Natural Resources Committee Blog Entries

Video Blog: Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Coffman

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

House Natural Resources Committee Republicans are committed to putting Americans back to work by enacting policies that embrace America’s abundant natural resources to help create jobs and grow our economy.

Meet Committee Member Mike Coffman from Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District. American oil and natural gas production in Colorado directly employs 50,000 people and supports over 190,000 jobs in the state. It is responsible for roughly 6% of total employment in Colorado. Watch Rep. Coffman explain the recent efforts he has taken to expand American energy production, create jobs and produce a positive effect on his district and the economy:

Learn more about Rep. Mike Coffman by visiting his website and following him on Facebook and Twitter.

Find out what the Natural Resources Committee is doing to increase America’s economic competitiveness and create new American jobs by watching other videos in our Jobs Watch series here.

Gov. Sean Parnell: What's the Hold-Up on Alaskan Oil?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline near Valdez, Alaska

Finally, some welcome news from Washington: With a bipartisan voice, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 7, the American Energy Infrastructure & Jobs Act.

This bill ties energy production to key projects that would generate well-paying jobs sorely needed for our economy and our energy security. It also enables us in Alaska to pursue production on a small section of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR).

This legislation opens 400,000 acres of the ANWR coastal plain's 1.5 million acres—land specifically set aside (by a 1980 federal law) for oil and natural-gas development. The 400,000 acres represents less than 3% of ANWR's 19 million total acres.

So what have we been waiting for?

Twenty-five years ago, the U.S. Department of the Interior recommended that Congress open up this area for oil and gas development. Yet year after year, Washington has blocked Alaska from delivering America's oil to Americans, even as the Energy Department calculates that for every barrel produced from ANWR, one less barrel of imports would be needed.

The federal government must drop these roadblocks. This should not be controversial: The vast majority of Alaskans favor the oil and gas development of this small portion of ANWR. Nor does this have to be a partisan issue: Three Democrats joined 26 Republicans in the 29-13 vote.

The essence of this long-standing argument is this: Greater oil and gas production means jobs and economic growth, which develop the stable communities that underpin a strong nation. Somehow this reasoning continues to fall flat.

Just last month, President Obama said in his State of the Union address that he had directed his administration to "open more than 75% of our potential offshore oil and gas resources." He should have said "redirected," for this simply repackaged his current position on the Outer Continental Shelf, which slowed Arctic development and did nothing to advance ANWR's potential.

ANWR oil—more than 10 billion barrels of it—is accessible. It's extractable. Yet we wait. Ignoring promising domestic production means willingly accepting a steady diet of foreign oil. That's exactly what's happening.

At peak production, ANWR could supply the U.S. with up to 1.45 million barrels of oil per day. Over 10 years, it could produce a sustained rate of one million barrels per day.

We have a world-class pipeline ready to assist with delivery. We currently ship slightly more than 600,000 barrels of oil a day through the Trans Alaska Pipeline, but that figure once stood at two million per day.

With oil from ANWR in the Trans Alaska Pipeline, oil producers could develop nearby fields that otherwise might not be economically feasible.

We have a chance to make this happen under a measure cowritten by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R., Wash.) and Rep. Don Young (R., Alaska) within the American Energy Infrastructure & Jobs Act. It's the Alaska Energy for American Jobs Act, which will:

Direct the secretary of the interior to hold lease sales on the North Slope of at least 50,000 acres within 22 months of enacting this legislation, then hold subsequent lease sales.

Direct the secretary of the interior to ensure that this would result in no significant adverse impacts to fish, wildlife, habitat or environment, while the best available technology is employed.

Ensure a minimal environmental footprint by requiring that land used for production and support facilities does not exceed 10,000 acres for every 100,000 leased acres.

Protecting our lands has long been a priority in Alaska. Prudhoe Bay, which sits 60 miles west of ANWR, has churned out 16 billion barrels of oil over more than 30 years. During that time, the central Arctic caribou herd in the Prudhoe Bay area has grown to nearly 70,000 in 2008 from 5,000 in 1975.

