Document DoRDXMzzMbzaJ2xdYm67q1OM

To: Rigas, Laura[laura_rigas@ios.doi.gov] Cc: Magallanes, Downey[downey_magallanes@ios.doi.gov]; scott_hommel@ios.doi.gov[scott_hommel@ios.doi.gov] From: Vincent Devito Sent: 2017-10-25T13:46:25-04:00 Importance: Normal Subject: Re: GOING AT 2PM: Department of the Interior Releases Energy Burdens Report Received: 2017-10-25T13:46:34-04:00 Need to incorporate the ECEP SP. please stand by. > On Oct 25, 2017, at 12:54 PM, Rigas, Laura <laura_rigas@ios.doi.gov> wrote: > > Hi all -- Below please find the (hopefully) final version of our press > release, with the report attached. Please let Alex and Heather know ASAP if > you have any issues/concerns. > Thanks, > L > > [image: news release] > > Date: October 25, 2017 > Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov > > > *Department of the Interior Releases Energy Burdens Report* > *Outlines Trump Administration's bold approach to achieving American > energy dominance* > > *WASHINGTON* - U.S. Secretary Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior > released the "Review of the Department of the Interior Actions that > Potentially Burden Domestic Energy" report which was produced in response > to Executive Order 13783. The report identified agency actions that > potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy > resources, with particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear > energy resources. Interior oversees America's oil, gas, coal, hydropower, > and renewable energy resources produced on federal lands and waters, which > account for almost one-fifth of the Nation's energy and generate on > average $10 billion per year in annual revenue. > > "Developing our energy resources to grow our economy and protecting the > environment are not mutually exclusive. However, while conducting the > review outlined in the Executive Order, we found that several costly and > burdensome regulations from the past threaten that balance by hampering the > production or transmission of our domestic energy," *said Secretary of the > Interior Ryan Zinke*. "Our public lands are meant to be managed for the > benefit of the people. That means a multiple-use approach where appropriate > and making sure that multiple-use includes energy development under > reasonable regulations. Following President Trump's leadership, Interior is > fostering domestic energy production by streamlining permitting and > revising and repealing Obama-era job killing regulations - all while doing > so in an environmentally responsible way." > > "The federal government can and must be a better business partner," *Vincent > DeVito, Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy, said*. "Secretary > Zinke's bold approach to achieving American energy dominance is making our > nation freer, more secure, and more prosperous. Regulations should not > unnecessarily burden energy production, but that is what occurs in many > cases. The recent actions outlined in this energy report show how Interior > is rolling back some of these burdensome regulations that add little or no > value, while promoting responsible energy development." > > The report identified a number of burdens that specifically impede the > production and transportation of energy resources, including, but not > limited to: > > - *Obama-Era 5-Year Program* Under the last Administration, 94% of the > Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) was put off-limits from leasing, having an > adverse effect on jobs and energy dominance, while drastically reducing > access to future revenue. > - Trump Administration Action: Secretarial Order 3350, America-First > Offshore Energy Strategy > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-signs-orders-implementing-america-firstoffshore-energy-strategy> > started > the process of developing a new 5-Year Program to responsibly develop the > OCS and generate much-needed revenue. > > > - *Federal Coal Leasing Moratorium (Secretarial Order 3338, > Discretionary Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to Modernize the > Federal Coal Program)* Nearly 40% of our nation's coal comes from > public lands. The 2016 coal moratorium undermines American energy > security, inhibits job creation, and reduces revenues to state and local > governments. > - Action: Secretarial Order 3348, Concerning the Federal Coal > Moratorium > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-takes-immediate-action-advance-americanenergy-independence> > repealed > the Obama-era moratorium on new federal coal leases. > > > - *Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands Rule (RIN 1004-AE26)* > The compliance costs of the existing 2015 rule on hydraulic fracturing are > not justified. All 32 states with federal oil and gas leases and some > tribes currently have laws or regulations that address hydraulic fracturing > operations. > - Action: Secretarial Order 3349: American Energy Independence > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-takes-immediate-action-advance-americanenergy-independence> > put > the rule under review. The BLM published a rulemaking to rescind the rule > on July 25th. > > > - *Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource > Conservation AKA the Venting and Flaring Rule (RIN 1004-AE14)* The rule > imposes a substantial burden on industry, especially for marginal well > production in energy-rich states like New Mexico, particularly the > requirements that are set to become effective on January 17, 2018. > - Action: Secretarial Order 3349: American Energy