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Committee Action

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources to Explore Benefits and Current Status of Categorical Exclusions in Energy Production on Federal Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 1, 2011 | Jill Strait, Spencer Pederson or Crystal Feldman (202-225-2761)
On Friday, September 9th, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold an oversight hearing on "Impacts to Onshore Jobs, Revenue, and Energy: Review and Status of Sec. 390 Categorical Exclusions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005."

Categorical exclusions are a common sense way to improve the government process of approving energy production, while at the same time ensuring protection of the environment. Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 05), Congress directed BLM to use categorical exclusions under Section 390 to expedite energy supplies by limiting redundant analysis and unnecessary red tape. Categorical exclusions can only be used under limited circumstances and are designed to encourage the development of energy on land where the environmental impact is minor, the fields have already been developed, or where drilling was already analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Soon after taking office, the Obama Administration imposed new rules to greatly slow down the use of categorical exclusions for energy production on federal lands. Eliminating categorical exclusions causes significant delays in oil and natural gas production that costs money, time and jobs. In August 2011, the Administration’s baseless new rule, which flew directly in the face of the categorical exclusions provision in EPAct 05, was overruled by a U.S. district judge.

This hearing will explore the job creation, revenue and energy production potential of categorical exclusions and the damage done by the Obama Administration’s arbitrary rule change.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Oversight Hearing on: "Impacts to Onshore Jobs, Revenue, and Energy: Review and Status of Sec. 390 Categorical Exclusions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005."

Witnesses to be announced.
WHERE: 1324 Hearing Room, Longworth House Office Building

WHEN: Friday, September 9, 2011

10:00 A.M.

Visit the Committee Hearings webpage for testimony and additional information, once it is made available. The hearing is open to the public and a live video stream will be broadcast at /live.

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