U.S. losing $4.7M a day from permitting lag, group says April 27, 2011 Greenwire By Phil Taylor Research by a Dallas-based research group found that declining oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico and a lull in new drilling permits is costing the United States $4.7 million a day in mineral revenues. The briefing released today by the National Center for Policy Analysis blames… Read more »

Dear Colleague: It is important for all Members to recognize that the moratorium on earmarks applies to matters and bills referred to the Natural Resources Committee. If you are preparing or writing a bill that falls within the jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Committee, please feel free to have your staff contact Committee staff with questions. Read the full Dear Colleague HERE. Read more »

Dear Ms. Kendall: On July 20, 2010, we requested the Office of Inspector General to conduct an investigation into whether senior officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), in an effort to help justify their decision to impose a 6-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, misrepresented that the moratorium was reviewed and supported by a group of… Read more »

Dear Secretary Salazar: On July 20, 2010, we requested the Office of Inspector General to conduct an investigation into whether senior officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), in an effort to help justify their decision to impose a 6-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, misrepresented that the moratorium was reviewed and supported by a group of… Read more »

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) agreed, following a letter from House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings and Reps. Greg Walden, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Tom McClintock and Wally Herger, to re-open for an additional 30 days public comment on the controversial proposed habitat modeling related to the Northern Spotted Owl. The announcement… Read more »

While in Louisiana, Chairman Doc Hastings had the opportunity to visit the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge in Southeast Louisiana. During the tour, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials briefed the Chairman on wetland restoration activities currently underway, energy production activities taking place in the Wildlife Refuge, and other important… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) announced the completion of the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for oil and gas lease sale 218 in the Western Planning Area in the Gulf of Mexico. The announcement comes on the heels of… Read more »

On Wednesday, May 11th the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a Full Committee oversight hearing on “American Energy Initiative: Identifying Roadblocks to Wind and Solar Energy on Public Lands and Waters.” “House Republicans’ American Energy Initiative is an effort to increase all types of American energy production – including renewable energy,” said Chairman Doc Hastings. “Wind… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill: “This is a time to remember the eleven men who tragically lost their lives and the families who lost their loved ones. This week, the Committee travelled to Louisiana to examine the status of recovery… Read more »

According to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released today, support for increased offshore drilling is on the rise. Here are some key findings from the poll: 69 percent of Americans favor increased offshore drilling That 69 percent is up 20 points from last June, while the oil spill was still in progress, and is back to the level of support seen in the summer of… Read more »