Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (November 15, 2016)—Today Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced finalization of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new rule on methane venting and flaring. The rule duplicates state regulations already in place and increases costs on energy production. 

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large) issued the following statement in response:

“The Obama Administration has had eight years to push their agenda, and the American people have refused their vision. This week the House is working to pass a bill to prevent an outgoing administration from issuing midnight rules like this one. In 2008, the Democrat Majority supported this idea when President Obama had been elected and was transitioning in from the previous administration. This methane rule duplicates state regulations already in place, expands bureaucracy, drives up costs and kills jobs in the process. The BLM should be streamlining their permitting process for pipeline construction to improve the collection of this valuable resource and generate as many royalties for the taxpayer as possible rather than trying to stick a cork in production.”

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