WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today issued the following statement in response to the administration’s regulations on hydraulic fracturing on federal lands:
“America is now number one in energy thanks to advanced technologies like hydraulic fracturing and commonsense energy policies on non-federal lands. Hydraulic fracturing has been used safely for decades, and states are already successfully regulating the process on both public and private lands. We are now producing more oil and gas than ever before and it’s safer than ever before. There is no justifiable reason for the White House to step in and step on success.
“We have pursued North American energy independence for some time, but it has been frustrating to say the least to see energy production on state and private lands thrive while restrictions have reduced production on large tracts of public lands. These extra layers of regulation only hurt our ability to finally make energy independence a reality. Let’s call it like it is: this rule is essentially a de facto ban on energy production on federal lands and will take a fire hose to any spark of potential for jobs and affordable energy. Doubling down on bad policies and adding more red tape on federal lands is the wrong direction for our nation’s energy policy. Let’s work together to pursue policies that say yes to affordable energy and yes to jobs."
