THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
This photo taken on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2012, shows four oil pumps near a subdivision near Frederick, Colo. Oil and gas drilling in Colorado is no longer confined to the state's most rural areas.
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Dems' report finds lax drilling oversight
February 08, 2012 1:17 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A report by House Democrats finds lax and inconsistent federal oversight of oil and natural gas drilling on public lands.
The report focuses on drilling activity on federal land in 17 states from early 1998 to early 2011. During that time, just over 2,000 citations for safety and drilling violations were issued to 335 companies.
But only 6 percent of the violations resulted in monetary fines — to about $274,000, from 64 companies.
According to the report, in eight drilling states, federal regulators issued no fines in those 13 years.
The report comes from the Democratic staff of the House Natural Resources Committee. The Associated Press obtained a copy before its public release.
