By Tim Romano

Have something to say about your public lands? It could cost you…

My friends over at Trout Unlimited alerted me to a couple of bills that have been introduced to the House that don't sit well with me. I thought I would share.

They went on to say that Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (SFRED), a coalition of businesses, organizations and individuals led by Trout Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, has been following this set of bills. And so far, the message isn’t exactly “sportsmen friendly.”

Among the provisions:
- A requirement of a $5,000 documentation fee to protest any lease, stifling a process that is currently free and open to anyone who wants to participate.
- Prioritizing energy development over fish and wildlife on public lands.
- A mandate that leases be issued within 60 days of payment regardless of protests or litigation.
- Requires that a minimum of 25 percent of the leases receive minimal environmental review and no protests.

It might cost you $5,000 if a suite of bills introduced in the House passes - and that’s just to voice an opinion.
   
Bottom line? These bills are bad for your fishing and hunting.

As a rule, SFRED supports energy development on public lands, but only so far as there is a balance between that development and the fish and wildlife resources sportsmen rely on.

This legislation has been sold as a means to speed up the permitting process and bring more certainty for oil and gas operators - a way to increase jobs and resources. But the reality is it wouldn’t necessarily do either. In fact, it stands to degrade more fish and wildlife resources, which is a proven economic engine.

In 2010, public lands drew more than 58 million visitors - campers, hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers - who contributed $7.4 billion to the economy. Nationally, those visitors help sustain a work force of 1.2 million people - sustainable jobs built on the sustained health of public lands.

“We recognize that leasing and permitting procedures and processes sometimes take longer than they should,” Brad Powell, Western Energy Director for Trout Unlimited, said during testimony to Congress in April. “But the fact remains that the energy industry has access to a large amount of public land, and has developed oil and gas with great success.”

Just to put it in perspective:
- 38 million acres of leases are held by industry.
- Less than half of the available acreage is in production.
- Industry holds more than 7,000 approved unused permits to drill for oil and gas on public lands.

The oil and gas industry has massive amounts of opportunity for development that it is not using right now. Why would Congress want to give them more, especially to the detriment of sportsmen? Which is all the more reason to tell your member of Congress that sportsmen - and the lands they value - matter.

If you'd like to make your voice heard, take action:
Take a moment to contact your members of Congress. Ask them to support sustainable fish and wildlife populations, American sportsmen and our nation’s outdoor recreation-based economy by voting NO on H.R. 4480, the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012.

Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development is a coalition of more than 500 businesses, organizations and individuals dedicated to conserving irreplaceable habitats so future generations can hunt and fish on America's public lands. The coalition is led by the National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. Click here for more information.

Comments (9)

from Koldkut wrote 51 weeks 4 days ago

That sounds to me like the corporate energy guys are getting in bed with the government.....sad.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from labrador12 wrote 51 weeks 4 days ago

This is a predictable response to the "big green, EPA alliance" in which taxpayer dollars fund lawsuits by environmental organizations.

-4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Rhythm Rider wrote 51 weeks 4 days ago

This is clearly a violation of the first amendment. Go to your beloved heritage foundation and read it, goons:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

any law requiring a fee to petition is a violation.

case closed.....next question.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Knife Freak wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

This hiole thing is bull . Heck I live in Oklahoma and gas and oil companies own half the state.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tennesseedeerhunter wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

screw the goverment the states need to seceed again they did great without the feds taking everthing

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coachsjike wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

i guess this goes against your article on june 11th that there are politicians who really care about sportsman's concerns!! what a bunch of bull$hit. all they care about is making their next dime and from who.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coachsjike wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

so people are against drilling offshore but would rather entertain the idea of taking public land for drilling!!! yeah that makes sense.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from sanjr wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

"Why would Congress want to give them more, especially to the detriment of sportsmen?" I can tell you why...because the oil and gas industry pays the most. We have already given them a $5 billion tax break. Thats not enough. They wont stop until they own all of the public land. They can never have enough. Until the regular guy gets upset, things will never change. The politicians are going to keep taking their money and voting to pass laws that favor that industry. Period.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Nyflyangler wrote 50 weeks 1 day ago

I'm not seeing any forms on these websites that let you send a email to your Congressional Representatives asking them to oppose these bills.

It'd be a good idea to get them up soon.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

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from Koldkut wrote 51 weeks 4 days ago

That sounds to me like the corporate energy guys are getting in bed with the government.....sad.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from sanjr wrote 51 weeks 2 days ago

"Why would Congress want to give them more, especially to the detriment of sportsmen?" I can tell you why...because the oil and gas industry pays the most. We have already given them a $5 billion tax break. Thats not enough. They wont stop until they own all of the public land. They can never have enough. Until the regular guy gets upset, things will never change. The politicians are going to keep taking their money and voting to pass laws that favor that industry. Period.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Rhythm Rider wrote 51 weeks 4 days ago

This is clearly a violation of the first amendment. Go to your beloved heritage foundation and read it, goons:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

any law requiring a fee to petition is a violation.

case closed.....next question.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Knife Freak wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

This hiole thing is bull . Heck I live in Oklahoma and gas and oil companies own half the state.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tennesseedeerhunter wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

screw the goverment the states need to seceed again they did great without the feds taking everthing

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coachsjike wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

i guess this goes against your article on june 11th that there are politicians who really care about sportsman's concerns!! what a bunch of bull$hit. all they care about is making their next dime and from who.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coachsjike wrote 51 weeks 3 days ago

so people are against drilling offshore but would rather entertain the idea of taking public land for drilling!!! yeah that makes sense.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Nyflyangler wrote 50 weeks 1 day ago

I'm not seeing any forms on these websites that let you send a email to your Congressional Representatives asking them to oppose these bills.

It'd be a good idea to get them up soon.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from labrador12 wrote 51 weeks 4 days ago

This is a predictable response to the "big green, EPA alliance" in which taxpayer dollars fund lawsuits by environmental organizations.

-4 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.