Bill Overview
Title: Energy Permitting Certainty Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of the Interior to process applications for permits to drill under a valid oil or gas lease even if there are any pending civil actions, provided that the civil actions do not directly affect or involve the application or underlying lease.
Sponsors: Rep. Herrell, Yvette [R-NM-2]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by changes in oil and gas drilling permit processes
Estimated Size: 70000000
- The bill concerns the processing of applications for permits to drill for oil and gas.
- This legislative change primarily impacts industries involved in oil and gas extraction.
- The processing of these permits affects communities in areas with oil and gas resources due to potential economic benefits or environmental impacts.
- Globally, individuals and communities in major oil-producing countries or regions will be more directly affected.
- Changes in drilling permit processes could impact global oil supply, influencing global oil prices, which indirectly affects global consumers.
Reasoning
- The population mainly impacted by this policy includes workers in the oil and gas industry, their families, and communities near drilling sites, especially in states like Texas, North Dakota, and Alaska. They may experience economic changes due to potentially increased drilling activities.
- While the economic benefits might improve wellbeing scores for some, increased drilling could lead to environmental concerns, potentially lowering wellbeing for others living near drilling sites.
- The budgetary constraints imply a significant but not unlimited impact scope, meaning while some communities directly involved in oil and gas might feel substantial changes, the broader consumer market effects through possible oil price adjustments might be mild due to global market dynamics.
Simulated Interviews
Oil rig engineer (Midland, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy will ensure more stability and predictability in my work schedule.
- There's always been uncertainty due to permit delays, so a streamlined process is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Environmental Scientist (Bismarck, North Dakota)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the environmental repercussions of accelerating permits.
- This could strain our ability to ensure environmental safety measures are met.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 5 |
Oil and Gas Financial Analyst (Houston, Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Faster permit approvals might boost our local economy and job creation.
- This policy will likely lead to increased investment opportunities in the region.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Sitka, Alaska)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried that more drilling will lower property values and hurt our local environment.
- We need to balance job creation with environmental stewardship.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Oilfield Services Manager (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our services will see more demand with clearer permit timelines.
- Increased drilling activities could enhance job security for many in our field.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Environmental Policy Advocate (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy shortens the timeline for assessing environmental impacts, which is concerning.
- We need to ensure that economic benefits don't overshadow environmental responsibilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Energy Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act would streamline an aspect of the energy sector that has long faced bureaucratic delays.
- It could lead to increased domestic oil production, impacting national energy security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Fargo, North Dakota)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased drilling means more business for our supply company.
- It can be a double-edged sword if not environmentally managed properly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
University Professor (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Faster drilling permits may increase the risk of environmental incidents.
- This could lead to more case studies and research opportunities, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Truck Driver (Casper, Wyoming)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More drilling means more work, which is good for my job security.
- The policy seems to provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $20500000 (Low: $15500000, High: $31000000)
Year 3: $21000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $32000000)
Year 5: $22000000 (Low: $16500000, High: $33000000)
Year 10: $24000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $35000000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $18500000, High: $36000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy could lead to environmental concerns due to potentially increased drilling activities.
- Expedited permitting might face legal challenges from environmental groups, affecting the policy's implementation timeline.