43 U.S.C. § 2001: Findings

Summary

Congress finds parts of the United States could soon face a serious crude oil shortage while the West Coast may have a large surplus. A big cut in Canadian crude exports could cause severe shortages in northern tier States. Until west-to-east delivery systems are built, excess Alaskan crude will be shipped through the Panama Canal at high cost. West-to-east delivery systems may be needed for national security and regional supply, consistent with section 410 of the Act approved November 16, 1973 (87 Stat. 594), the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act. Federal and State decisions must be made quickly, and the executive branch should be assigned and coordinate responsibility to speed environmental reviews and permit decisions.

Title 43, §2001

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Congress finds and declares that—

(1)a serious crude oil supply shortage may soon exist in portions of the United States;

(2)a large surplus of crude oil on the west coast of the United States is projected;

(3)any substantial curtailment of Canadian crude oil exports to the United States could create a severe crude oil shortage in the northern tier States;

(4)pending the authorization and completion of west-to-east crude oil delivery systems, Alaskan crude oil in excess of west coast needs will be transshipped through the Panama Canal at a high transportation cost;

(5)national security and regional supply requirements may be such that west-to-east crude delivery systems serving both the northern tier States and inland States, consistent with the requirements of section 410 of the Act approved November 16, 1973 (87 Stat. 594), commonly known as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, are needed;

(6)expeditious Federal and State decisions for west-to-east crude oil delivery systems are of the utmost priority; and

(7)resolution of the west coast crude oil surplus and the need for crude oil in northern tier States and inland States require the assignment and coordination of overall responsibility within the executive branch to permit expedited action on all necessary environmental assessments and decisions on permit applications concerning delivery systems.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 410 of the Act approved November 16, 1973 (87 Stat. 594), commonly known as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, referred to in par. (5), is section 410 of Pub. L. 93–153, Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 594, which is set out as a note under section 1651 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions The definition of “State” in section 2602 of Title 16, Conservation, applies to this section.

§2001 Findings