Sat
Apr
11
2009
Bill placing federal lands off-limits passes House
© 2009 McGraw-Hill, Inc. – The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a public lands bill that would lock up 2.2 million acres of federal lands, including 1.2 million acres in the gas-rich Wyoming Range, potentially blocking them from future oil and natural gas production.
The bill passed the Democratic-controlled chamber by a vote of 285-140. A similar Senate measure passed easily last week, 77-20, and now heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature.
The opposition to the measure came mostly from Republicans, who argued that it would impede energy production on public lands. Democrats argued that protecting the lands for future generations took precedence over energy development.
Among other things, the bill would place 1.2 million acres of the Wyoming Range off-limits to oil and natural gas producers. The US Geological Survey estimates the range’s reserves at 1.5 Tcf of gas and 5 million barrels of oil.
The bill, which is known as the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, is intended to protect moose, lynx, mule deer and other animals on the range, and would prohibit the future leasing of the area for oil and gas production. More than 700,000 acres currently under lease would not be affected by the bill.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America blasted the passage Wednesday, calling it “a step in the wrong direction for our economy and our future. This legislation makes it harder to responsibly develop oil and natural gas resources on federal lands, and limits a main driver of economic growth: American energy production,” said Barry Russell, president and CEO of IPAA.
The lands “are already effectively protected,” Russell said, citing the “state-of-the-art technology” producers use to minimize the environmental impacts of drilling. “As our economy continues to struggle, the last thing we need is a self-imposed, unnecessary obstacle to recovery,” he added.
The bill earlier this month failed to pass the House when leadership brought it to the floor under rules that prohibited any amendments and required a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The measure subsequently was renamed after an unrelated bill that had already been passed by the House.
The maneuver allowed passage of the bill with a simple majority and without amendments now that the Senate has approved it. —Daniel Goldstein
