5-11-12

Once again, the most important energy headlines of the day come from the office of Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings (NGP Photo):

• On Wednesday, the Committee held an oversight hearing on "President Obama’s Offshore Drilling Plan and Impacts on Our Future." Every five years, the federal government releases a plan directing the development of our offshore resources. Due to the Obama Administration’s roadblocks and delays, on July 1^st, the United States will have no plan to develop our offshore energy resources. By law, the Administration’s plan must be submitted to Congress for a 60-day review. In order to have a new plan in place when the current plan expires on June 30^th, the plan would had to have been submitted to Congress by May 1^st. The Obama Administration let that deadline come and go without any action. This will be the first time the U.S. will not have a plan in place since it became a requirement in the 1970s.  "American offshore energy production plays a vital role in our country’s economic security. It supports over a million American jobs, accounts for 30 percent of our Nation’s oil production, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and generates billions of dollars in federal revenue," said Chairman Hastings at the hearing. "Now is the time to make these important decisions and set the stage for an energy renaissance in the United States."
• This week, the House of Representatives passed, with bipartisan support, an amendment offered by Rep. Flores to the Fiscal Year 2013 Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would halt funding for the implementation of Executive Order 13547, President Obama’s ocean zoning and National Ocean Policy. "The National Ocean Policy creates a new layer of federal bureaucracy that has the potential to make major changes to the way inland, ocean and coastal activities are managed," said Chairman Hastings. "Without knowing the potential jobs and economic ramifications of the Policy, nor the amount of time, money and resources it will cost to implement, it is imperative that we halt funding so that these questions can be answered and proper Congressional oversight can be conducted." 

• In Case You Missed It   Rep. Hastings raises ‘serious questions’ about inspector general’s probe of drilling moratorium report The Times-Picayune   Gulf oil spill moratorium inquiries rebuffed, investigator says The Times-Picayune   Drilling plan will miss deadline for congressional review Gannett News   Tribal leader opposes proposed fracking rule Associated Press   Rising gas prices crippling small businesses on a variety of levels Washington Post   House votes to strip funding from Obama’s ocean zoning policy Human Events

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