Legislation

Representative Mark Udall (D-CO) re-introduced the Western Waters and Farm Lands Protection Act, H.R. 1180, on February 16, 2007 to balance oil and gas development with protections for landowners and western water resources. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced the Senate version of the bill, S. 1931, the Surface Owners Protection Act, on August 1, 2007.

Key provisions H.R. 1180 were subsequently included in H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection. This bill did not make it through the 110th Congress. WORC is building support to pass these reforms in 2009.

H.R. 1180 and S. 1931 would have

• Safeguarded precious water resources during the course of oil and gas development
• Reduced potential conflicts between the development of federally-owned oil and gas and the interests of those who own the surface
• Provided for appropriate reclamation of affected lands
• Read WORC’s fact sheet

On March 26, 2009, Senator Tester introduced the Surface Estate Owner Notification Act, S. 719. The bill directs the Department of Interior to notify affected surface estate owners when it leases federal oil and gas.

Testimony by landowners

Steve Adami testimony on “Land-use Issues Associated with Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Development” before the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources and Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. April 4, 2007

Eric Barlow provides a rancher’s perspective on natural gas policy to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Natural Gas Conference, January 24. 2005

Marjorie West describes the environmental impacts of natural gas development to the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, March 24, 2004