Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade

On Monday, September 19, 2011 at 10:00 am MDT (12:00 pm EST), the House Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade held a hearing entitled Are Excessive Energy Regulations and Policies Limiting Energy Independence, Killing Jobs and Increasing Prices for Consumers?.  The hearing tookplace in the City Hall Auditorium, 250 North 5th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

The hearing examined burdensome federal regulations and policies on the energy industry and their impact on small businesses, jobs and consumer prices. Specifically, the hearing examined the coal combustion residuals (CCR) proposed rule (75 Federal Register 35127-35264), the proposed rule to limit mercury and other air toxics from coal-burning electricity generators (76 Federal Register 24976-25147), the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and potential regulation of hydraulic fracturing in the natural gas industry. Additionally, the hearing focused on the permitting and leasing process of the Department of the Interior.  

Opening Statement:

Chairman Scott Tipton (R-CO)

Witnesses and Testimony:

Panel 1

James Martin, Administer, Region 8, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Testimony 

Helen Hankins, Colorado State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management

• Testimony 

Panel 2

David White, County Commissioner, Montrose, CO

• Testimony 

David Ludlam, Director, West Slope COGA, Grand Junction, CO

• Testimony 
• Witness Disclosure 

Jennifer Bredt, Development Manager, RES Americas, Broomfield CO

• Testimony 
• Witness Disclosure 

James A. Kiger, Environmental Manager, Oxbow Mining, LLC, Elk Creek Mine, Somerset, CO

• Testimony 
• Witness Disclosure 

Dick Welle, Manager, White River Electric, Meeker, CO

• Testimony 
• Witness Disclosure 

Additional Items:

Official Hearing Notice 

Official Witness List 

Hearing Memo 

Press Release