It's no coincidence that the states holding their own during this prolonged economic downturn include America's major energy producers, such as Alaska. Yet regulators keeping federal lands off-limits to oil and gas production also keep Alaska from contributing more affordable energy to other Americans.

For those who don't believe one state can make a difference in helping our nation, just look at the boom in North Dakota. The Bakken region is producing nearly 500,000 barrels of oil per day, pushing North Dakota's unemployment rate down to 3.5%, among the lowest nationally. If the Obama administration is serious about job creation, it can look to Alaska to boost America's work force. These are jobs Americans can do immediately. They are drillers, drivers and roustabouts, engineers, graphic designers and geologists, plumbers, painters and educators.

We don't have to make out-of-work Americans wait any longer.

Mr. Parnell is governor of Alaska.

Cross-posted at Wall Street Journal.

Natural Resources Committee Maintains Aggressive Oversight of Obama Administration’s Overregulation of Hydraulic Fracturing

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:45:00 GMT

The Obama Administration’s Interior Department is one step closer to imposing new federal regulations on hydraulic fracturing on federal lands—a long standing drilling technique that is necessary to extract oil and natural gas from shale reservoirs.

A draft copy of the new regulations, reported last Thursday by Politico, show that the Obama Administration is preparing to add significant red tape and delays to the job creating energy production that comes from harnessing U.S. shale gas resources. Chairman Hastings noted:

“At his State of the Union address President Obama talked about eliminating regulations that don’t work and add unnecessary burdens to American businesses, but here is yet another new regulation that drives us in the exact opposite direction. This draft document reveals that the Obama Administration is planning to impose new job-destroying regulations on the use of hydraulic fracturing technology on federal lands that will add significant barriers to the production of natural gas—one of America’s most promising and abundant energy resources. This regulation continues President Obama’s long record of restricting American energy production at a cost of lost jobs, higher prices and a prolonged dependence on foreign energy.”

Hydraulic fracturing has been effectively regulated by states for over 60 years and is responsible for 30 percent of our domestic oil and natural gas production. From the first moment Secretary Salazar in November 2010 mentioned possible new federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing on federal lands, House Natural Resources Committee Republicans have conducted aggressive oversight on this issue:

On December 1, 2010, Chairman Hastings immediately sent Secretary Salazar a letter expressing his deep concern over the potential plans to regulate hydraulic fracturing and the Department’s apparent decision to act unilaterally without input from local elected officials, stakeholders, or Congress.; Hastings’ letter also asked that Secretary Salazar appear before the House Natural Resources Committee to “provide testimony and answer questions” before “unilaterally implement[ing] this policy.” Over a month later, on January 10, 2011, Secretary Salazar responded to Chairman Hastings’ letter assuring him that if the Department moved forward with hydraulic fracturing requirements, they would do so “in a fashion that fully considers public and Congressional concerns.”

On July, 8, 2011, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a joint oversight hearing with the Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry, on: “Challenges facing Domestic Oil and Gas Development: Review of Bureau of Land Management/U.S. Forest Service Ban of Horizontal Drilling on Federal Lands.” Banning horizontal drilling is a de facto way to ban hydraulic fracturing as any significant oil and natural gas production depend on the two technologies being used together. Currently, the Obama Administration’s U.S. Forest Service is considering a ban on horizontal drilling in Virginia’s George Washington National Forest, where there is shale natural gas.

On October, 11, 2011, responding to a comment Secretary Salazar made at an event sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor that DOI would issue hydraulic fracturing rules “within a month or so,” Chairman Hastings sent a follow-up letter to Secretary Salazar. The letter reiterated Chairman Hastings’ previous request to testify before the Committee before unilaterally imposing new hydraulic fracturing regulations that could have significant impacts on “jobs, communities, revenues, states, and our economy.”

