The American Petroleum Institute (API) expressed approval following Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke’s recent order to accelerate oil and gas permitting on federal property, stating the decision will fortify the nation’s energy status.
“We applaud the administration’s steps to help strengthen the United States’ energy position,” Erik Milito, API’s upstream and industry operations group director, said in a release. “A key component of a successful policy is repairing the federal permitting process so that companies have the confidence to invest and see their projects move forward.”
Natural gas production on private and state property increased 55 percent from 2010 to 2015, while crude oil production increased 113 percent during the same span, according to the Congressional Research Service, a branch of the Library of Congress providing analytical information for the government.
“Today’s action is an important recognition of the benefits of responsible development on federal lands, which make up nearly a third of U.S. territory,” Milito said, adding that the institute anticipates cooperating with the administration on “smart policies that unlock investment and improve regulatory uncertainty.”
API, which maintains over 200 industry standards for nationwide implementation, had earlier issued a call for action for responsible stewardship of federal land resources.
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