Today, the House passed H.J. Res 36 sponsored by Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT). This joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) will repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final rule on methane emissions from oil and gas operations on federal and Indian land. 

“The growth of the last decade has come in spite of consistent anti-energy policies of the previous administration. It has especially hit those of us in the West very hard. The contortions BLM went through to say they had the legal authority is almost embarrassing. The contortions they went through would qualify for an opening act on the Las Vegas strip,” Chairman Bishop stated during floor debate. “This is an illegal rule and it’s a costly one. This rule’s repeal is a vote for people and making sure their lives are better, not worse.”

“Methane emissions are already regulated by both the EPA and, in my state, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, so what we saw out of the BLM was simply redundant and unnecessary,” Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) stated. “Regulations that add an additional and redundant layer of red tape on top of an already overly complex regulatory system are precisely the ones we need to prevent.”

“Oil and gas production provides our jobs and funds our education, hospitals, law enforcement and other essential services. Without it, our economy will continue to suffer. This regulation was clearly directed to appease special interest groups over the livelihood of New Mexicans and Americans across the nation, and we will not stand silently while the government decides what is in our best interest. Repealing the BLM Venting and Flaring Rule will cut the red tape that is starving America’s jobs out of this country,” Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) said.

Click here for additional information on the rule.