On November, 16, 2011, Secretary Salazar finally appeared before the Natural Resources Committee at an oversight hearing on, “The Future of U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Development on Federal Lands and Waters.” For the first time, Secretary Salazar provided testimony on hydraulic fracturing but refused to give any details about when he expected DOI to produce draft regulations.

Exclusive: First glimpse of fracking rules
The rules would require operators to seek approval for fracking operations and lay out a record-keeping structure.
By TALIA BUFORD | 2/2/12 6:35 PM EST

Draft Interior Department regulations would require natural gas operators on public lands to disclose the “complete chemical makeup” of any proposed fracking fluids, as well as the amounts they’re using, according to a copy obtained by POLITICO.

Operators could claim an exemption from the disclosure requirement only by identifying laws that either already require disclosure or specifically protect the information.

The rules would also require operators to seek approval for fracking operations and lay out a record-keeping structure to document compliance.

The draft document provides the first real glimpse into a cadre of regulations that Interior has been considering for months. The department has been tight-lipped about details, although Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has said they will cover well-bore integrity, fracking fluid disclosure and flowback waters.

The department has no projected date for the draft’s official release. But on Thursday, spokesman Adam Fetcher provided a bit more detail about what Salazar and the department hope to achieve with the rules, based on preliminary input from the industry, other groups and the public.

“Those measures are straightforward: 1) requiring public disclosure of chemicals used in fracking, with appropriate protections for trade secrets; 2) improving assurances on well-bore integrity so we know fluids going into the well aren’t escaping; and 3) making sure companies have a water management plan in place for fluids that flow back to the surface,” Fetcher said.

“We will continue to gather public input throughout this process to ensure that the disclosure rule enhances public confidence in hydraulic fracturing on public lands, while also encouraging continued safe and responsible exploration and production for many decades to come,” he said.

But House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) called the draft a recipe for “new job-destroying regulations,” which “will add significant barriers to the production of natural gas — one of America’s most promising and abundant energy resources.”

“This regulation continues President Obama’s long record of restricting American energy production at a cost of lost jobs, higher prices and a prolonged dependence on foreign energy,” Hastings added.

Under the draft proposal:

Thirty days before operations begin at a proposed well, the operator must submit a report that includes the ingredients of the fracking fluids, the origins of the water being used and a fluid treatment plan.

Operators will have to disclose all additives in the proposed fracking fluids, including the additives’ trade name and purpose. The report must also disclose “the complete chemical makeup” of all materials used in the fluids.

Operators will be required to test well casings to “the maximum anticipated treating pressure.” The test will be considered successful if the casing can sustain the pressure for 30 minutes with no more than 10 percent pressure loss.

The operator must also record the pressure in the area between the pipe and the casing and submit a log of that pressure to Interior. An “authorized officer” must be notified within 24 hours if the pressure increases by more than 500 pounds per square inch, and a report on the incident must be submitted within 24 hours.

All recovered fluids must be stored in tanks or lined pits, but officials can also require “additional measures to ensure protection of wildlife or other resources.” Operators will also be required to provide a proposed plan to handle and dispose of flowback fluids, as well as an estimated volume of fluid they expect to recover.

In his State of the Union Speech last week, President Barack Obama pointed to shale gas as a key energy resource for the nation, and hinted at hydraulic fracturing without mentioning that term outright.

Obama also promised that “America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk,” and said all companies drilling for gas on public lands would have to disclose the chemicals they use.

But for months before the speech, Interior has been working to draft the regulations to make that happen.

Along the way, Interior said the rules have been shaped by December meetings with regional and local members of the Bureau of Land Management, as well as January consultations with American Indian tribe members in Tulsa, Salt Lake City, Billings, Mont., and Farmington, N.M.

Once Interior incorporates the feedback into the proposed rules, a formal copy of the draft regulations will be released and open to public comment. Industry, states and citizens will then be able to submit their thoughts.

