Washington, D.C. - Congressman Pearce issued the following statement after sending a letter to the Bureau of Land Management calling for an extension of the comment period for BLM's proposed "Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation" rule:

"The current American energy renaissance has made the United States the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world. This renaissance has not only increased America's energy security, but it has also created thousands of jobs, increased our influence abroad and lowered electric prices and gasoline prices for American families. Despite these great strides, this administration seems determined to reduce domestic production at all costs by implementing rules and regulations like this. The administration attempts to claim that these regulations will increase royalties paid to local governments, but it will likely reduce royalties by pushing production off federal lands through unnecessary requirements. The administration also attempts to justify these job crushing rules for environmental purposes, but even during a period of very strong oil and gas growth methane emissions have decreased nearly 40% since 2005. The administration should implement rules and regulations that support safe American energy development instead of trying to shut it down at all costs. At the very least the administration should extend the comment period on this highly complex rule to give those who will be affected the most a chance to adequately review it," said Congressman Pearce.