DENVER – In response to President Biden’s announcement today that the U.S. Department of the Interior will withdraw a 10-mile zone around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park from oil and natural gas leasing and development for a 20-year period, Western Energy Alliance issued the following statement attributable to association President Kathleen Sgamma:
“President Biden is again resorting to executive action by pursuing a 10-mile exclusionary zone around Chaco Canyon to get around Congress. The White House is ignoring the will of the Navajo Nation, which voted overwhelmingly to support a five-mile buffer that would protect the park while enabling Navajo mineral owners to access their prime oil resources. “Oil and natural gas development is already done in a way to protect cultural resources. That’s why the Alliance agrees with the Navajos who live near the park on a balanced compromise. Every year, companies return over $90 million in royalties to Navajo mineral owners, a significant source of income for families in an otherwise impoverished area. A 10-mile buffer would strand Navajo lands among the patchwork of federal lands in the region, thereby making it nearly impossible for them to develop the energy they own and threatening their livelihoods. DENVER – Western Energy Alliance will honor Bill Armstrong, president and chief executive officer of Denver-based Armstrong Oil & Gas, Inc., with the Wildcatter of the Year award in recognition of his achievements in community service and business, including discovering what is potentially the third-largest oil field in the United States. As the 36th recipient of the Wildcatter award, Armstrong will be formally celebrated by leaders in the oil and natural gas industry at the Wildcatter gala on Saturday, November 6th.
“Throughout his career, Bill has built a reputation for succeeding in areas where most others had moved on,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “In addition to his professional success, Bill was selected for this award by his peers because of his leadership in the community supporting education and the arts. Wildcatter is a perfect description of Bill Armstrong when you consider his discoveries in Alaska and success opening up a new frontier and renewing excitement in the state. But what sets Bill apart is his humble nature and big heart for helping the community. Through the generosity of his wife Liz and him, young ballet dancers in inner-city Denver have an inspiring facility to pursue their dreams, and college students from Alaska to Texas enjoy modern student centers and athletic amenities. These are the qualities we look for while selecting our recipient, and why we’re pleased to honor Bill Armstrong.” DENVER – Western Energy Alliance released this statement following EPA’s announcement today of new and existing source methane rules for the oil and natural gas industry. This statement is attributable to Alliance President Kathleen Sgamma:
“The oil and natural gas industry supports balanced efforts to reduce methane emissions, but this rule tips that balance and will suppress American production at the same time the president is asking Russia and OPEC to increase theirs. The industry has a successful track record of reducing methane emissions by 23 percent since 1990, even as oil and natural gas production have increased 49 percent and 71 percent, respectively. Further, fuel switching to natural gas in the electricity sector continues to be the primary reason the United States has reduced more greenhouse gases than any other country. DENVER – Since President Biden banned leasing on public lands in January, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and other officials have repeatedly promised an interim report of the federal oil and natural gas program in “early summer” and “very soon.” Yet today marks the first day of autumn and there is no plan in sight. Western Energy Alliance released the following comment in response to the Interior Department’s continual delay:
“All summer we heard that the report on the ‘comprehensive review’ of the federal oil and natural gas would be out any day,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “There’s been radio silence for several weeks now and the Interior Department still doesn’t have a plan. It was reported on June 17th the report was sent to the White House. (E&E News) More than a month later, Interior Secretary Haaland said her agency was still working on it. Yet another month later and the Interior Department still has made no progress and therefore, the leasing ban has been in vain. DENVER – Western Energy Alliance and the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW) today filed a merits brief ahead of schedule in their Wyoming District Court lawsuit challenging the Biden Administration’s ban on oil and natural gas leasing. The trade associations filed the briefing ahead of schedule and urged the judge to expedite the proceedings in light of the Department of the Interior’s failure to comply with a Louisiana court ruling overturning the ban and intention not to hold any lease sales in 2021. The State of Wyoming, with its companion case before the court, is expected to file a brief soon as well.
“While the Interior Department ignores one federal court ruling overturning the leasing ban, we’re hoping another ruling will do the trick” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of Western Energy Alliance. “Last week, the government filed a brief clearly stating that no onshore lease sales will be held in 2021. Despite the excuses and hand-waving about complying with the Louisiana order by working on leasing, we agree with Interior Sec. Haaland; the president’s leasing ban is in place until a lease sale occurs. While the plaintiffs in the Louisiana case press the judge to force compliance, we’re applying pressure through the Wyoming court. By speeding up the court schedule, we’ll get to a full decision on the merits sooner rather than later to compel the department to meet its obligations under the Mineral Leasing Act. This administration is not above the law. It must comply with laws passed by Congress and orders by the federal judiciary, whether it agrees with them or not.” |
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