For Immediate Release

May 17, 2007

U.S. House Introduces Energy Policy Reforms

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WASHINGTON – In response to strong criticisms of the way oil and gas development is occurring on western lands, the Energy Policy Reform and Revitalization Act (HR 2337) was introduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Nick Rahall, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.

The reforms would largely close loopholes in environmental protection that were enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The proposed legislative reforms would:

•    Remove “Categorical Exclusions” that allowed single oil or gas wells to be drilled without an Environmental Assessment to examine the possible consequences for lands and wildlife;
•    Require a water management plan in order to “protect the quantity and quality of surface and ground water systems, both on-site and off-site, from adverse effects of the exploration, development, and reclamation processes;”
•    Repeal the fast-tracking of oil shale leasing and powerline and pipeline corridor designation;
•    Provide protection to split-estate landowners by requiring energy companies to reach a surface-use agreement with landowners before drilling activities could commence;
•    Prevent the waiver of wildlife stipulations until a public comment process is undertaken;
•    Create positive incentives for industry to employ “Best Management Practices” by putting permits using BMPs on a faster track for approval than permits that do not use them.

The bill also addresses renewable energy sources and the need to minimize the output of carbon from the burning of fossil fuels, the principal factor leading to global warming.

“This is a very important step to reverse some of the anti-conservation policies contained in the original Energy Policy Act,” said Erik Molvar, wildlife biologist with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. “But if we want to maintain viable populations of wildlife and open spaces in Wyoming, we’re going to need even more sweeping reforms of the way oil and gas fields are planned and managed in the West, and these necessary reforms go far beyond the scope of the legislation introduced in the House.”