Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper Lead Opposition Against Rescission of Key BLM Oil and Gas Rules
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, alongside Senator John Hickenlooper and other Democratic colleagues, are actively opposing the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) proposed rescission of two significant oil and gas rules: the 2024 Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (2024 Onshore Leasing Rule) and the 2024 Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule (2024 Waste Prevention Rule). The lawmakers argue that overturning these rules would negatively impact public lands, diminish community involvement in decision-making, increase pollution, and raise costs for taxpayers. The 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule aimed to incorporate concerns from states, Tribes, and local communities, correcting past policies that prioritized oil and gas development and led to abandoned wells becoming taxpayer burdens. The 2024 Waste Prevention Rule sought to reduce pollution on public lands, maintain domestic energy supply, and protect communities from ...