IADC meets with lawmakers in Washington, DC, to advocate for drilling industry
At IADC’s Spring Washington, DC, Fly-In, which took place 8-9 April, a group of IADC members and personnel traveled to the US capital to advocate on behalf of the oil and gas industry. A group of 16 IADC members and staff met with key legislators to discuss current industry challenges.
One of the key themes of the Fly-in was C.A.R.E.S. – the industry’s efforts to provide clean, affordable, reliable and efficient energy. Members also talked about how the recent metals tariffs being proposed and enacted by US President Donald Trump could impact oil and gas drilling. Members advocated for a temporary critical energy security exemption, which they said would prevent supply chain disruptions.
The IADC group met with 11 House Representatives, 11 Senators and their staff:
- Representatives: Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Nick Begich (R-AK), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Gabe Evans (R-CO) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX).
- Senators: John Cornyn (R-TX), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Curtis (R-UT), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and James Lankford (R-OK).
The group also met with David Bauer, VP, State & Tax Policy at American Trucking Associations, to discuss highway accident litigation reform.
Participating IADC member companies included Noble Corp, Transocean, Precision Drilling, Unit Drilling, H&P, Akita Drilling, Norton Drilling, Askara Group and Petroleum Machinery.
EIS requirement for oil, gas leases rescinded for seven states
To reduce regulatory barriers for oil and gas companies and expedite domestic energy development, the US Department of the Interior (DOI) announced that it will no longer require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for approximately 3,244 oil and gas leases in seven western states.
With this action, the BLM will no longer prepare an EIS for oil and gas leasing decisions encompassing 3.5 million acres across Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Further, the BLM is evaluating options for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act for these oil and gas leasing decisions.
US EPA proposes sweeping deregulation agenda
On 12 March, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an expansive deregulatory initiative. Through a series of press releases and a public address by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the agency outlined 31 planned actions aimed at rescinding, revising or reconsidering existing environmental rules and policies.
Among other things, the EPA said it would reconsider rules related to treated wastewater generated from oil and gas drilling operations. Currently, this water can be used in limited ways, such as for agriculture. The EPA said it will look at how treated water could be used for other purposes like cooling data centers and firefighting.
Click here to read the list of policy overhauls proposed by the EPA.
Trump EO instructs US DOJ to investigate climate laws
An executive order (EO) issued by US President Donald Trump on 8 April directed the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to identify state and local laws, regulations, policies and practices that might impede developing, producing or otherwise using domestic energy resources.
Specifically, the EO directs the DOJ to prioritize the identification of state laws that “purport to address ‘climate change’ or involve ‘environmental, social and governance’ initiatives, ‘environmental justice,’ carbon or ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions, and funds to collect carbon penalties or carbon taxes.” If found, the DOJ was instructed to take action to stop the enforcement of such laws.
The specific actions to be taken under the EO, as well as the specific laws that will be targeted, have yet to be determined.
