The House energy coalition is concerned with a Regulatory Reform Request for Information (RFI) published May 20 by the the U.S. Department of the Interior and its intention with public land management in the United States.
The DOI solicited information for 90 days until June 20 to identify “existing regulations that can be modified or repealed, consistent with applicable law, to ensure that DOI administrative actions do not undermine the national interest and that DOI achieves a meaningful reduction in regulatory burdens while continuing to meet statutory obligations, advance American energy independence, and ensure the responsible stewardship of the Nation’s public lands and resources. This RFI is part of DOI’s implementation of recent directives from the President, including Executive orders, which seek to deconstruct the regulatory burden that has been self-imposed on our Nation’s interests and improve the relevant processes to establish a more efficient regulatory program at DOI.”
According to Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force Reps. Doris Matsui of California, Don Beyer of Virginia and Maxine Dexter of Oregon, who sent a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum, the RFI actually aims to undermine public land management on behalf of polluting industries.
“In carrying out its duties, the Department is guided by multiple statutes and a well-developed suite of regulations promulgated over many decades. While we can appreciate the goal of establishing a more efficient regulatory program at DOI and agree wholeheartedly with the importance of effective stewardship of our public lands and resources, it appears the true intent of the RFI is the ‘deconstruction of the overbearing and burdensome administrative state.’ This goal is contrary to existing law, Congressional intent and the continued exercise of the DOI’s many responsibilities,” the Task Force wrote in its letter.
Existing regulations exist to protect human health and the environment from harmful practices and pollution from bad actors.
“Eliminating them means that companies could fail to clean up oil spills in waterways that are sources of drinking water, neglect to install equipment that prevents air pollution, and destroy the scenic landscapes where we hike, fish and play. Our children deserve to inherit a safe and habitable planet where they can breathe clean air and drink clean water,” the Task Force wrote.
The SEEC is a coalition of 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives that was founded in January 2009 to be a focused, active, and effective coalition for advancing policies that address climate change, promote clean energy innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, create family-sustaining clean jobs, protect our nation’s air, water, and natural environment, and promote environmental justice.
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Rebecca Barnabi
