Archive for September, 2012
Revitalization of DOE’s Role as a Regulatory Watchdog
Sep 25th
DOE’s enabling statutes give it ample authority to intervene in the regulatory programs of other agencies. These interventionist authorities are to be used when other federal agencies propose regulations which curtail the attainment of the nation’s energy goals.
Unfortunately these DOE regulatory authorities have remained dormant for years. DOE is in the process of implementing a program to examine its existing regulations and at the same time to initiate process changes which will make its programs more responsive to the needs of the public.
In response to a request for public comment CRE has provided DOE with these recommendations.
A Poster Child for Regulation by Litigation Run Amok: The BLM Oil Shale Program
Sep 20th
Do you want to have a major impact on US energy policy? Simply have an NGO, acting in the “public interest”, sue the USG government and obtain a settlement which is not subject to the procedural safeguards of the Administrative Procedure Act nor OMB review under Executive Order 12886.
CRE finds it incomprehensible that oil shale offers the United States the potential to extract over 1.5 trillion barrels of oil, an amount about equal to the entire world’s proven oil reserves, yet BLM has drastically shifted its policy position to one which will prohibit the development of this vital resource.. This is especially troubling in that the 2008 PEIS BLM specifically outlined two additional steps of environmental analysis that would need to be completed before any oil could be commercially extracted. CRE recommends the following:
Obama administration kick-starts regulatory reform, but more action needed
Sep 18th
Editor’s Note: The audio of Mr. Ellig’s interview is available here.
From: FederalNewsRadio.com 1500AM
The Barack Obama White House says it has cut red tape, reduced paperwork for businesses and citizens, and required agencies to simplify or get rid of old regulations. But has the Obama administration really reduced regulations?
When it comes to the President’s efforts to reduce regulations, Federal News Radio believes more progress is needed. The administration has not universally embraced the spirit of reducing regulations. And it has made limited progress toward its stated goals and produced limited results.
Revitalization of DOE’s Role as a Regulatory Watchdog
Sep 7th
DOE’s enabling statutes give it ample authority to intervene in the regulatory programs of other agencies. These interventionist authorities are to be used when other federal agencies propose regulations which curtail the attainment of the nation’s energy goals.
Unfortunately these DOE regulatory authorities have remained dormant for years. DOE is in the process of implementing a program to examine its existing regulations and at the same time to initiate process changes which will make its programs more responsive to the needs of the public.
In response to a request for public comment CRE has provided DOE with these recommendations.