Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Calvert and Chairman Frelinghuysen for their hard work on this bill.
On November 17, 2016, the Bureau of Land Management released a final rule titled: ``Onshore Oil and Gas Operations; Federal and Indian Oil and Gas Leases; Measurement of Oil.''

Though the BLM claims that this rule would incorporate proven industry standards developed by oil measurement experts from industry and the BLM, it seems like the BLM ignored industry expert standards and set their standards, regardless of industry input.

In comments filed on December 14, 2015, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the American Petroleum Institution, the Western Energy Alliance, and many citizens involved in oil production detailed serious concerns. Many of the comments centered on BLM's reluctance to recognize its obligation to adopt properly established industry standards.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that it is vital that agencies such as the BLM listen to and take into account industry concerns and input when promulgating these new rules.

My amendment would restrict funding for this rule in its current form, and I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. Chairman, another way the BLM has ignored their obligations under the rulemaking process is by discounting the practical difficulties for both industry and the agency associated compliance.
Mr. Chairman, the BLM ignored their rulemaking responsibilities by both disregarding industry input and snubbing practical timelines for compliance.

I believe the BLM should go back, reexamine this rule, and this time listen and get it right.
Mr. Chairman, I ask support for my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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