Senate bill slated to boost US energy facility security

Oct. 8, 2001
The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources this week will mark up a sweeping bill intended to improve security at the nation's key energy facilities.

The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources this week will mark up a sweeping bill intended to improve security at the nation's key energy facilities.

The proposal will build on legislation already introduced on behalf of the administration of President George W. Bush (S 1480) that would increase security for dams and other facilities under the jurisdiction of the Depart- ment of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation.

Energy committee sources also said the bill will be amended to increase security for the nation's critical energy infrastructure, including oil refineries, pipelines, and power grids.

Senators will consider recommendations from the departments of Energy and Interior. Proposals to expand the 544 million bbl Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the 2 million bbl North- east Home Heating Oil Reserve are also on the table. Expanding the SPR has bipartisan support (OGJ Online, Oct. 1, 2001).

The Senate energy panel plans a hearing Oct. 9 on energy security, followed by a markup the next day. Lawmakers expect the full Senate to pass the bipartisan legislation before the end of the month, possibly as a rider to a pending appropriations bill.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the US, Congress and the Bush administration have been working on new policy measures to protect the energy industry.

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) heard com- ments from industry representatives at a closed hearing earlier this month. One of those was a representative of Conoco Inc., which had spearheaded a June report by the National Petroleum Council on physical and cybernetic threats to US energy infrastructure (OGJ, Oct. 1, 2001, p. 22).

Bingaman also recently sent letters to 12 industry trade groups seeking input on further measures that the government could take to ensure the safety and reliability of energy and water delivery systems.

House leaders are also addressing security concerns through a special subcommittee formed last month in the wake of the attacks.

Energy policy bill

Separately, Bingaman plans to resume markups of a comprehensive energy policy bill the week of Oct. 14.

Before the August recess, the panel unanimously approved new funding for energy research and development. Now, the more controversial elements of the policy will be tackled.

Under the committee rules, the panel will not consider leasing of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain in Alaska until after the electricity and energy efficiency portions of the package have been tackled. Whether the committee will be able to include ANWR leasing in the overall bill is uncertain.

Another problem facing the energy policy bill is that congressional leaders want to adjourn late this month. One plan under consideration would have Congress recess for the November and December holidays but remain on call to return to Washington, DC, if necessary.

Senate Republicans have criticized the pace at which Democrats have considered energy reform legislation.

Republicans argue that the omnibus bill must give producers greater access to public lands for oil and gas development. The Teamsters and other labor unions say that would also increase jobs.

Senate Democrats have said they are not trying to stall the process but do not want to pass a controversial measure, such as ANWR leasing, without more debate. The House-passed bill would allow ANWR leasing.

The Democrats say producers have access to ample federal lands, including 32 million acres of undrilled leases in the Gulf of Mexico, without opening environmentally sensitive areas such as ANWR. But some Senate Democrats may seek to expand the area in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that is available for exploration.