Bill Overview
Title: Unleash American Drilling Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Interior to issue decisions on applications for drilling permits associated with certain oil and gas leases within specified timeframes. If a decision is not made within the timeframe, the permit shall be considered issued.
Sponsors: Rep. Budd, Ted [R-NC-13]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by oil and gas drilling policies
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The bill concerns the issuance of drilling permits for oil and gas.
- Drilling permits and oil and gas exploitation impact workers in the energy sector and job markets in affected regions.
- Local communities near drilling sites may experience changes in economic opportunities and environmental conditions.
- Environmental advocates and organizations may react to or be affected by increased drilling.
- Consumers may be affected by any changes in the availability of domestic oil and gas production, potentially impacting energy prices.
Reasoning
- The Unleash American Drilling Act is primarily aimed at facilitating oil and gas production within the United States.
- The population directly impacted includes oil and gas workers, local communities near drilling sites, and environmental advocacy groups.
- Indigenous communities and wildlife could also be impacted, affecting local ecologies and traditional lifestyles.
- While the policy could lead to job creation in the short term, there may be long-term environmental and health concerns.
- The Act's implementation is budget-conscious, indicating it might prioritize speed and efficiency in permit issuance over comprehensive environmental assessments.
- Wellbeing impacts will be diverse; some may experience economic improvement, whereas others might face environmental degradation.
- The total population impacted could range vastly, but the primary direct target group is the 30 million Americans closely involved with or affected by the oil and gas industry.
- Consumer energy prices might stabilize or reduce, benefiting household economies broadly while increasing fossil fuel dependency.
Simulated Interviews
Oil Rig Worker (Houston, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy will secure my job and potentially increase my income through overtime or bonuses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Environmental Scientist (Casper, Wyoming)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could significantly negatively impact local ecosystems and wildlife. I'm concerned about the long-term environmental effects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 5 |
Retired Coal Miner (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support job creation but am worried about pollution and health impacts from increased drilling activity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Petroleum Engineer (Midland, Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a great opportunity for new engineers like me to advance our careers in the energy sector.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Local Business Owner (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased drilling could deter tourists by affecting the natural beauty of our region.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Truck Driver (Fargo, North Dakota)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More drilling means more transport jobs for me, but it also causes roads to deteriorate faster.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Environmental Lawyer (New York, New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act deeply concerns me, as it sidelines environmental checks which are crucial for sustainable development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 5 |
IT Specialist (Austin, Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think lower energy costs could benefit tech companies by reducing operational costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Retired Farmer (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about what increased drilling could do to the water supply and land quality near my property.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Energy Analyst (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could lead to short-term job growth but may not support long-term energy stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $150000000)
Year 2: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $150000000)
Year 3: $105000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $155000000)
Year 5: $110000000 (Low: $85000000, High: $160000000)
Year 10: $120000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $170000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- Environmental impacts and potential challenges related to expedited permit approvals and regulatory compliance.
- Legal risks associated with non-compliance to environmental protection regulations or challenges from advocacy groups.
- Fluctuations in global oil prices could affect the domestic oil market and viability of additional drilling.