IPAA Seeks to Capitalize on Growing Opposition to Government Interference in the Private Sector

Strategic Insights -

The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) is planning to capitalize on growing opposition to government interference in the private sector to advance the industry's agenda. IPAA President Denise Bode emphasizes the need for environmental laws that are based on good science with reasonable economic trade-offs, rather than the agenda of the multimillion-dollar environmental lobby. The trade group hopes to capitalize on the incoming Republican-led Congress and the grass-roots movement against "environmental overkill" to push for changes that benefit the oil industry.

Key Takeaways:

  • IPAA plans to emphasize the economics of environmental laws and push for changes that reduce the cost of doing business in the US.
  • The trade group hopes to exploit the opposition to government interference in the private sector to advance the industry's agenda.
  • IPAA will focus on issues such as risk assessment, private property rights, and unfunded federal mandates, as well as resource-industry issues like the RCRA, Superfund, clean water, and the Endangered Species Act.
  • The IPAA will work with lawmakers and policy-makers to negotiate and shape environmental regulations that benefit the industry.
  • IPAA will continue to push for incentives such as tax relief for marginal-well producers, royalty relief for deep-water drilling, and the lifting of the current ban on the export of Alaska North Slope crude oil.
  • The trade group believes that a Republican-majority Congress will be more willing to take a harder look at environmental issues such as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) and Superfund reform.

Statistics:

  • The IPAA claims that environmental laws have hurt the industry over the last decade, leading to increased production costs.
  • The trade group estimates that the oil industry has been impacted by $100 billion in environmental regulations since 1980 (Source: IPAA).
  • The IPAA believes that the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 has had a significant impact on the industry, particularly in Alaska (Source: Sen. Frank Murkowski).

Sources:

  • "IPAA to Capitalize on Opposition to Government Interference" (unattributed newspaper article).
  • Denise Bode, IPAA President (speech at the 65th annual IPAA meeting).
  • Roy Willis, IPAA Vice President of Government Relations (speech at the 65th annual IPAA meeting).
  • Frank Murkowski, Sen. (speech quoted in the article).
  • Don Young, Rep. (speech quoted in the article).