House-Passed Bill Encourages New Domestic Refineries

Washington, DC, Jun 7, 2006 - U.S. Representative John Carter (TX-31) supported a bill that will help increase domestic oil exploration and help lower energy prices. Today the House passed the Refinery Permit Process Scheduling Act, which encourages the building of new oil refineries in the U.S. by providing stability for companies as they make long-term decisions to expand refining capacity.

“Gasoline prices have been at near-record levels, due to increased demand without increased supply. It has been 30 years since a new refinery was built in the U.S. despite an increase in demand. This legislation will take important steps to encourage new domestic exploration,” Congressman Carter said. “There have been those of us in Congress who have urged an increase in domestic oil production for years, and it is time for all Members of Congress to put the needs of the American people before politics. If we expand the exploration of oil in our own country, we will increase supply, allowing for lower prices for consumers.”

Specifically, the Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act establishes a federal coordinator who will convene all the players in all U.S. government agencies responsible for issuing permits to develop a facility and help them coordinate and expedite their schedules so that decisions on permits can move as quickly as our environmental and other laws will allow. It also brings all federal and state agencies together in a coordinated capacity to make it easier to add fuel refining capacity. Further, the bill eliminates needless bureaucratic delays in the permitting process for new or expanded gasoline, biofuel, or distillate-processing facilities. Finally, it allows for new refineries while preserving the strict environmental standards that must be met for these facilities to be developed, including Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation Recovery Act requirements.