Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act of 2006
DEEP OCEAN ENERGY RESOURCES ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - June 29, 2006)
BREAK IN THE TRANSCRIPT
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4761, the Offshore Drilling bill. I do so not because I am categorically opposed to expanding the scope of offshore drilling, but because I believe this bill does so in an irresponsible fashion. As proponents of the bill have correctly stated, Canada and Norway have both allowed offshore
drilling in an environmentally sound manner. In particular, I believe we can increase our supply of clean natural gas through expanded offshore drilling. This bill, however, would create a blank check for oil and gas drilling without adequate oversight and environmental safeguards.
Moreover, this bill diverts much-needed funds from the Federal Government to the States and creates hurdles for States that would prefer to opt-out of costal drilling. In order to create incentives for states to approve offshore drilling, the bill would divert money from leases in Federal waters to States. This includes existing leases that are currently generating Federal revenue. This loss of funds would only increase our ballooning deficit. As the Bush Administration itself has reported to Congress, this bill will reduce Federal revenue from oil leases by several hundred billion dollars in the years ahead.
The bill's proponents claim that states can choose not to drill off their shores. But the hurdles it creates makes opting out difficult. In order to protect their waters from drilling within 50 to 100 miles, governors would have to get the concurrence of their State legislatures within one year to petition the Department of the Interior to prevent natural gas only leasing, and within three years to prevent oil leasing. States must re-petition every five years to maintain the protections. And the legislation entices states to drill within 50 miles of the coastline by offering between 50 and 75 percent of the revenues if they opt-in. With such an incentive, valid environmental concerns may easily lose to fiscal ones.
Mr. Speaker, we must to take action to develop a comprehensive energy strategy. That requires a policy that includes energy supply, energy efficiency, and energy conservation. We can increase our domestic production of oil and gas through responsible offshore drilling. This bill does not do that. Moreover, this bill does nothing to promote renewable sources of energy that are critical to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. We must adopt a comprehensive long-term energy policy in order to achieve important national security, environmental and economic objectives. Unfortunately, this bill represents a lost opportunity to meet these goals.
BREAK IN THE TRANSCRIPT
http://thomas.loc.gov/