Pearce Calls on NM Delegation to Support Increasing Access to America's Energy

Letter

Pearce Calls on NM Delegation to Support Increasing Access to America's Energy

Today, Congressman Steve Pearce sent a letter to the New Mexico House delegation asking them to join him in calling for the President to remove the bureaucratic roadblocks companies face when developing America's energy resources. Pearce, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, specifically targets sites in Utah where the President could order the Bureau of Land Management to issue the final Records of Decision that pose a bureaucratic hurdle to beginning production.

"Your rhetoric over the last couple of months suggests that we have reached a consensus regarding drilling domestically for energy. I believe the best approach is to start by relieving the regulatory roadblocks companies face on a case by case basis. I suggest starting with the permanent delays and lawsuits preventing drilling in Utah," Pearce wrote to Reps. Tom Udall and Heather Wilson.

"Please join us in sending a letter to the President asking that he open drilling in Utah by issuing the final Records of Decision on this state's Resource Management Plans (RMPs) - Vernal, Price, Moab, Richfield, and Monticello - which authorize oil and gas activities in Utah. These plans were to have been underway for over 7 years. In our letter we will ask the President to order the Bureau of Land Management to issue the RMPs by August 31, 2008."

"Removing bureaucratic roadblocks to these 955,000 idle acres will ensure that development starts immediately. This would enable the oil and gas industry to effectively tap into over 5.2 Tcf of natural gas and 334 million barrels of oil. This energy would heat 72.9 million homes and power 24.5 million cars."

He added: "Clearing the regulatory roadblocks in Utah is one simple step to lower the price of energy for the American people. It is only by acting in a bipartisan manner that we can move our nation out of this national energy crisis."

Below is the full letter to the President:

The Honorable George W. Bush
President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Congress has reached a consensus on opening idle lands to energy exploration and production. As we look en mass at these idle acres, we begin to see a pattern emerge. We believe companies producing on acres that remain idle are facing factors beyond their control. In many cases, Congress and the bureaucracy create roadblocks that shut down companies' access to the lands.

We ask that you look at each case individually and on a case by case basis for the purpose of systematically removing the regulatory roadblocks these companies' face on idle acres. We believe you should begin with one simple case in Utah. For seven years, Utah has waited for the final Records of Decision (RODs) on their state's Resource Management Plans (RMPs) at Vernal, Price, Moab, Richfield, and Monticello that authorize oil and gas activities in Utah.

We believe you should issue an Executive Order to require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to issue the RMPs by August 31, 2008. Additionally, we ask that you order BLM to ensure the RODs authorize the Preferred Alternatives in each RMP without the adoption of new Wilderness Characteristics Areas (WCAs). Removing bureaucratic roadblocks to these 955,000 idle acres will ensure that development starts immediately. This would enable the oil and gas industry to effectively tap into over 5.2 Tcf of natural gas and 334 million barrels of oil. This energy would heat 72.9 million homes and power 24.5 million cars.

Clearing the regulatory roadblocks in Utah is one simple step to lower the price of energy for the American people. It is only by acting in a bipartisan manner that we can move our nation out of this national energy crisis. Additionally, we stand ready to assist you in bringing legislation before the House of Representatives that will eliminate the roadblocks to energy development in America.

Sincerely,

Stevan Pearce Rob Bishop
Member of Congress Member of Congress

Chris Cannon
Member of Congress

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