Energy Industry Hopes for even more Permitting Reform
June 3, 2023
Midland Reporter-Telegram
by Mella McEwen
With very little time remaining to address the nation’s debt ceiling, the final form of an agreement headed to the president late Thursday night for his signature.
Permian Basin oil and gas operators are closely watching to see how the agreement between the White House and Republican negotiators affects much-desired permitting reform. The initial agreement already includes minor changes to the National Environmental Policy Act, including a one-year limit on environmental assessments and a two-year limit on environmental impact statements.
“We are extremely pleased that Speaker McCarthy and his team included permitting reform as part of their negotiations,” Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. “The PBPA and our membership have been advocating for federal....