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Energy and Mineral Resources

House Passes Bill to Boost Domestic Helium Production

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House passed H.R. 3279, the “Helium Extraction Act of 2017.” Introduced by Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), the bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Bureau of Land Management to lease federal land for the purpose of helium production under the same lease terms used for oil and gas development.    “With this bill, we seek responsible development of another…

Offshore Energy Bill Gains Support as Subcommittee Continues Broad Overhaul of Federal Lands Energy Policy

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on a discussion draft of the “Accessing Strategic Resources Offshore Act” or the “Astro Act.” The bill, which improves access to Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy resources through more reliable leasing and an improved revenue sharing framework with coastal states, is part of the Committee’s broader…

House Passes Bipartisan “Community Reclamation Partnerships Act” to Aid Mine Cleanup Efforts

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the House passed H.R. 2937, the “Community Reclamation Partnerships Act.” Introduced by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), the bill authorizes partnerships between states and non-governmental entities for the purpose of expanding abandoned mine reclamation projects. The bill addresses impediments potential “Community Reclaimers” face in the reclamation process by allowing states to assume…

Chairman Bishop Request to Secretaries Perdue and Zinke to Examine Politically Motivated Mineral Withdrawals

| Posted in Press Release

Today, Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Perdue and Interior Secretary Zinke on mineral withdrawals. The letter states, “[U]nder the prior administration, mineral access on Federal land was regularly and systemically blocked, harming our nation’s economic and strategic potential. Indeed, millions of acres of Federal lands were inappropriately…

Chairman Bishop Letter to Secretaries Perdue and Zinke on Mineral Withdrawals

| Posted in Letters

TO: The Honorable Sonny Perdue and Ryan Zinke FROM: Chairman Rob Bishop Dear Secretaries Perdue and Zinke: As you know, the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior are responsible for the protection and management of the natural resources of the United States. Under this mandate, the Departments administer approximately 700 million acres of Federal mineral estate in the United…

Bishop Statement on House Appropriations Package

| Posted in Press Release

Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement on House passage of H.R. 3354, the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act of 2018: “This package builds on the administration’s efforts to reduce bureaucracy and promote regulatory certainty across the Department of the Interior and other federal land management agencies.” H.R. 3354 includes policies and funding…

Letter: Members Call on Secretary Zinke to Include all OCS Lands in the Development of New Offshore Leasing Plan

| Posted in Press Release

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and 118 additional Members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary Zinke requesting the Department of the Interior to include consideration of all Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lands in the development of a new National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.    “Just as today’s energy…

Bishop Statement on U.S. Court of Appeals Decision on Freeport LNG Export Terminal

| Posted in Press Release

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a unanimous opinion that the U.S. Department of Energy conducted appropriate review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in its approval of the Freeport LNG export terminal project.  Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “Today’s opinion is a short-term victory. NEPA was created as a…