Biden Administration Excludes Voices of Those Most Impacted by Federal Land and Water Decisions
March 25, 2021
Casper, Wyo. – Today, several statewide natural gas and oil associations, including the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Alaska Oil and Gas Association, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Montana Petroleum Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, Utah Petroleum Association and West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association released the following joint statement regarding the Biden Administration’s failure to include any state-level voices in the Department of Interior’s Virtual Forum on the Federal Oil and Gas Program:
“As Associations representing the natural gas and oil industry embedded in communities across our states, we are disappointed today’s forum did not include a single state or local voice representing the hardworking men and women who produce safe, reliable and sustainable energy to fuel our lives. We speak for the people whose work, lives and livelihoods will be most impacted by President Biden’s orders regarding production on federal land. A return to centralized, command-and-control decision making in the hands of bureaucrats thousands of miles away from the people, lands, and waters where the impacts are most deeply felt is not a constructive path forward. We are hopeful the exclusion of local voices is not indicative of a pattern of disregard of our states, our people and our livelihoods.”
Pete Obermueller, President
Dan Haley, President and CEO
Tyler Gray, President and General Counsel
Alan Olson, Executive Director
Ron Ness, President
Kara Moriarty, President and CEO
Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President
Chelsie Miera, Executive Director
About PAW: Representing Wyoming’s primary economic engine, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, is the voice of the oil and gas industry. Our members produce 90 percent of Wyoming’s oil and gas, generating over $5 billion in economic activity and employing more than 19,000 of Wyoming’s hard-working men and women. PAW strives to foster mutually beneficial relationships with Wyoming’s landowners, businesses, and communities while promoting the sustainable production of Wyoming’s abundant resources.
The Petroleum Association of Wyoming provides a forum for education, interaction, and unified action for members, policymakers, and the public.
About Western Energy Alliance
Western Energy Alliance represents 200 companies engaged in all aspects of environmentally responsible exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the West. Alliance members are independents, the majority of which are small businesses with an average of fourteen employees. Learn more at www.WesternEnergyAlliance.org.