Memorial in Support of the Federal Land Freedom Act Exposed

Model Bill Info
Bill Title	Memorial in Support of the Federal Land Freedom Act
Date Introduced	November 2, 2015
Date Finalized	January 15, 2016
Date Accessed	April 27, 2018
Type	Model Resolution
Status	Final
Task Forces	Federalism and International Relations
Keywords	Environment, Energy, Federalism

Summary

This Resolution will offer state legislatures the opportunity to express support for the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015. The Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015 permits a state that has an established leasing, permitting and regulatory program to petition the U.S. Secretaries of the Interior, of Agriculture and of Energy for a transfer of control over existing federal land to the petitioning state for energy development. This Congressional bill is consistent with existing ALEC model policy on this issue and a draft resolution will be submitted to the Task Force on Federalism in the coming days.

Memorial in Support of the Federal Land Freedom Act

WHEREAS, the federal government exerts control over more than 50 percent of the U.S. land mass in the 12 continental states from Colorado westward including: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming compared to an average federal control of only four percent in the remaining states; and,

WHEREAS, the current disparity in federal land ownership between the eastern and western states violates America’s longstanding doctrine of the inherent equality of the 50 states; and,

WHEREAS, western states are effectively prevented from fully developing their economies by controlling the resources on the lands within their borders; and,

WHEREAS, the United States is now the world’s leader in both natural gas and oil production; and,

WHEREAS, many of America’s energy resources are found on federal lands; and,

WHEREAS, development of these energy resources is prohibited on 83 percent of federally-controlled lands; and,

WHEREAS, federal drilling permits take significantly longer to process than state drilling permits – 228 days vs. 30 days; and,

WHEREAS, allowing the states to develop their natural resources will expand domestic energy production, create jobs and promote domestic energy independence; and,

WHEREAS, development of the land within their borders would make them less dependent on federal subsidies such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments; and,

WHEREAS, the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015 permits a state that has an established leasing, permitting and regulatory program to petition the U.S. Secretaries of the Interior, of Agriculture and of Energy for a transfer of control over existing federal land to the petitioning state for energy development; and,

WHEREAS, the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015 exempts tribal lands, national parks, military installations and Congressionally-designated wilderness areas from transfer for energy development; and,

WHEREAS, no state would be compelled to accept control over the federal lands within its borders;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the [LEGISLATIVE BODY] of the state of [STATE] urges passage in both houses of the U.S. Congress of the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2015.