Independence > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-takes-immediate-action-advance-americanenergy-independence> > put > the rules under review for subsequent action by the Department. > On October > 5, 2017, the BLM issued a proposed rule to temporarily suspend certain > requirements of the rule. The BLM is also actively reviewing the > underlying > regulation for potential revision. > > > - *Unnecessarily lengthy NEPA reviews delay projects* The NEPA process > has added extra time and analysis to project completion, which adds to > uncertainty for industry and higher costs for taxpayers. This is > particularly true for Departmental actions that impact energy and > infrastructure projects, such as resource management planning, permitting, > and issuance of rights-of-way for pipeline projects and electricity > transmission. > - Actions: The Department has identified a number of rules and > regulations to revise or rescind such as the Master Leasing > Plans, the NEPA > Compliance for Oil and Gas Lease Reinstatement Petitions, and the > Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plans. In addition, the Deputy Secretary > issued an August memo setting a deadline of one year and limiting EIS > statements to 150 pages or 300 pages for unusually complex projects. > > > - *Holding energy producers hostage via Compensatory Mitigation > (Secretarial Order 3330)* Current compensatory mitigation policies > have reduced predictability, created conflicts, and unnecessarily increased > permitting/authorization timelines. Additionally, industry stakeholders > believe the mitigation planning goal exceeds statutory authority. > Currently, Interior and its bureaus lack a consistent terminology and > framework for mitigation. > - Action: Secretarial Order 3349: American Energy Independence > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-takes-immediate-action-advance-americanenergy-independence> > reexamined the use of mitigation policies and practices in order > to better > balance conservation strategies and job creation. Bureaus at the Interior > will review various handbooks and manuals on the use of mitigation for > energy and infrastructure projects. > > > - *Systematic delays in the leasing program and permitting process *The > long period from when acreage is first nominated to when those acres are > offered at a lease sale, as well as delays between the lease sale date and > when leases are awarded reduces industry certainty and hinders states from > receiving their share of lease sale revenues. These delays have > rendered industry less able to plan for and execute exploration and > production strategies in a timely fashion, and less able to respond > effectively to changing market conditions. > - Action: Secretarial Order 3354 Supporting and Improving the Federal > Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program and Federal Solid Mineral Leasing > Program > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/zinke-signs-secretarial-order-streamline-process-federal- onshore-oil-and-gas-leasing>. > In January 2017 there were 92 vacancies in key positions related to the > permitting process. Since that time this administration has filled nearly > half of those positions. The BLM is also modernizing the software used to > track and coordinate permitting while seeking to add regional teams that > will be able to greatly streamline the permitting process. So > far this year > the BLM has decreased their processing time for APDs by an average of 46 > days. > > > - *Endangered Species Act* The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is taken > into consideration for both on- and offshore energy and infrastructure > projects. It has far-reaching negative impacts on energy production and > transmission as well as on critical infrastructure projects. ESA abuses > have led to increased costs and delays on projects. > - Action: Secretarial Order 3353: Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation > and Cooperation with Western States > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-signs-order-improve-sage-grouse-conservationstrengthen-communication> > Work with the Western Governors Association and other local partners to > develop recommendations to improve the application of the ESA. Launch a > review of ESA regulations and policy documents regarding outdated, > unnecessary, ineffective, and inconsistently aligned with Executive and > Secretarial Orders. > > The report also detailed extensive action taken to advance American Energy > Dominance at the Department of the Interior, including, but not limited to: > > - Secretarial Order 3351: Strengthening the Department of the Interior's > Energy Portfolio > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-secretary-announces-vincent-devito-counselor-energypolicy> > - Secretarial Order 3352: National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-signs-order-jump-start-alaskan-energy> > > - Secretarial Order 3353: Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation and > Cooperation with Western States > <https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-signs-order-improve-sage-grouse-conservationstrengthen-communication> > - Reestablishing the Royalty Policy Committee to ensure the public > continues to receive the full value of energy produced on federal lands. > - Review, repeal, and rewriting of the following rules: the BSEE Well > Control and BOP Rules, the ONRR Valuation Rule, and the OSMRE Stream > Protection Rule. > > ### > <DOI Submission for Publication.pdf>