WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 6088, the Streamlining Permitting Efficiencies in Energy Development (SPEED) Act, Congressman John Curtis’ bill that would simplify the process of responsibly permitting some of the least controversial drilling operations on federal lands.

WATCH CONGRESSMAN CURTIS ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE

Congressman John Curtis added the following after the committee passed his bill. “Utah is one of the best states in the country for job growth and this bill will help ensure that our rural communities are growing too by speeding up the burdensome approval process for responsible energy projects. I’m delighted to see this legislation move forward. It’s a victory for Utah and true energy independence.”

The SPEED Act helps spur energy development and economic impact by:
– Creating an alternative to the Application of Permit to Drill that is now referred to as a Notifications for Permit to Drill.
– Allowing operators to utilize this new process in the least controversial areas, including locations where an environmental review has already been concluded or predeveloped fields. It also allows expedited approval if an environmental review concludes the action would have no significant effects on the environment, species, historic sites, or historic resources.
– Streamlines the approval some of the least-controversial drilling operations to spur economic growth and create good paying jobs in our rural communities.

This bill was introduced with the support of 7 members of Congress, including Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman Paul A. Gosar (AZ-04), Congressman Bruce Westerman (AK-04), Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), and Congressman Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT
Congressman Rob Bishop, Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources
Increasing our country’s energy production will increase our prosperity and freedom. Moving the United States toward energy independence begins with streamlining the cumbersome permitting process for energy extraction. States are eager to tap into their vast natural resources, and outdated and overly restrictive environmental policies shouldn’t stand in the way. This bill would reduce the permitting backlog and give our states a clear path to increasing energy output.

Congressman Paul Gosar, Chairman of the Western Caucus
The United States has some of the longest average mining project permitting times of any developed nation. On balance, these delays are the result of bureaucratic crawl rather than any special environmental or safety advantage conferred by our extra-long permitting process. This situation puts our industries at a significant disadvantage with respect to any mineral-reliant domestic economic activity. It also places a sizeable burden on our public infrastructure and national security apparatuses, both of which require ready and sustained access to minerals rare and common. As a consequence, the U.S. is net-import-reliant on a significant quantity of minerals – many of which are critical to national security itself – and is often beholden to supply chains that are vulnerable to or dependent on adversarial foreign powers. Congressman Curtis recognizes these problems and has responded proactively with his legislation to speed the permitting of uncontroversial drilling operations taking place on federal lands. I look forward to working with him closely to get this important bill passed.

Congressman Bruce Westerman
Conducting business with the government has become unnecessarily cumbersome as the federal bureaucracy has continued to grow unchecked. That is why we must cut red tape and streamline our government procedures when judicious to the tax payer. The SPEED Act does that by eliminating the need for a secondary NEPA review for drilling permits on federal lands near locations where a NEPA review has already been performed and approved by the Secretary of the Interior. This bill expedites the permitting process while continuing to protect the environment, a true win-win.

Erik Milito, Group Director Upstream & Industry Operation, American Petroleum Institute [LETTER]
API supports legislation that removes unnecessary obstacles to safe and responsible energy development and by doing so, promotes U.S. job growth, increases domestic oil and natural gas production, generates revenues for federal, state and tribal governments, and strengthens our national security. These bills do just that.

Barry Russell, President & CEO, Independent Petroleum Association of America [LETTER]
The suite of bills scheduled to be marked up on June 20 before the full Committee will provide much-needed certainty and assurances for our member companies and those who safely operate on public lands. In recent years, it has become difficult for IPAA member companies to remain in business and continue operating on public lands as the federal regulatory process has become exceedingly cumbersome and costly. The use of categorical exclusions and authorizing notifications of permits to drill will remove federal bureaucratic barriers and provide increased certainty to IPAA member companies seeking to responsibly operate on public lands.

Elizabeth Craddock, Vice President of Government and Industry, International Association of Drilling Contractors [LETTER]
The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) supports energy laws and regulations that responsible enable the exploration and production of oil and natural gas on Federal lands. We know that protecting the environment and promoting oil and natural gas development are not mutually exclusives goals. Unfortunately, despite soaring production levels in the U.S., production on Federal lands continues to lag behind production on state and private lands. As a result, the Federal government is losing out on millions of dollars in royalties, bonus bids and lease rental payments that are instead being invested on state and private lands.

David Holt, President, Consumer Energy Alliance [LETTER]
For far too long, energy development on federal lands has lagged well behind development on lands controlled by the states or private owners. Responsible development of these resources will benefit families and small businesses throughout our country while protecting our environment and creating jobs.

Kathleen Sgamma, President, Western Energy Alliance [LETTER]
Companies operating on federal lands need regulatory and permitting certainty in order to commit significant capital. While state agencies typically issue drilling permits in about 30 days, it takes more than 260 days on average for a federal permit which is essentially the same. Provisions in the legislation enable drilling to move forward once companies provide all required documentation and accept best practices. Rather than waiting for BLM to process the same paperwork over and over again, the bill would ensure that wells meeting the highest environmental standards and best operating practices can move forward efficiently.

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