Rep. Hastings pledges to take up offshore drilling revenue-sharing bill

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) on Thursday promised that his committee would soon take up legislation that would adjust revenue sharing among states for oil drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Hastings made the pledge on the House floor in a colloquy with Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), in which he said changes to OCS revenue sharing would "absolutely be a focus and a priority."

"The committee will continue to move forward on an array of bills that will be introduced in advance as part of the American energy initiative," Hastings said. "Coming soon will be bills focused on expanding renewable energy, offshore production, onshore production, hydropower, coal, critical minerals and revenue sharing.

"Today only a few select states receive revenue sharing from OCS activities," he continued. "This committee will be working to reform OCS revenues to ensure that there is fair treatment to all states that produce oil and gas in the OCS."

Louisiana and other Gulf of Mexico states, under a 2006 law, receive a share of leasing bids and royalties from Gulf development. But much of it doesn’t kick-in until 2017.

Alaskan officials want revenue sharing expanded to include their state. Advocates say revenue sharing would also give states where offshore drilling isn’t currently allowed, such as Virginia, an incentive to push for development.

Hastings made his remarks in the context of floor debate on H.R. 1229 and H.R. 1230. The House on Thursday was expected to pass H.R. 1230, the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act.

-- This story was updated at 12:15 p.m.