Press Releases

A new study examining the economic impact of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rule regulating hydraulic fracturing was released this weekby the Western Energy Alliance. These findings corroborate the concerns that BLM’s proposed rule will be devastating to energy development and production on public lands, which will have a disproportionate impact on Western states. The annual $1.615 billion cost to society is only the start of the negative impacts this proposed ruling will have on our nation’s energy sector.

BLM’s proposed ruleunnecessarily diminishes the role of states in regulating hydraulic fracturing. States have a long and successful record of regulating oil and natural gas operations, including the fracing practices BLM is looking to further regulate. Congressman Pearce, Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, issued this statement in response to the Western Energy Alliance study:

“Once again, the Administration is attempting to add further regulations to a system that is working. BLM’s proposed rule on hydraulic fracturing will do more harm than good, and unnecessarily takes regulatory authority away from states. States have been successfully regulating hydraulic fracturing for over 60 years, and nothing warrants a change in that.

“Complying with BLM’s proposed rule will come at a grave cost to the American public. Aside from the annual $1.615 billion cost to society, the negative impact on American energy security and job creation is just too great to ignore.”