On June 6, 2013, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a full committee hearing to review programs and activities of the Department of the Interior (DOI). Witness testimony from Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell addressed the various programs and activities of the Department, as well as issues DOI will face in the future.

John Barrasso (R-WY), Al Franken (D-MN), and Rob Portman (R-OH) focused on hydraulic fracturing and the Bureau of Land Management’s revised proposed rule on Oil and Gas; Well Stimulation, Including Hydraulic Fracturing, on Federal and Indian Lands. The new rule would provide standards for hydraulic fracturing on public lands. Sen. Franken and Sen. Portman both had questions about the permitting process, with Sen. Franken asking about the consideration of water issues when issuing permits, and Sen. Portman expressing concern about the length of the permitting processes, even in states with well-established regulations.
Opening statements, witness testimonies, and an archived webcast of the hearing can be found on the committee’s web site.