Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross submitted the Department of Commerce’s report in response to President Trump’s executive order “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth” to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. This report identifies and addresses regulatory burdens inside of the Department of Commerce that encumber energy production, strangle economic growth and prevent job creation.

“Our oil and gas sector has already seen tremendous growth due to this Administration’s deregulatory agenda, with more than 56 million feet drilled in the second quarter, up more than 38 percent since the fourth quarter of 2016,” said Secretary Ross. “This report is another important step forward in correcting the status quo and promoting, instead of shackling, American energy.”

The Department of Commerce’s Regulatory Reform Task Force, its Energy Subcommittee and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with input from the domestic energy sector and industry stakeholders, engaged in a review of areas of agency action to identify burdens on energy independence and economic opportunity.

Through this work, more than 20 different regulatory rules or areas of guidance have been recommended to be suspended, revised, or rescinded.

These include eight initial proposals that the Department will pursue to streamline licenses, permit processes and agency deadlines for environmental reviews and consultations.

The Department will also introduce an improved method to track application review timelines for new projects and improve guidance in the application process for new energy projects – ensuring that businesses no longer have to encounter unnecessary delays due to bureaucratic red tape.

This report, and the recommended actions are just one piece of a historic whole-of-government regulatory reform agenda that President Trump launched that is removing roadblocks to American job creation.