Tag: Energy / Natural Resources

Daines Pushes Biden Admin to Commit to Keeping Montana Mines Open

Bull Mountains, Rosebud, Spring Creek Mines Set to Close Because Admin Dragging Feet on Environmental Reviews U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing pushed President Biden’s Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) on the delayed environmental reviews for three Montana coal mines Watch Daines’ full remarks and questioning HERE. “Deputy Director Owens, the Office of Surface Mining is required by a court order to complete environmental reviews for three major Montana coal mines. For all three mines, OSM set deadlines for the completion of the environmental reviews and in each

Daines, Lankford Introduce Bill to Streamline Ability to Hire Wildland Firefighters

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the “Direct Hire to Fight Fires Act” that would provide the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) permanent Direct Hire Authority to streamline the hiring process for skilled personnel in the firefighting or firefighting support capacity. The bill also directs the Forest Service and DOI to identify policies and propose changes to reduce the time and complexity of hiring wildland firefighters and support personnel. “Year after year, our Montana communities are devastated by wildfires and our brave firefighters’ response to these fires protects lives and our public

At Senate Hearing, Daines Slams Biden Anti-Energy Policies for Killing Montana Jobs, Hurting Rural Communities

Calls Out Administration for Radical Rules That Would Shut Down Colstrip Power Plant U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing slammed the Biden administration for their anti-energy policies that are hurting America’s national security and devastating Montana jobs. Daines called attention to Biden administration rules that would force Colstrip Power Plant to close and asked a Biden official about Montana’s grid reliability. Watch Daines’ full remarks HERE. Senator Daines on the Biden administration’s attack on made-in-America energy: Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE. Senator Daines: Chairman, thank you. Ranking Member Brasso, thank you as well. Since taking

Daines on Biden Administration’s Energy Agenda: “Replacing American Made Oil and Gas with Chinese batteries”

To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference slamming Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s recent failed electric vehicle tour and the Biden administration’s anti-energy agenda. “Senator Ernst talked about the Secretary of Energy’s challenges she had on her green energy tour most recently, and I think it demonstrates just how unrealistic the Democrats and this Administration’s green hallucination really is.  “You look at a state like Montana, we get a lot of windshield time in Montana traveling long distances. It’s farmers, it’s ranchers, it’s truckers or just folks going

Daines Applauds Decision to Protect Natural and Cultural Resources of the Blackfeet Nation

Final Oil and Gas Lease in Badger-Two Medicine Area Relinquished U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA) announced that the final federal oil and gas lease in the Badger-Two Medicine area will be relinquished in order to ensure the natural and cultural resources of the Blackfeet Nation are protected. “I’m glad to see a solution that all parties were able to agree on to ensure this land that holds such significant cultural and spiritual importance to the Blackfeet Nation is protected. Decades in the making, this agreement will help generations to come

Daines Supports Glendive’s Request for Assistance with Erosion on Yellowstone River

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to Colonel Robert Neebauer, district commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District, in support of the City of Glendive’s request for assistance with severe bank erosion along the Yellowstone River. Excerpt of the letter below: “For over a decade, the Yellowstone River has been eroding the bank and is now threatening city infrastructure. Recently, Montana State University completed an analysis of the erosion and found that 10,740.08 m3 (14,047.49 yards3) of riverbank material was eroded and displaced between August 2019 and May 2023. This erosion has necessitated the relocation of water lines

Daines Slams Biden Administration’s War on Made-in-America Energy

Blames Senate Democrats for Paving the Way for Administration Rule that Will Increase the Price of Energy for Montanans To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference highlighting the continued destruction of made-in-America energy by the Biden administration. Last week, the Department of Interior (DOI) proposed a rule that would increasethe cost of energy production. These costs would be passed on to consumers in Montana and across the country. It’s estimated that these new fees would amount to nearly $2 billion from now until 2031. “Not long after Vladimir Putin

Daines Slams Biden Administration for New Proposed Rule That Would Increase Cost of Domestic Energy Production

Every Senate Democrat Paved the Way for the Rule to Take Place U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Biden administration announced a new proposed rule that would drastically increase the cost of oil and gas production on public lands. “Since Day One President Biden has sent a clear message to Montana energy producers: this administration is coming for you. From shutting down lease sales to begging our adversaries for oil to this new rule that will raise rates for Montana oil and gas producers, the Biden administration is proving that they would rather bow to

Daines Calls for Passage of Largest Bipartisan Hydropower Permitting Reform Bill in Two Decades

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee hearing, highlighted his bipartisan “Community and Hydropower Improvement Act” and called on the committee to pass his bill that would streamline the permitting and licensing process, boost hydropower in Montana and increase tribal engagement. Listen to Daines’ full remarks HERE. “The ‘Community and Hydropower Improvement Act’ streamlines permitting and licensing as well as increases tribal engagement. The bill creates an expedited licensing process for powering non-powered dams and building closed loop pumped storage. It limits the scope of environmental review and mitigation to real, on the ground and

What They Are Saying: Industry and Community Leaders Endorse Daines’ Bipartisan Hydropower Bill

U.S. SENATE – Since introducing the bipartisan “Community and Hydropower Improvement Act” that would streamline the permitting process for hydropower projects, increase tribal engagement and oversight, expedite low impact projects, promote healthy habitat and coordinate federal decision making, Daines has received an outpouring of support from key stakeholders.  “In response to the threat posed by looming relicensing, the hydropower industry, environmental organizations, dam safety advocates, and tribal representatives, have negotiated a holistic licensing reform package that creates common ground to preserve and enhance the existing hydropower fleet while ensuring that environmental concerns are addressed, and the rights of tribal nations are respected. The