Hageman Votes to Advance TAPP American Resources Act in Committee

Today in the House Natural Resources Committee, Congresswoman Harriet Hageman voted to pass the Transparency, Accountability, Permitting and Production (TAPP) of American Resources Act. The legislation would streamline and speed up permitting for tapping into our American energy resources, from extraction through production. The bill will now be scheduled for a vote of the full House of Representatives.

Representative Hageman stated, “The Biden administration has done everything in its power to reduce America’s ability to be energy independent while forcing a “green new deal” agenda on our country. Many of the tactics used by the administration are addressed through the TAPP American Resources Act – which will speed up permitting, return royalty fees to fair amounts, and force reasonable leasing procedures to be implemented. I am also pleased to see my bill on coal being incorporated into this legislation.  The coal application bill ends the existing moratorium on new coal leasing and directs the Secretary of Interior to take action on pending coal leasing applications. Americans should not be forced into energy poverty when affordable and abundant resources exist throughout our country.”

The TAPP Act:

• Ends the existing moratorium on new coal leasing and directs the Secretary of Interior to take action on coal leasing applications pending at DOI.
• Requires the publication of the 2023-2028 plan for offshore oil and gas lease sales and sets deadlines for publishing future five-year plans.
• Repeals harmful royalties and fee increases imposed on energy production.
• Requires DOI to publish information online and report to Congress regarding the processing of onshore and offshore drilling and exploration permits, nominated parcels for lease, leases won, and usage of Applications for Permit to Drill (APD) fees.
• Reforms NEPA to streamline federal permitting for all sectors of the economy.
• Allows the Secretary of the Interior to accept non-federal funding to pay for dedicated staff and technology upgrades to expedite permits.
• Clarifies that environmental reviews for lease sales should be limited to impacts directly related to that sale.
• Sets deadlines for completion of NEPA review at one year for environmental assessments and two years for environmental impact statements unless a deadline extension is agreed to by the project sponsor.
• Amends existing criteria to prevent the unilateral exclusion of uranium from future consideration as a critical mineral.

Contact: Chris Berardi, Senior Advisor/Communications Director