Federal suspension and orders on oil and gas production.

21LSO-0578

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
JOINT RESOLUTION
.
SJ0003

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1,

SENATE

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress and the federal government to reverse federal orders and actions that inhibit the safe development of oil and gas in Wyoming and that negatively and disproportionately impact Wyoming citizens and industries.

WHEREAS, the state of Wyoming contains abundant and vast natural resources that are and can be used for the production of energy throughout the United States and world; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming produces energy that benefits consumers and industries throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, the energy industry in Wyoming provides millions of dollars in taxes and other revenues annually to the state of Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, the state of Wyoming and the energy industry have worked together for years to develop Wyoming's energy resources in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, including the development of technologies to promote the responsible development and use of Wyoming energy; and

WHEREAS, the federal government owns almost one-half (1/2) of the surface acreage within the state of Wyoming and more than forty-two million (42,000,000) acres of mineral estate in Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, federal decisions and actions banning, pausing or significantly reducing the production of energy negatively impact the economy of Wyoming and the livelihoods and well-being of Wyoming's residents; and

WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed Executive Order No. 13,990 on January 20, 2021, which requires the
federal Secretary of the Interior to unilaterally stop all federal leasing of oil and gas resources in Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, President Biden signed Executive Order No. 14,008 on January 27, 2021, which indefinitely pauses oil and natural gas leasing and calls for a comprehensive review of federal oil and gas permitting and leasing practices to evaluate potential climate impacts; and

WHEREAS, the President and various federal agencies have, since January 20, 2021, taken actions and issued orders to limit actions, permits and leases for oil and gas production, including a Department of the Interior order that revoked authority for issuing fossil-fuel authorizations, leases, permits to drill and the affirmative extension of leases and contracts; and

WHEREAS, these executive actions will lead companies to pursue energy development in other parts of the world where energy resources are not as environmentally responsible and where responsible energy regulations are lacking to where a net negative impact on climate emissions may likely result; and

WHEREAS, these executive actions severely and negatively affect the value of property held by the state and citizens of Wyoming in areas affected by these orders due to the fact that federal property is intermingled with private and state lands and oil and gas development often involves lateral drilling techniques which cross several classes of property; and

WHEREAS, these executive actions will adversely impact and jeopardize the employment of at least twenty thousand (20,000) Wyoming citizens who directly or indirectly work in
oil, gas and related industries representing over seven percent (7%) of the total employment in Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, these executive actions may result in negative impacts to Wyoming's diverse wildlife and habitat, including a decreased ability to mitigate wildlife impacts, increased development on currently undisturbed lands and a decrease in quality habitat reclamation work; and

WHEREAS, these executive actions are causing immediate, disproportionate and extensive harm to the state of Wyoming and will inflict lasting damage on Wyoming residents, industries and the critical services upon which Wyoming residents depend.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That the President of the United States rescind, reverse or repeal the executive orders that were issued in January 2021 that suspend or pause leasing, permitting, extensions and authorizations of oil and gas development in Wyoming and that will have an adverse impact on climate change and Wyoming's wildlife and habitat resources while inflicting irreparable and disproportionate harm on the state of Wyoming.

Section 2.

That the President of the United States direct all federal agencies to rescind, reverse or repeal any secretarial orders or actions that negatively impact responsible energy and energy technology development in Wyoming, including Department of the Interior Secretarial Order No. 3395.

Section 3.

That the Wyoming Legislature strongly opposes actions by or that direct federal agencies, including the federal Environmental Protection Agency, to unilaterally increase the burden on existing oil and gas companies in Wyoming and to increase the burden on those companies' facilities in Wyoming in an attempt to achieve climate-related goals that are unrealistic and that disproportionately impact the people of Wyoming.

Section 4.

That the Wyoming Legislature strongly supports the efforts of the Wyoming congressional delegation to prevent the President and the federal executive branch from unilaterally issuing suspensions and moratoriums on energy development in Wyoming, including the Protecting Our Wealth of Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2021 and the Safeguarding Oil and Gas Leasing and Permitting Act.

Section 5.

That the Wyoming Legislature strongly encourages further congressional action to protect responsible leasing and permitting of oil and gas in Wyoming and to protect Wyoming's residents, energy industry and other industries that are negatively impacted by these executive actions.

Section 6.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the Acting Secretary of the Department of the Interior, to the Acting Administrator of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

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