Terrorism, we ARE at risk. Our airlines, our water, and now our oil and gas.

[PHILIP SCHNEIDER]

No Answers From Interior Department on Number of Foreign Companies Drilling for Oil and Gas in U.S.

By Penny Starr

November 22, 2011

From CNS News.com

Republican Rep. David Rivera

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. (AP Photo)

A Florida lawmaker wanting to find out how many foreign-owned companies have leases to drill for oil and natural gas in the U.S. was surprised to learn that the federal department issuing leases does not differentiate in its records between companies owned by foreign governments and others.

Republican Rep. David Rivera has been trying to establish the number of foreign-owned energy companies drilling in the U.S. but has been unable to get that information from the Interior Department, the agency responsible for granting leases for onshore and offshore oil and gas operations.

During a House Committee on Natural Resources hearing on Nov. 16. Rivera asked the department’s top official about getting the data.

First, he asked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar if he knew whether foreign companies “must first be incorporated in the Unites States” to qualify for a lease.

“I don’t know the answer to that question,” Salazar replied.

Rivera then told Salazar that his staff had earlier this month asked officials at two divisions of the Interior Department – the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – for a list of foreign-owned companies that own leases in the U.S.

“They were surprised to learn that the government doesn’t keep a database of what companies are foreign government-owned,” Rivera said. “The foreign government-owned companies are just mixed in with the regular privately-owned companies.”

“So I believe it’ll be useful to at least be able to track these companies and what government owns them,” Rivera told Salazar. “Could you help me with that, get that information?”

“We will,” Salazar replied. He then turned to BLM head Robert Abbey and BOEM Director Tommy Beaudreau – both of whom were also participating in the hearing – to clarify the requirements for foreign companies to hold leases in the U.S.

Companies have to be “registered in the United States,” through the State Department, came the reply.

Rivera also criticized Salazar over a recent meeting in Spain with officials from the Spanish-owned Repsol oil company about plans for drilling off Cuba, which the lawmaker pointed out is designated as a “state sponsor of terror” by the State Department.

The planned Repsol drilling would take place 60-70 miles off the coast of Florida.  U.S. federal jurisdiction ends halfway between Florida and Cuba, or 45 miles from the U.S. coastline.

“I hope that, in the future, the administration will do everything possible to make sure that companies comply with sanctions that apply to businesses that do cooperate with sponsors of state terrorism, by perhaps, in your – in your agency, withdrawing leases on federal lands and waters,” Rivera told Salazar. “That could be a start to certainly send a signal that that this type of activity is certainly frowned upon, collaborating with terrorist regimes.”

Earlier this month, Rivera introduced legislation to end caps on liability for foreign companies for damages caused to U.S. waters or shores.

Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, clean-up costs are paid for by the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The trust fund cap is limited to $1 billion per incident, with $150 million of that capped for response.

“Foreign oil spills could have a detrimental effect on state and local economies, hurting American businesses and costing American jobs,” Rivera said in a press release announcing the legislation.

The Foreign Oil Spill Liability Act of 2011 would make foreign entities cover the total cost of clean-up and compensation. It also would triple the liability and penalties if the spill emanates from waters of a state sponsor of terrorism, a provision clearly targeting Cuba.

 

Foreign interests have been taking control of more and more of our economy and resources ever since Clinton had his pet project rammed through congress. The NAFTA legislation has been a disaster for our nations security.