participating in the nepa process wfb nepa symposium casper, wyoming may 30, 2008
TRANSCRIPT
Recent Headlines
Environmentalists Fight Wolf State Management
Polar Bear listed as “Threatened” Species
BLM recommends Federal Land for Energy Independence
Gas Prices Soar BLM Imposes Restrictions for Sage
Grouse
Today’s Presentation
Legislative Process vs. Regulatory Process
Wyoming Conservation Alliance Mission and Role
Wyoming Farm Bureau and WCA Regulatory Issues Facing Wyoming
Endangered Species Energy Development
Legislative vs. Regulatory Process
Federal Senators Representatives
State Senators Representatives
Lobbyists
Lobbyists: An Integral Piece to the Puzzle
Ensure an organization’s voice is heard at the policy making level
Paid to represent the organizations for its best interests
Vital to ensuring an opinion or voice is heard by officials and lawmakers
Work towards key policy changes, directions, and legislation on behalf of their interest and group
Successful Lobbying Leads to Policy or Legislative Goals
Lobbying Wyoming Legislature
More than 500 Registered Lobbyists Protecting Industry Interests
Congress Most Organizations affiliate with
National Organizations for Federal Representation (American Farm Bureau – Agricultural Contact Team)
Regulatory Agencies:The Government’s Workhorse
Delegated duties and responsibilities to implement and enforce the law
Create Rules and Regulations
Develop Terminology, Definitions
Interpret Law, Set Agency Priorities
Federal and State Regulatory Authority
Implement Statutes
Enforce Regulations
ExamplesEndangered Species ActNational Environmental Policy Act
When Legislation Becomes Regulation:Endangered Species Act
Actual Statute - 34 Pages
Dept. of Interior ESA Regulations 1660 Pages
Agency Findings Agency Determinations Final Rules and Regulations
Legislative vs. Regulatory Process
Political Process has Limited Role in Regulatory Agencies
“Lobbying” Role = Comments
Appointed vs. Career Agency Employees
Federal Agency Perspectives
Dept. of Interior 72,000 Employees
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 7,500 Employees
Dept. of Agriculture 110,000 Employees
U.S. Forest Service 20,000 Employees
Wyoming Conservation AllianceMission and Role
Inform and Educate Individuals about the State and Federal Regulatory Process
Assist Individuals to Participate in the Regulatory Process
WCA Mission Statement
Organize, educate, encourage and facilitate participation of Wyoming businesses, ranchers, industry groups and local government entities in the Federal regulatory process.
Federal Register Process
Federal Agency publishes notice of proposed rulemaking
Comment period (30, 60 or 90 days)
Publish final regulations
Wyoming AgenciesRegulatory Process
No Clearinghouse
Each Agency Announces Differently Department of Environmental Quality
Websites not Frequently Updated
WCA is Wyoming Agencies’ “Federal Register”
WCA Monitoring Federal Monitoring
Proposed Rules Final Rules Nominations/Meetings Notices
Grant Programs Oil & Gas Leases Wyoming Interests
State Monitoring Rulemaking Agency/Committee
Meetings Comment Periods Legislative Interim
Committees
Federal Agencies
Department of Energy FERC
Department of Transportation Federal Highway
Safety Administration Department of
Agriculture Forest Service
Department of Interior Bureau of Land
Management Bureau of
Reclamation Fish and Wildlife
Service Environmental
Protection Agency
Wyoming State Agencies
Oil & Gas Commission Game and Fish
Department Department of
Environmental Quality Air Quality Water Quality Environmental Quality
Council
State Engineer’s Office
Water Development Commission
Dept of Agriculture Livestock Board
Interim Committees
Regulatory Issues Facing Wyoming
Endangered Species Wolves Polar Bear Preble’s Jumping Mouse Sage Grouse
Energy Development BLM Energy Plan ESA Issues
WolvesBackground
March 28, 2008 – State Mgt Begins Wyoming’s Management Plan
April 28, 2008 – Defenders of Wildlife et al sue in Montana Federal Court
May 29, 2008 - Hearing
Polar Bear
May 14th listed as “Threatened” Population at all time high
20,000-25,000 Habitat Melting
Sea Ice 39% below long-term average between 1979 to 2000
No Current Recovery Plan Energy Producers Concerned
Bureau of Land Management Proposal Want to Open up Federal Land
BLM found out of the federal land that held potential for resources 62% oil and 41% natural gas is currently inaccessible for development
Potentially 31 billion barrels of oil and 231 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
Untied States imports about 10 million barrels of oil per day
Enough underground oil was found to sustain US for 8.5 years
Preble’s Jumping Mouse
History Originally Listed in 1999 Habitat Designated in Colorado and
Wyoming Four Counties (Albany, Platte, Laramie
and Converse) 2005 Proposed Rule = Delist 2007 Decision
Good News and Bad News
2007 FWS Findings
Good News Delist in Wyoming
Mouse populations Ag Operations not Impacting Threat of Human Population
Bad News Determined Separate Sub-Species
Sage Grouse
Background CBM Develop possibly on hold for up
to two years Need of Connectivity in Habitat Jobs in Danger June 27th Comments
Conclusion
Regulatory Actions Have Greater Impact on Agriculture than Ever
WCA and WFB Are Addressing Compiling and Distributing Information Assist with Comments