Committee on TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE U.S. House of Representatives	Democratic  News
Room 2163 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC  20515 Telephone 202-225-4472	Rep. James L. Oberstar, Ranking Democratic Member

For Immediate Release                                                                                                 Contact:  Jim Berard

Monday, October 6, 2003                                                                                                       (202) 225-4472

 

 

Oberstar Protests Exemption for Oil Industry

 

Says Democrats locked out of deliberations on energy bill

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WASHINGTON—House and Senate Republican conferees have excluded their Democratic colleagues from work on the Energy Policy Act (H.R. 6), and that has drawn fire from a powerful House Democrat.

 

Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Ranking Democratic Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a conferee on the energy bill, expressed his objections in a letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Peter Domenici (R-N.M.).

 

Oberstar pointed to a provision in the draft conference report that gives the oil and gas industry a special exemption from the Clean Water Act.  Oberstar said the Republicans have denied Democratic conferees any input on the issue and refused Democratic efforts to have a vote on the exemption.

 

“If enacted, this provision would make oil and gas exploration the only construction activity not subject to Clean Water Act requirements,” Oberstar said. “As a result, oil and gas operations would be under no obligation to control storm water runoff that would impair our nation’s lakes, rivers, and streams.  It is a complete, unprecedented end-run around one of our nation’s most successful environmental laws.”

 

Oberstar said the Republicans’ management of the conference committee is the latest in a series of efforts to keep Democrats from bringing the matter to a vote.  He said the Republicans blocked Democratic attempts to offer amendments to strike the provision both in Committee and on the House floor.

 

“The tainted legislative history for consideration of this provision illustrates the critical need to allow all Members of the Energy Conference, regardless of party affiliation, to fully participate in both the negotiations and the drafting of the Conference Report in open, substantive conference meetings,” Oberstar’s letter concluded.

 

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