Video Blog: Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Johnson

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:35:00 GMT

Meet Freshman Committee Member Bill Johnson from Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District. Ohio is home to several coal-fired power plants, which provide hundreds of good-paying jobs. However, due to the Obama Administration’s proposed rewrite of the Stream Buffer Zone rule, tens of thousands of direct and indirect coal jobs are at jeopardy. Coal production could be cut in half and cause electricity rates to skyrocket, due to this one overreaching rule. Watch Rep. Johnson explain the affect this Obama Administration rule could have on jobs in his district:

Learn more about Rep. Bill Johnson by visiting his website and following him on Facebook and Twitter.

Find out what the Natural Resources Committee is doing to increase America’s economic competitiveness and create new American jobs by watching other videos in our Jobs Watch series here.

Video Blog: Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch – Chairman Hastings

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Last year, the Committee held 115 hearings and passed over 75 bills that would create millions of good-paying jobs. Unfortunately, most of these bills continue to sit idle in the Democrat controlled Senate. As we begin the second session of the 112th Congress, the Committee will continue to put forward new ideas to spur our economy.

“We will continue to pursue an all-of-the-above energy plan that includes renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydropower and nuclear along with American oil, natural gas and coal. The Committee will also continue to fight for equal access to public lands and water sources, and will carry out effective Congressional oversight of the Obama Administration,” said Chairman Hastings.

Learn more about Chairman Hastings by visiting his website and following him on Facebook and Twitter. And learn more about what the Natural Resources Committee is doing to increase America’s economic competitiveness and create new American jobs by clicking here.

Watch other videos in the series:

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Landry (12/13/2011)

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Lamborn (12/08/2011)

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Wittman (11/28/2011)

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Amodei (11/14/2011)

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Thompson (11/04/2011)

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Tipton (10/24/2011)

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Denham (10/11/2011)

Natural Resources Committee Jobs Watch - Rep. Gosar (10/3/2011)

Platts Energy Week Interview with Chairman Doc Hastings

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Chairman Doc Hastings sat down with Platts Energy Week to discuss the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act, legislation that would link expanded American energy production with high priority infrastructure projects.

Chairman Hastings told Platts, "The revenues from this [legislation] will build and maintain our infrastructure. [It's] a win-win deal because it does create American jobs in the process."

Instead of more 'stimulus' spending or wasteful earmarks, the bill would lower government barriers to American energy production, creating over a million American jobs, lowering gasoline prices and raising revenue to help repair roads and bridges. The Committee will markup the energy portion of the bill this Wednesday.

Watch the full interview here:

Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Increased American Energy

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:30:00 GMT

On the heels of President Obama’s own Jobs Council rebuking his Administration’s anti-energy policies, a new poll released this week illustrates overwhelming public support for increased U.S. oil and natural gas production. According to a Harris Interactive poll conducted last December, 70% percent of Americans support increased access to U.S. oil and natural gas. Below are a few other figures from the poll:

87% believe that more U.S. oil and natural gas development could lead to more American jobs.
83% believe that more U.S. oil and natural gas development could help the U.S. economy and reduce consumer energy costs
82% believe that more U.S. oil and natural gas development will increase the nation's energy security.
72% believe that more U.S. oil and natural gas development will deliver more revenue to the government.
70 % believe that some in Washington are intentionally delaying domestic oil and natural gas development.

Despite this overwhelming public support and prodding from his self-appointed jobs advisers, the President continues to put up road blocks to American energy production, taking this country further down the path of dependence on hostile foreign oil. Just this past week, the President rejected the construction of the Keystone pipeline which would have created tens of thousands of jobs and transported nearly a million barrels of oil a day into the United States, all at zero expense to the American taxpayer.

In contrast, Republicans have listened to the American people and are moving forward with policies to increase American energy production. Over the past year, the House Natural Resources Committee has passed numerous pieces of bipartisan legislation to increase American oil and natural gas production and create millions of good-paying jobs. Unfortunately, most of these bills continue to sit idle in the Democrat controlled Senate. It is time for the President to listen to the American people and his own advisers, and quit putting up roadblocks to American energy production.

