Administration Continues to Drag Its Feet on U.S. Energy and Job Creation
January 13, 2010
Press Release
Following Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar's announcement today on the Obama Administration's new oil shale policy, Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and ranking member of the Natural Resources subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, stated his disappointment and concern for what he calls, "Secretary Salazar's mastery of political packaging."
"On the heels of his announcement to block access to vital oil and gas leases in Utah and defer exploration off our nation's coasts, today we learn that Secretary Salazar is keeping up his mastery of political packaging by introducing additional roadblocks to our nation's abundant oil shale resources under the guise of "new opportunities," said Congressman Bishop.
According to the release sent today by the DOI, new oil shale RD&D leases under the new regulations appear they will be subject to a higher standard regarding water usage and surface disturbance than other sources of energy development on public lands. The new requirements make way for a more cumbersome process without increasing the likelihood of a better output.
"There is no doubt in my mind that these new rules will further delay the development of America's vast oil shale reserves. The DOI can wrap a bow around it and call it whatever they want, but the bottom line is that Secretary Salazar's announcement today clearly reflects this administration's lack of commitment to achieve long-term domestic energy independence," Bishop concluded.
"On the heels of his announcement to block access to vital oil and gas leases in Utah and defer exploration off our nation's coasts, today we learn that Secretary Salazar is keeping up his mastery of political packaging by introducing additional roadblocks to our nation's abundant oil shale resources under the guise of "new opportunities," said Congressman Bishop.
According to the release sent today by the DOI, new oil shale RD&D leases under the new regulations appear they will be subject to a higher standard regarding water usage and surface disturbance than other sources of energy development on public lands. The new requirements make way for a more cumbersome process without increasing the likelihood of a better output.
"There is no doubt in my mind that these new rules will further delay the development of America's vast oil shale reserves. The DOI can wrap a bow around it and call it whatever they want, but the bottom line is that Secretary Salazar's announcement today clearly reflects this administration's lack of commitment to achieve long-term domestic energy independence," Bishop concluded.
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