API: Regulatory system should promote technological innovations and industry best practices
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2017 – API today urged the EPA to adopt a regulatory system that enhances safety and protects the environment while prioritizing the production and refining of American natural gas and oil. The comments filed today are part of the agency’s solicitation of input from the public to inform its Regulatory Reform Task Force's evaluation of existing regulations.
“We share the government’s goal of enhancing safety and protecting the environment while producing and refining more natural gas and oil here at home,” said API Senior Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Howard Feldman. “Technological innovations and industry leadership have propelled the natural gas and oil industry and benefited American consumers with lower prices despite the unprecedented level of federal regulatory actions targeting our industry.
“Consistent with President Trump’s stated objectives of American energy leadership and economic growth, EPA and other federal agencies should embrace and advance a regulatory system that promotes responsible access to domestic oil and natural gas resources, streamlined permitting and cost-effective regulations based on sound science.”
Record U.S. production and refining is happening alongside greater environmental progress: CO2 from power generation is down to near 30-year lows, thanks in large part to greater use of natural gas. Also, cleaner burning transportation fuels and industry investments in emissions reducing technologies have enabled reduced emissions of criteria air pollutants.
In 2015, energy-related savings put an extra $1,337 back in the pocket of the average American family, and AAA reports that drivers saved as much as $550 in fuel costs. Energy abundance has helped cut energy and material costs for American manufacturers and is helping to attract manufacturing back to the U.S.
In 2011 and 2015, API supported EPA efforts to relieve the burdens imposed by its rules, while protecting public health, safety and the environment, according to API.
“API will continue to work closely with the administration to ensure that strong regulations and industry best practices continue to support improvements to safety and environmental protection,” Feldman said. “We rely upon a cost-effective regulatory system that provides certainty and predictability necessary for the massive capital investments our industry must make.”
API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans.