Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines criticized the Biden Administration's energy policies during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, specifically targeting Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning. Daines expressed concerns over actions he believes are detrimental to Montana and its rural communities.

"Director Stone-Manning, I would like to talk about the last three and a half years. This is the first time you are back in front of this Committee since your nomination hearing in June 2021," Daines began. He accused the administration of taking steps that have severely impacted Montana and its reliance on federal lands for livelihoods.

Daines highlighted several actions by the Biden Administration, including the cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline on President Biden's first day in office, halting oil and gas leasing on federal lands, and introducing various EPA rules that target small oil and gas producers. He mentioned specific regulations such as methane rules, the MATS rule, and Clean Power Plan 2.0 which he claimed threaten operations at the Colstrip power plant.

"The Department of Energy stops, they said pause, good grief, they stopped LNG export permits," Daines continued. He also criticized delays in coal permitting by the Office of Surface Mining.

Addressing BLM directly, Daines noted that only two oil and gas lease sales have been held in Montana since Biden took office, despite a requirement for at least four per year. He further criticized new public lands rules and high bonding requirements set by BLM which he argued disadvantage small producers.

Daines concluded his remarks by questioning Stone-Manning on whether BLM consulted Montana energy producers regarding increased bonding rates. Stone-Manning admitted no consultations were held with Montanans.