No more “slow walking” of oil and gas permits as the nation saw under the Biden administration.
Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK) introduced the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mineral Spacing Act this week. The bill would streamline and improve the permitting process for energy development, remove duplicative regulations, and better respect the rights of private mineral holders.
“I remain committed to cutting bureaucratic red tape for our energy producers, who have faced relentless attacks from the Biden Administration,” said Congresswoman Bice.
“The BLM Mineral Spacing Act will streamline the permitting process, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and empower private mineral owners. By ensuring the BLM can better allocate its resources, we can strengthen domestic energy production and reinforce America’s role as a leader in affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. I appreciate Senator Hoeven’s partnership on this critical issue.”
A companion bill was reintroduced in the Senate by Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.).
“As part of our efforts to make the U.S. energy dominant again, this legislation will empower the development of privately-held and state-owned energy resources, but which can’t currently be accessed due to federal bureaucratic hurdles,” said Senator Hoeven.
“It makes no sense that the federal government can block development when it only has a minority share of minerals in a given formation and no surface acre rights. This enabled the Biden administration to lock away vast areas of non-federal minerals, particularly in split-estate areas like North Dakota. Our legislation corrects this issue, better enabling private individuals and states to exercise their property rights, while strengthening our nation’s energy security.”
Specifically, the BLM Mineral Spacing Act removes the BLM permitting requirement in instances when:
- Less than half of the subsurface minerals within a drilling spacing unit are owned by the federal government; and
- The federal government does not own or lease any surface rights within the impacted area.
- Allows the federal government to receive royalties from energy production within the particular drilling or spacing unit. Subjects energy producers to all state laws, regulations and guidance governing energy activity in each relevant jurisdiction.
In 2022, the Biden Administration significantly reduced access to federal oil and gas reserves, only allowing 20 percent of available acreage for oil and gas leasing, while also raising production fees on the lands by 50 percent.
Source: press release