New Study Shows Impact of Permitting Slowdown in the Gulf

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:25:00 GMT

Quest Offshore Resources, Inc. has released a study highlighting the economic consequences of the slowdown of deepwater and shallow water permitting in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the study, the Administration’s de facto moratorium has cost Americans tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and billions of dollars of domestic economic activity. It has also dramatically decreased potential domestic oil production. The study also examines the positive economic impact that would result from the Administration moving forward with permitting at pre-moratorium levels.

The news isn’t all bad though. The report goes on to highlight the economic boom other countries have experienced due to the Administration’s slow-walking of permits. Countries like Brasil, Egypt and Angola have seen over $20 billion of investments as a result of rigs leaving the Gulf of Mexico. Below are a few highlights:

The effects of the deepwater drilling moratorium and permit slowdown have reduced total capital and operating expenditures in the Gulf of Mexico by a combined $18.3 billion.

As a result of decreases in investment due to the moratorium, total U.S. employment is estimated to have been reduced by 72,000 jobs in 2010 and approximately 90,000 jobs in 2011.

The permitting slowdown has caused the United States to drop 6 percent from its projected share of worldwide oil and natural gas investment in 2011.

Since April 2010, 11 deepwater drilling rigs have left the Gulf of Mexico and relocated to countries such as Brazil, Egypt and Angola. The investment associated with these rigs is estimated to be over $21.4 billion.

If drilling permits going forward were to be issued at pre‐moratorium rates:

The increased number of projects would increase investment in the Gulf of Mexico offshore by over $15.6 billion.
Average annual U.S. employment would be increased by between 17,000 and 49,000 thousand jobs per year.
By 2017 offshore oil production would rise by approximately 13 percent relative to its current projected path.

Last year, House Republicans passed H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act. This legislation would the end the Obama Administration’s de facto moratorium in a safe, responsible, transparent manner – putting thousands of Americans back to work and increasing American energy production to help address rising gasoline prices. H.R. 1229 passed the House of Representatives in May, and currently awaits further action in the Senate.

Law Enforcement Organizations, Property Rights Advocates and Agriculture Groups Call for Passage of Border Security Legislation

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:15:00 GMT

Multiple national and local groups from across the country have come together to call for the passage of H.R. 1505, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act. Led by National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT), H.R. 1505 would prohibit the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using environmental regulations to hinder U.S. Border Patrol from securing our border on federal lands.

Some of the most dangerous areas along the southern border are the 20.7 million acres of DOI and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land. This includes 4.3 million acres of “Wilderness areas” where activities such as the use of motorized vehicles and construction of roads and structures are prohibited. Documents show that the DOI and the USFS have consistently and actively taken steps that prevent the Border Patrol from securing our borders on federal lands. The legislation would ensure Border Patrol, not federal land managers, have operational control of our borders.

H.R. 1505 passed out Committee in October and is awaiting further action by the full House. The legislation is supported by a wide array of organizations:

National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers

“This bill is brilliant in its simplicity and is written in such a manner that anyone can understand that its purpose is to send a resounding message that the people of the United States are serious about establishing complete border security.”

National Border Patrol Council

“On behalf of the National Border Patrol Council which represents 17,000 Border Patrol Agents, we strongly support passage of H.R. 1505. For years, the federal government has used environmental regulations to block access for our Border Patrol agents to the over 20 million acres of federal land along the U.S./Mexican Border. This lack of access has resulted in an increase in criminal activities such as drug smuggling and human trafficking. It has also handicapped and endangered the Border Patrol Agents who are expected to secure these areas day in and day out. H.R. 1505 will give our Agents the tools they need to properly secure the border and protect themselves from criminals intent on doing harm.”

Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council- Tucson, Arizona

“On behalf of the National Border Patrol Council Local 1544, which represents over 3,200 Border Patrol Agents in Tucson, Arizona Border Patrol Sector, we strongly support passage of H.R. 1505, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act.”

