The DPA Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) is the conduit for all things political and legislative for AAPG. Members of the committee are:

Currently the GAC also sends info alerts and action alerts to over 40 additional leadership members of AAPG and other GAC friends. Since the last meeting in New Orleans, two information alerts were sent on behalf of the GAC and GEO-DC.

Topics for discussion since Mid-Year Meeting last November are: Statements: Several statements are in the process of being updated with small edits and form of content by Larry Nation. Six were sent to him by Paul earlier last week and Larry has returned three so far for DPA approval.

Preserving third DPA seat on GEO-DC Board of Governance: When the DPA rolled up the Washington Advocacy Group (WAG) sub-committee, it lost a seat on the GEO-DC Board of Governance. Because of the support DPA provides to GEO-DC, it is important that the division's needs and interests are represented on the GOVBD, which oversees the office. Currently the DPA President and GAC Chair have seats on the GOVBD. When we eliminated the WAG committee, the thought was to save the travel dollars for CVD twice a year. It is suggested, however, that the Vice-Chair of the GAC come back to the GOVBD as the third representative. Keep in mind that many of the other Board members are also DPA members, so there is plenty of representation, but just not directly from current DPA Exec/Comm members.

Report from geoCVD 2010 (September 2010): GAC and GEO-DC hosted AAPG members in Washington, D.C., on September 21-22 for Geosciences Congressional Visits Day 2010. During the two-day event, participants visited with the Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Protection Division, the Congressional Research Service, the National Research Council, and members of Congress, their staff, and committee staff. Participants talked about the fundamental interrelationships of the economy, environment, and energy production, particularly oil and natural gas. They also discussed the role of federal research and development in creating jobs and training and equipping the next generation oil and gas workforce.

AAPG CVD 2011 plans: GAC and GEO-DC are actively preparing for AAPG Congressional Visits Day 2011 on May 23-25, 2011. After an afternoon orientation session on Monday, May 23 we will spend Tuesday and Wednesday meeting with Executive branch offices and Congressional offices and committees.

Fall CVD 2011 event planning: The AAPG Eastern Section meeting is being held in Washington, D.C. this year (September 25-27, 2011). GEO-DC is actively engaged in developing an energy policy forum for the technical program, and there has been discussion of whether GAC would like to offer some sort of CVD event for attendees. The logistics of organizing a CVD would be more complicated than our typical event, and might require direct GAC member involvement in planning and executing the event. The geoCVD 2011, with other geosciences organizations like AGI, AGU, GSA, etc., is scheduled for the preceding week (September 20-21). Plan to join us for this event, and make your voice heard in Washington, D.C. Please to reserve your spot.

Other GEO-DC Issues: Workforce Issues

The National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academies, is embarking on a Congressionally-mandated workforce study for the energy and mining industries in 2011. AAPG is supporting this effort by providing support, information, and AAPG member Reggie Spiller is serving on the study committee. David Curtiss presented on the petroleum workforce at the kick-off meeting last month.

Testimony, public comments, and Action Alerts

AAPG President Dave Rensink has submitted written testimony to relevant House and Senate appropriations subcommittees on the FY2012 federal budget, with the assistance of GAC and GEO-DC. The focus of his testimony is support for the Department of Energy's oil and natural gas, coal, carbon sequestration, and geothermal R&D programs, as well as the energy, minerals, mapping, and data preservation programs at the U.S. Geological Survey. This testimony is posted on the GAC and GEO-DC web pages.

AAPG President Dave Rensink provided comments on the use of offshore drilling moratoria to the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). BPC was tasked by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling to "assist the Commission in its consideration of the use of moratoria as a method for mitigating future harm in the immediate aftermath of a spill." AAPG's comments are posted on the GAC and GEO-DC web pages.

The GAC has issued several Action Alerts and information alerts to mobilize member action, predominantly on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement’s (BOEMRE) revised 2012-2017 OCS 5-Year Program.

GEO-DC has been actively participating in an outreach effort to new Senators and Representatives in the U.S. Congress in conjunction with the Consumer Energy Alliance. The purpose of the meetings is to make introductions, provide information, and offer to serve as an on-going resource for these legislators and their staff.

