East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) have introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution aimed at overturning the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recent Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process. The new rule is expected to significantly increase royalties, rates, minimum bids, costs and bonding requirements for oil and gas producers on federal lands. This could potentially make it virtually impossible for small energy producers to continue operations.

"Domestic energy production is vital to our nation’s prosperity and security," said Crapo. "It is unfathomable that the Biden Administration would willingly suppress energy production and hamper small producers knowing it means fewer jobs and higher prices for the American people."

Risch echoed this sentiment, stating: “The Biden administration continues to do everything it can to make American energy more expensive and less efficient, and Idahoans are left paying the price. We must repeal this misguided rule and focus on creating more opportunities for American producers of oil and gas in order to bring down costs and reduce reliance on foreign governments.”

Daines also expressed his concerns over the new rule: “Joe Biden set out on an anti-American energy war path on Day One, and ever since Montana’s small oil and gas producers have been a target. This new BLM rule will drive producers out of business, raise costs for Montana families and force the U.S. to run to our adversaries to meet our energy needs. It must be reversed."

Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alabama) joined Crapo, Risch, and Daines in introducing this resolution.