Democrats Sink Bill To Expand U.S. Gasoline Supply Barton: ‘It will be back’ WASHINGTON – House Democrats refused to support the Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act, a bill designed to put more refineries on line and more gasoline into the U.S. supply system. The bill, which required 290 votes to pass, fell short when 185 Democrats said no. “It will be back next week,” U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, told reporters following the vote. The bill required a two-thirds approval – 290 votes – to pass on Wednesday. Thirteen Democrats joined 224 Republicans in voting for passage. H.R. 5254, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., establishes regulatory certainty for companies as they make long-term decisions to expand or build crude oil, coal-to-liquid or biofuel refineries. “I will match my environmental record in this Congress with anybody else’s and certainly my record in supporting the development of alternative energy resources and quite frankly, this bill does just that,” Bass said, “The expedited permitting process … also applies to coal-to-liquid and biofuels and this is critical to my part of the country. We can’t afford to wait five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years to increase our supplies not only of traditional motor fuels but also these alternatives.” Barton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said, “I knew the refinery bill would pass by a simple majority. Then it was a question of moral courage and whether my friends on the Democratic side who wanted to vote for it would vote for it. Thirteen did, and let’s not forget those great 13, but a 180-plus didn’t.” Among the bill’s highlights: Establishes a federal coordinator who will convene all the players in all U.S. government agencies responsible for issuing permits to develop a facility and help them coordinate and expedite their schedules so that decisions on permits can move efficiently. Gives EPA priority in the scheduling coordination, preserving the strict environmental standards that must be met for these facilities to be developed. Maximum deference is given to Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation Recovery Act and others, acknowledging that environmental permitting can be the most complex. Directs the president to suggest at least three closed military bases as suitable sites for new refineries, one of which must be designated for biofuel refining, while preserving local authority to make final siting decisions on closed bases. Does not prevent private citizens from availing themselves of any and all legal options to appeal the permitting process. Does not allow any agency or facility developer to short-circuit environmental compliance. U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., chairman of the Science Committee and critic of the previous refinery legislation, supported the bill, which he helped draft with Bass and Barton. “I think this bill will do no harm and could do some good,” Boehlert said. “While regulations have not prevented oil refinery expansion and while regulations are not the reason that new refineries have not been built, it can’t hurt to try to streamline the process as long as streamlining is not a euphemism for weakening environmental protections. And in this bill, I think we’ve hit the right balance.” ####