Update on DPA short course for training members: GAC Vice Chair Paul Britt is working with David Curtiss to develop a DPA short course to train members to communicate with legislators. We envisage this course being offered at AAPG annual and section meetings. The purpose is to expand member engagement in GAC issues, and ultimately to hold local Congressional Visits Days, where people visit their legislators back home in the State and district.

Document on Federal inaction on Energy: Lee Gerhard has developed an initial timeline and assessment of federal action (or lack thereof) in developing domestic oil and natural gas resources in the United States. It is a good start on providing a fact-based analysis of current energy policy, but does require additional research, referencing, and peer review before we can use with policy makers. GAC needs volunteers to draft a fact sheet that can be used in our continued policy outreach. I have attached the first draft form of the timeline that Lee has submitted.

Energy and Resources Timeline

Lee Gerhard

1. Cancellation of oil shale leases of Oil shale pilot Leases to 160 Acres (right after inauguration), eliminating the preference areas of 4960 acres.
2. May 13, 2009: Salazar says in a US Chamber speech that it was necessary to reverse oil and gas steps taken by predecessor including delaying outer continental shelf program a, oil shale pilot proposals, and the Utah Leases
3. May 15 2009 – Cancellation of 77 BLM Utah leases causes congressional delay in conforming DOI appointee
4. October 20 2009– Announces second round of Oil Shale leasing for pilot projects restricted to 160 acres each. Smaller preference area of 480 acres instead of 4960 plus additional regulations.
5. 2009 Alleghany National Forest US Forest Service decision that used agreement to a "sweetheart" lawsuit to force operators to meet lengthy NEPA reports to drill on private minerals, contrary to law. ( Preliminary injunction for relief gained by MSLF in December 2009.)
6. June 2010 US gives $2 billion to Brazil for deep offshore drilling, while Salazar issues new moratorium on Gulf drilling.
7. 10 March 18, 2010 61 Montana Leases invalidated because of possible climate change.
8. EPA CO2 Endangerment finding and rule making
9. USFWS seeks to withdraw tens of thousands of acres for Preble Mouse habitat, MSLF fights back
10. Late 2010 SE New Mexico oil lands subject to ESA over lizards... to be ordered "no development"
11. December 23, 2010 USBLM Wild Lands announcement.
12. January 6, 2011 187,157 square miles (mi2) critical habitat designation for polar bears, including all waters of the Beaufort put to 300meters depth, and all of the 1002 area of the coast and Prudhoe Bay by USF&WS final rule.
13. January 13, 2011 EPA Revocation of Corps of Engineers permit to Arch Coal for mine in WV.
14. January 21, 2011 EPA extends E-85 from 2007 vehicles to 2001. WSJ (1/22) reports 40% of US corn crop goes to Ethanol.
15. February 3, 2011The federal government has not approved a single new exploratory drilling plan in the Gulf of Mexico since lifting its deepwater drilling moratorium on Oct. 12. There are currently 103 plans awaiting review by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement.
16. February 4, 2011. Shell announces cancellation of its offshore Alaska drilling program, owing to revocation of one or 35 permits it needs to drill. The EPA revoked the permit after granting it last year. Revocation was in response to appeals by Center for Biologic Diversity, a leading lawsuit generator. Wall Street Journal.
17. February 4, 2011. State of Washington trying to stop an former alumina processing site from becoming a coal export port, owing to concerns that mining coal in Wyoming creates environmental damage, as would burning of the coal in China, not withstanding the high quality of the cola l compared to what China is now burning. Wall Street Journal.
18. February 14, 2011. The White House followed through on US President Barack Obama's promise to eliminate oil and gas incentives and preferences with a fiscal 2012 federal budget request that would increase direct taxes on the industry by an estimate $3.472 billion next year and $43.612 billion over 10 years. Oil and Gas Journal.
19. February 24, 2011. Salazar announces a review of and further restrictions on oil shale development.
20. February 25, 2011 Salazar announces that "HE" is unsatisfied with the Gulf oil and gas industry's preparedness to deal with a massive spill, so will not approve any new permits to drill.