07.25.17

Hoeven: BLM Proposes to Rescind Hydraulic Fracturing Rule

Senator Working to Provide Regulatory Relief, Empower Energy Development

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today issued the following statement after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a proposal to rescind its hydraulic fracturing rule.

“BLM’s rule creates duplicative and unnecessary layers of regulation for our energy producers,” Hoeven said. “Our state and local governments have the greatest stake in protecting our land and water, and by rescinding this rule, we are respecting their vital role. Further, this is part of our effort to empower states and tribes to develop their resources, grow their economies and produce revenues to fund their priorities.”

Earlier this year, Hoeven joined the president and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to implement orders to stop overly burdensome regulations, including BLM’s hydraulic fracturing rule, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) costly rules for coal generating power plants, BLM’s methane rule and the moratorium on federal coal leasing. In addition, Hoeven has worked to:

  • Stop the Waters of the U.S. Rule – Hoeven worked through the Appropriations Committee to defund the regulation in 2016 and 2017. In February, the president signed an executive order directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to rescind or revise the rule.
  • Repeal the Stream Buffer Rule – Hoeven helped introduce and pass legislation to rescind the one-size-fits-all Stream Buffer Rule, which was primarily based on mining practices in the Appalachian region and threatened to eliminate thousands of mining jobs.
  • Rescind BLM “Planning 2.0” – Hoeven cosponsored and helped pass a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal the rule. This maintained multiple-use requirements for federal lands, including energy development.

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