Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (May 17, 2013) – Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce and Cynthia Lummis released the following statements in response to the new proposed regulations of hydraulic fracturing on federal and tribal lands announced yesterday by the Department of the Interior:

“Yet again, the Administration is attempting to add further regulations to a system that is working as is,” said Congressman Steve Pearce. “BLM’s proposed rule on hydraulic fracturing will add new and unnecessary layers of burdensome and excessive regulations to an industry that states have been successfully managing for over sixty years. Robert Abbey, former director of the Bureau of Land Management, said the bureau had no evidence that fracking has ‘adversely affected groundwater’ under state control. There is absolutely no reason for these new regulations, and complying with BLM’s proposed rule will be yet another roadblock for our nation’s energy producers. At a time when the federal government is furloughing workers because they can’t afford to pay them, why are they trying to implement costly rules that will only hinder business? The Administration should focus their efforts on encouraging responsible energy development rather than forcing ‘one-size-fits-all’ regulations on job creators.”

“The Administration’s rules are a solution in search of a problem,” Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis said.“On the very same day they release this rule claiming its necessity, a Department of the Interior representative could not name, when asked under oath, a single state that was doing a poor job of regulating hydraulic fracturing.  In fact, the opposite is true, states are doing an exemplary job.  The Administration comes right out and says that Wyoming is doing excellent work, and I appreciate them finally recognizing that truth.  But then they turn around and require the State to defend its regulations again on perhaps a well by well basis.  How is that efficient?  How is that even logical? The draft rule appears to be yet another attempt by the federal government to unnecessarily expand its reach.”