have been at least 2,470 oil and gas spills on public, state and private lands in Colorado, Texas and Utah releasing about 12.2 million gallons of oil and gas-related fluids, including oil and waste water, according to an analysis of state agencies.