Great Seal of the U.S.A.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Oil and Gas Facilitation Act of 2011 (S. 916)
A recent bill (Oil and Gas Facilitation Act of 2011) was introduced in the Senate designed to "facilitate appropriate oil and gas development on Federal land and waters, to limit the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of oil and gas, and for other purposes."1 The proposed bill contains many provisions relevant to oil and gas development in Alaska:
- Creating an inventory of the outer Continental Shelf region in Alaska and establishing a lease and permit processing office for this region
- Facilitation of a natural gas pipeline in Alaska
Full Text of the Proposed Oil and Gas Facilitation Act of 2011
To view the progress of the S. 916, go here.
National Petroleum Reserve Alaska Access Act (H.R. 2150)
The proposed bill would require annual oil and natural gas lease sales to be conducted for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska between 2011 and 2020; previously, these lease sales were conducted every two years. The bill would require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Transportation to facilitate and ensure, “in an environmentally responsible manner,” the necessary permits for surface oil and gas development in a timely manner. In addition, the bill would require USGS to complete a comprehensive assessment of technically recoverable oil and natural gas resources within the NPR-A; this assessment is to be completed within two years of the enactment of the bill.
H.R. 2150 is sponsored by Representative Doc Hastings, R-WA and has fourteen co-sponsors. The bill was ordered to be reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 13, 2011.
Full Text of the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska Access Act.
To view the progress of H.R. 2150, go here.