Press Releases

Today, Chairman Paul A. Gosar released the following statement after Western Caucus spearheaded an Amicus Brief in support of President Trump's 2018 Venting and Flaring Rule:

"For too long President Obama weaponized federal agencies against American energy producers under the guise of environmental stewardship. The 2016 venting and flaring rule was among the most egregious acts of federal overreach. Thankfully, President Trump has revised this rule to provide certainty to energy producers, create jobs, and keep energy costs low for all Americans."

Background:

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) 2016 Waste Production, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule – colloquially known as the Venting and Flaring rule or the BLM Methane Rule – represents one of the Obama Administration’s most egregious abuses of executive power, exceeding BLM’s congressionally authorized authority in order to destroy responsible energy production on federal lands. The 2016 Rule impermissibly regulated air quality under the guise of the Mineral Leasing Act. The rule prohibited venting of natural gas, except under certain specified conditions, such as in an emergency or when flaring is technically infeasible. Methane emissions from oil and natural gas have significantly declined in recent decades without duplicative federal regulations and at a time when oil and gas production in the U.S. has surged. The 2016 Rule would have restrained economic growth, added regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, and prevented job creation. Economic studies found the Obama regulation would have only added about $4 million per year in royalties to the federal government while costing industry and the economy over a $1 billion per year.

In the 115th Congress, the House successfully passed H.J. Res. 36 by a recorded vote of 221-191. This legislation introduced by Western Caucus Chairman Emeritus Rob Bishop would have repealed the 2016 rule using the Congressional Review Act.

Signers of the Amicus Brief include: Ralph Abraham, Kelly Armstrong, John Barrasso, Andy Biggs, Rob Bishop, Kevin Brady, Liz Cheney, Mike Conaway, Kevin Cramer, Steve Daines, Jeff Duncan, Mike Enzi, Bill Flores, Greg Gianforte, Louie Gohmert, Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Jody Hice, John Hoeven, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson, Clay Higgins, James Inhofe, Doug LaMalfa, Doug Lamborn, Debbie Lesko, Tom McClintock, Dan Newhouse, Ralph Norman, James Risch, Steve Scalise, Pete Stauber, Chris Stewart, Glenn 'GT' Thompson, Scott Tipton, Bruce Westerman, Don Young.

You can read the Amicus Brief and supporting documents HERE.

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