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Energy and Mineral Resources

Charts Show Historic Drop-Off in Issuance of New Drilling Permits in the Gulf

| Posted in Blog

Greater New Orleans, Inc. recently released a Gulf Permit Index (GPI) that shows the Obama Administration is in no hurry to issue drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico and end the de facto moratorium that has left thousands of Americans out of work. GNO, Inc. found that to date only two deep water permits have been issued since the deep water drilling moratorium was officially listed…

Chairman Hastings Announces Natural Resources Subcommittee Assignments

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) today announced the subcommittee assignments for the Republican Members of the Natural Resources Committee for the 112th Congress. “The Natural Resources Committee has broad jurisdiction that allows our Members to use their individual talents and expertise to work on policies and issues that will help create jobs, grow the…

Platts Energy Week Interview with Chairman Doc Hastings

| Posted in Blog

Chairman Doc Hastings sat down with Platts Energy Week to discuss Wednesday’s oversight hearing with the President’s National Oil Spill Commission Co-Chairs William Reilly and Bob Graham. The hearing is expected to focus on the Commission’s findings into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the on-going federal response and recommendations to keep America’s offshore energy…

National Journal: Hastings Says Gas Prices Could Drive Drilling Debate

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

Hastings Says Gas Prices Could Drive Drilling Debate 1/20/2011 National Journal Amy Harder A top House Republican predicted Wednesday that Congress could see a repeat of its bruising debate over offshore drilling from 2008 if gasoline prices continue to rise. “I think we could potentially … see a similar type of discussion,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings,…

Obama Administration Pursues Anti-Energy Policies as Gas Prices Climb Higher

| Posted in Resourceful Information

Yesterday, the Associated Press reported on rising gas prices causing consumers to shift spending habits, which could directly curtail economic recovery: “Thursday's government report on retail sales indicates that consumers are skipping a restaurant meal or a movie because they have to spend more to drive…If the price [of gas] goes up a dime, it means consumers pay $40 million more each…

Hastings Statement on the Further Division of the Former MMS

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding the further division of the former MMS into the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: “There was bipartisan recognition of the need to improve the operations of MMS in order to ensure that U.S. offshore drilling is the safest in…

Chairman Hastings’ Statement on the President’s National Oil Spill Commission Final Report

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement regarding the final report and recommendations from the President’s National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. The House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing, with testimony from Commission Co-Chairs William Reilly and Bob Graham, on…

Letter from Secretary Salazar Regarding Forum on Hydraulic Fracturing on Public Lands

| Posted in Letters

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your December 1, 2010, letter regarding my recent forum on hydraulic fracturing on public lands. We brought together this group to discuss a way forward to allow the United States to continue to realize the benefits of oil and gas development in a safe and effective manner. Read the entire letter HERE.

Hastings: Complete Report Needed From National Oil Spill Commission Before Conclusions Are Made

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the National Oil Spill Commission released one chapter of its final report on the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and subsequent oil spill: “This chapter of the National Oil Spill Commission’s final report provides initial insight into a very complicated and terrible tragedy. However, I’m…

Wall Street Journal: Drilling Is Stalled Even After Ban Is Lifted

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

Drilling Is Stalled Even After Ban Is Lifted January 3, 2011 Wall Street Journal Ben Casselman and Daniel Gilbert More than two months after the Obama administration lifted its ban on drilling in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico, oil companies are still waiting for approval to drill the first new oil well there. Experts now expect the wait to continue until the second half of 2011, and…