Top Industry Policy Issues

In order to inform the current policy debate surrounding the granting of licenses for U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the American Petroleum Institute (API) commissioned ICF International to undertake a study of the energy market and economic impacts of LNG exports.

February 25, 2013 - The American Petroleum Institute (API) submitted these reply comments in response to various comments submitted during the initial comment period and in further support of the expeditious approval of pending LNG export applications by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  Included with the comments is the Status Report and Preliminary Results: The Economic Impacts of U.S. LNG Exports, prepared by ICF International.

What are the benefits of exporting LNG? Create and support thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars in government revenues, reduce our trade deficit, help the industry operate efficiently by maintaining production levels thereby enhancing energy security and increase domestic production of associated natural gas liquids (NGLs), putting downward pressure on prices of chemical manufacturing feedstocks.

January 24, 2013 - The American Petroleum Institute (API) submitted these comments in support of the expeditious approval of pending LNG export applications by the U.S. Department of Energy.  API fully agrees with the conclusion of the DOE “2012 LNG Export Study” that, across all scenarios, the U.S. stands to gain net economic benefits from allowing LNG exports.

Our energy vision is one of abundant resources, developed and refined here in the United States (U.S.) to the highest standards, creating domestic energy that is ready to work for America’s businesses and families. But current U.S. policies are failing us. They prevent us from adequately preparing for the long-term, when we know our nation will still need substantial quantities of oil and natural gas as well as alternatives.

Seismic testing has been safely used in the U.S. and around the world for decades to locate potential new sources of hydrocarbon energy. But as the federal government prepares to allow seismic surveys off the Atlantic Coast, groups opposed to oil and natural gas development are actively spreading misinformation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a suite of regulatory requirements designed to reduce air emissions from the oil and natural gas industry. EPA has proposed new standards for several processes associated with oil and gas production that have not previously been subject to federal regulation.

Hydraulic fracturing is an essential well completion technology for the development of unconventional resources, such as natural gas that is trapped in shale rock formations.

These best practices are developed by industry experts in a variety of areas of technology and operations

Induced seismicity is the phenomenon of human activities, such as large engineering projects, causing energy release in the earth.