WASHINGTON, September 23, 2015 – API today criticized the Department of the Interior’s decision to finalize flawed land use plan amendments that could lead to negative investment impacts across several industries, including oil and natural gas, grazing and renewable energy development. These amendments were released despite the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s science-based decision not to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act.

“Industry is committed to, and has demonstrated, the ability to conserve habitat, protect species and increase energy production,” said Erik Milito, API director upstream and industry operations. “As a result, these proposals to further limit access to development only serve to stifle critical energy production and prevent job creation. This comes at a time when access to federal lands continues to decline at the hands of adverse federal decision-making.”

Total combined oil and natural gas production on onshore federal lands have fallen, while permits for development on federal lands are the lowest since 2002, according to data from the Congressional Research Service and Bureau of Land Management.

“Not only are the land use proposals inconsistent with established multiple-use mandates, they suffer from flawed science,” said Milito. “These could impact investment and job creating opportunities in several western states and across numerous industries, including oil, natural gas, grazing and renewables development on these lands.”

Oil and natural gas development has a proven record to responsibly produce domestic energy and coexist with wildlife through well-managed environmental protections. Western operators often partner with sportsmen and conservation groups to provide hunting, fishing, and other recreational opportunities on their leases. The industry works closely with state wildlife management agencies, which have the local expertise to best manage wildlife resources, to conduct safe and responsible oil and natural gas exploration and development in habitat of the greater sage-grouse and other wildlife.

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 25 million Americans.