WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee member, joined a letter led by Senate Energy Committee Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) to U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland regarding a virtual forum hosted by DOI this Thursday on President Joe Biden’s Executive Order imposing an indefinite moratorium on federal oil and gas lease sales.
In the letter, the senators question the legal ramifications and procedural uncertainty caused by the forum and the subsequent interim report DOI is tasked with producing. The letter also expresses concern with DOI limiting public participation in the virtual forum and points out misleading statements from the department on federal oil and gas leasing permits.
“The federal oil and gas leasing process is governed by the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), and Administrative Procedures Act (APA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), among other statutes. These laws standardize procedures and ensure everyone has a voice in the federal decision-making process. We believe that you have intentionally limited the right for the public to participate, including state-wide elected officials,” wrote the senators. “With the Virtual Forum just days away, time is of the essence. We look forward to your prompt response.”
Joining Senator Cramer and Barrasso are Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jim Risch (R-ID), and John Cornyn (R-TX).
Click here to read the letter.
