Interior’s Oil and Gas Report Highlights Broken System and Desperate Need for Reform

WASHINGTON, DC (November 26, 2021) – Today, the Department of the Interior released its interim report on the comprehensive review of the oil and gas leasing program, which focuses on several well-documented problems with the federal oil and gas program. 

In response, The Wilderness Society released the following statement from President, Jamie Williams:

“This report echoes what the Government Accountability Office, DOI’s Inspector General and other respected analysts have already determined, that the federal oil and gas leasing system does not currently benefit people or the climate and is in need of immediate and significant reform.

“Congress can act immediately with the Build Back Better Act to institute several common sense budgetary reforms highlighted by today’s report. While not sufficient alone, addressing these longstanding and well-known problems is a critical step toward fixing a broken federal oil and gas program. 

“The Biden Administration and Congress now must capitalize on the opportunity to transform our public lands into a leading climate solution by enacting policies that swiftly ramp down emissions and the unjust impacts of pollution, while supporting communities in a just and equitable transition.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS OF THE REPORT:

• The onshore program “fails to provide a fair return to taxpayers,” “inadequately accounts for environmental harms,” “fosters speculation,” and “leaves communities out of important conversations. . .”
• GAO and DOI’s Office of Inspector General have both repeatedly “sounded the alarm bell on the Federal oil and gas program. . .”
• Accordingly, to address these “well-documented and long reported deficiencies,” the report contains a “high-level blueprint to modernize” the program, focused on achieving three “programmatic” goals: (1) providing a fair return to the public/States; (2) designing “more responsible leasing and development processes;” and (3) creating “a more transparent, inclusive, and just approach to leasing and permitting. . .”
• The report acknowledges that BLM’s processes/practices -- specifically on “allowing anonymous lease nominations and recent efforts to restrict or eliminate public notice and comment periods” -- have “not always been adequate, fair, or equitable, which thus perpetuates environmental injustice.”
• The report says that “DOI should undertake meaningful Tribal consultations and solicit public input more generally regarding its leasing and permitting processes.”
• The report also “encourages Congress to act on pending legislation to provide fundamental reforms to the onshore and offshore oil and gas programs.”

Actions on public lands are a critical tool to help the US achieve the Biden administration’s ambitious and necessary climate goals, given the significant chunk of emissions that come from public lands and the still untapped renewable energy potential.

Emissions from fossil fuels produced on federal lands and waters are equivalent to almost a quarter of total US greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, as of 2019, the wind, solar, and geothermal projects that have been built on US public lands accounted for less than 5% of all wind, solar, and geothermal projects in the US, highlighting the huge opportunity for growth. 

Analysis from The Wilderness Society shows an array of options the Biden administration has to reach net-zero emissions from public lands by 2030 – which would cut a significant portion of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Such actions include enacting fiscal and regulatory policies, such as increasing onshore royalty rates and federal methane regulations; as well as increasing onshore and offshore renewable energy development, and new and expanded protections for forests and natural carbon sinks.

According to the analysis, without new policies, climate emissions coming from public lands and waters are still projected to represent the equivalent of 16.5% of the country’s total emissions in 2030 – only about a 5% drop. While emissions from public lands have been dropping due to a decline in the production of coal, it’s not nearly enough to meet our climate goals.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Community-based stories illustrating the impacts of oil and gas development on public lands→ Fresno County, CA (multimedia page, audio clips); Kern County, CA (multimedia page); Roaring Fork Valley, CO (multimedia page, additional audio clips); Western Wyoming (multimedia page, additional audio clips)
• Factsheets: Expected impacts of limiting new leasing on oil and gas production and state royalty revenue: AK, CO, NM, WY
• New Analysis: Getting to Net Zero Fossil Fuel Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Federal Public Lands and Waters by 2030

CONTACT:

• Alex Thompson, Senior Communications Manager, The Wilderness Society, (860) 416-0564, alex_thompson@tws.org