National Association of Police Organizations

“On behalf of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), representing 241,000 rank-and-file police officers from across the United States, I would like to advise you of our support for the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act (H.R. 1505). NAPO supports the efforts to enhance border security on federal lands thus making enforcement easier for agents. Currently, Border Patrol Agents are unable to access portions of the 20.7 million acres along our Southern borders and 1,000 miles of our Northern borders. H.R. 1505 allows authorization to the Secretary of Homeland Security to have access to any public lands managed by the Federal Government for the purpose of securing the border.”

Motorcycle Industry Council

"An unsecured border that allows terrorists or other law-breakers to roam our public lands represents a real threat to riders who wish to responsibly recreate near these lands. H.R. 1505 would ensure that the Border Patrol has the necessary tools to secure our border and to help ensure the safety of riders.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

“Cattlemen and their families and indeed all Americans living along the border live with the constant threat of danger. That threat is exacerbated by the misguided implementation of environmental regulations that hamstring US border patrol agents to effectively do their jobs Dangerous and aggressive drug and human traffickers coming across the border are usually armed and aren’t afraid to harm ranchers who are only trying to go about their daily business. This bill would allow for the access and surveillance equipment border patrol agents need to protect these lands and our members. We thank Congressman Bishop for taking a stand on the side of America’s ranchers and on the side of America’s security.”

Public Lands Council

“Our members along the southern border are suffering huge losses, including livestock weight loss, constant fence and waterline repairs, manmade fires that damage forage and infrastructure, and general harm to the range and the resources public lands ranchers manage. This isn’t just costing our industry millions; it’s costing lives. Congressman Bishop should be commended for leading the charge in the House to ensure our nation’s border patrol is able to secure the border at the border. Public lands ranchers stand ready to help ensure this legislation becomes the law of the land.”

Jena Baker McNeill, Former Senior Policy Analyst, The Heritage Foundation

“Without full access to border lands for the Border Patrol, no amount of manpower, weapons, or other technology will help get control of the border…Wouldn’t it make more sense to give the Border Patrol full access so that lands are environmentally preserved and that Americans can safely enjoy them? Instead, without action, the Obama Administration is enticing lawbreakers to make these lands the next big corridor for smuggling…The National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act (HR 1505), would ‘prohibit the Department of Interior (DOI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using environmental regulations to hinder U.S. Border Patrol from securing [the] border on federal lands.’ Getting serious about drug trafficking and controlling the border requires better interagency cooperation than what is currently at work. If the Obama Administration is serious about getting control of the border, it should take a hard look at this problem.”

Full List of Supporters:

Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
BlueRibbon Coalition
California Cattlemen’s Association
Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council- Tucson, Arizona
Motorcycle Industry Council
National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers
National Association of Police Organizations
National Border Patrol Council
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Off-Road Business Association
Public Lands Council
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
Save the Trails
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America
Stewards of the Sequoia
United Four Wheel Drive Associations

New Year, same tricks for Obama Administration's job destroying energy policies

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:35:00 GMT

We’re not quite half way through the first month of 2012 and the Obama Administration is already up to their old tricks, playing fast and loose with the facts surrounding their job destroying energy policies. Today, the Department of the Interior sent around a misleading press release to fool the public into believing the Administration is increasing American oil and gas production because lease sales increased in 2011—however, nothing could be further from the truth. Here’s the rest of the story:

The Administration is required to hold a certain number of lease sales each year. Further, the number of lease sales held is far less important to energy production than the number of actual leases issued.

According to their own numbers, the Obama Administration has been responsible for three of the four lowest years in number of federal oil and gas leases issued since 1984. In fact, 2010 had the lowest number of leases issued since 1984. The Administration can try to manipulate the numbers all they want, but they can’t hide their long record of blocking U.S. energy production. Federal oil and gas production is down by 40% compared to ten years ago, which translates into fewer American jobs, a weaker economy and greater reliance on unfriendly foreign sources of energy.