The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up:  E&E – John McArdle: “Administration's final ocean plan sparks Hill debate on whether it streamlines or burdens agencies” E&E – Phil Taylor: “House Republicans introduce bill to approve U.S.-Mexico transboundary agreement” Billings Gazette – Rob Chaney: “Tribal ownership,… Read more »

Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03), House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), and House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Chairman Matt Salmon (AZ-05) today introduced H.R. 1613, the Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act. The bill would approve and implement the terms of the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbon… Read more »

Offshore unit draws lawmaker's scrutiny By Jennifer A. Dlouhy March 11, 2013 A top congressional Republican wants to know more about a new Interior Department team dedicated to rooting out wrongdoing by companies drilling offshore and the government officials who police them. The man behind the push, Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., heads the House Natural Resources Committee and is a… Read more »

The Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee held an oversight hearing today on “America’s Offshore Energy Resources: Creating Jobs, Securing America, and Lowering Prices.” The hearing focused on the significant economic growth that increased production of offshore oil, natural gas and wind energy. “In light of record debt and deficits, and the current sequestration cuts going into… Read more »

Ever since taking office, President Obama has erected barriers to increased offshore American energy production and systematically closed off new areas to drilling. Study after study has shown that increased offshore energy production will create jobs, grow the economy, lower prices and provide significant revenues to the states and federal government. As the chart (below) shows, under… Read more »

Dear Secretary Salazar: The Department of the Interior ("Department") established the Investigations and Review Unit ("IRU") in 2010, reportedly to respond to allegations of wrongdoing and unethical behavior by the offshore oil and gas industry and the Department officials who regulate those activities and to help coordinate the Department's response to significant… Read more »

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) yesterday released disturbing new data that shows the United States has been increasing its dependence on oil from one of the most unstable regions in the world. Middle Eastern oil now accounts for more than 25 percent of American oil imports—a nine year high that has come at the same time as record gasoline prices. No wonder gasoline… Read more »

Yesterday marked 32 days in a row of increased gasoline prices, a 13 percent jump, according to the Automobile Association of America (AAA), which estimates the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.74. When President Obama took office in January 2009, the average price for gallon of gasoline was $1.84. Since taking office, President Obama has prevented new American… Read more »

A Congressional Research Service (CRS) memo released this week shows that wages for workers in oil and gas extraction have increased over 23% since 2007. During a time period in which the U.S. has faced dire unemployment rates, rampant job loss, and near economic collapse, workers in the oil and gas industry have continued to see above average increases in earnings.  The oil and… Read more »

Today, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell sent a letter to Interior Secretary Nominee Sally Jewell asking for a re-examination of the Administration’s policies towards energy exploration and production on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Administration has continually blocked access to energy… Read more »