Official Comments & Letters

The PBPA actively participates in the legislative process and monitors legislation at all levels of government that could impact the Permian Basin's oil and gas industry.

Some official comments and actions taken by our association are housed on this webpage. For additional information, please contact our staff.

EPA.png

PBPA Comments on EPA's Waste Emissions Charge (WEC)

March 26, 2024

Dear Administrator Regan:

The Permian Basin Petroleum Association (“PBPA”) is the largest regional oil and gas association in the United States. We represent the men and women who work in the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The Permian Basin is the largest inland oil and gas reservoir and the largest oil and gas producing region in the world. PBPA consists of the largest producers as well as the smallest operators in the Permian Basin. Part of PBPA’s mission is to promote environmentally conscious operations and sustainable economic profitability among all our members, large and small. Because PBPA’s members will be directly impacted by this Proposed Rule, if finalized, we are submitting these comments to convey our concerns and needed revisions.

INTRODUCTION

PBPA membership understands there are Congressional requirements placed on the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to draft a rule implementing the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) as to, what EPA is now calling, the WEC. However, such an...

more
DOE.png

Joint Trade Letter to Administration Regarding LNG Permitting

January 24, 2024

The Honorable Jennifer Granholm

Secretary U.S. Department of Energy

Washington, DC 20585

Dear Secretary Granholm,

As trade and member associations representing the United States liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain, we are deeply concerned the Biden administration is considering burdensome changes to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) permitting process for U.S. LNG exports. Any action to halt U.S. LNG export approvals would be a major mistake that puts American jobs and allies at risk while undermining global climate goals.

The United States is the world leader in natural gas production, meeting record domestic demand and becoming the top exporter of LNG in 2023. Our nation’s abundant supply of natural gas is an impactful geopolitical tool, helping insulate American consumers from increasing global instability while advancing American national interests and ensuring the energy security of key U.S. allies.

U.S. LNG blunted a potentially disastrous situation in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Secretary Blinken...

more
EPA.png

PBPA Comments on the proposed revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) 

October 2, 2023

Re: Comments on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems at 88 Fed. Reg. 50282 (August 1, 2023) (the “Proposed Rule” or “GHGRP”)

Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2023–0234; FRL–10246–01–OAR

Submitted via e-filing

Dear Administrator Regan:

The Permian Basin Petroleum Association (“PBPA”) is the largest regional oil and gas association in the United States. We represent the men and women who work in the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The Permian Basin is the largest inland oil and gas reservoir and the largest oil and gas producing region in the world. PBPA consists of the largest producers as well as the smallest operators in the Permian Basin. Part of PBPA’s mission is to promote environmentally conscious operations and sustainable economic profitability among all our members, large and small. Because PBPA’s members will be directly impacted by these proposed revisions, if finalized, we are submitting these comments to convey needed...

more
USFWS Logo.png

PBPA & NMOGA | Official Comments on the proposed listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard under the ESA

October 2, 2023

Re: FWS–R2–ES–2022–0162

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, 88 Fed. Reg. 42,661 (July 3, 2023)

Dear Director Williams,

The Permian Basin Petroleum Association (“PBPA”), the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (“NMOGA”) and our collective member companies (referred to herein as the “Associations”) provide the following response to the July 3, 2023 proposed rule and request for comment from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or Service) to list the dunes sagebrush lizard (DSL) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). 88 Fed. Reg. 42,661 (July 3, 2023) (“Proposed Rule”).

The PBPA is the largest regional oil and gas association in the United States. Since 1961, the PBPA has been the voice of the Permian Basin oil and gas industry. The PBPA’s mission is to promote the safe and responsible development of our oil and gas resources while providing legislative, regulatory, and educational support services for the petroleum industry. The PBPA membership...

more
BLM Logo.png

PBPA Comments on BLM Conservation Rule

July 5, 2023

Re: Comments on BLM’s Proposed Rulemaking on Conservation and Landscape Health, 88 Fed. Reg.

19583 (April 3, 2023); RIN 1004‐AE92

Dear Director Stone‐Manning:

BLM’s proposed rulemaking on Conservation and Landscape Health (Proposed Rule) codifying conservation as a multiple use under the Federal Land and Policy Management Act (FLPMA) unlawfully expands the original intent of FLPMA and revises the priorities and focus of land use management. While FLPMA calls for protection of the environment, water, and cultural resources, it does not identify conservation as a use. Certainly, conservation is a goal and land use action that we as an industry fully support. Our members are committed to environmentally responsible operations, but we are concerned that the Proposed Rule impermissibly exceeds BLM’s directive to manage multiple uses of public lands. The authority to add conservation as a use under FLPMA is reserved for Congress, thereby rendering BLM unable to fully implement the Proposed Rule unless and until such time as FLPMA is amended by Congress. As such, BLM...

more
USFWS Logo.png

Comments on the Proposed Revision to Regulations Concerning the Issuance of Enhancement of Survival and Incidental Take Permits under the ESA

April 10, 2023

Gentlemen and Ladies:

The Permian Basin Petroleum Association (“PBPA”), the Western Energy Alliance, The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, and our collective member companies (together as “we” or the “represented organizations”) provide the following comments to the February 9, 2023 proposed revisions (the “Revisions”) and request for comment from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS” or “Service”) to regulations concerning the issuance of Enhancement of Survival and Incidental Take Permits under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (“ESA” or the “Act”)1...

Read Full Comments

more