The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that “oil and gas production on federal land and water is down six percent from 2009 to 2013, but a new report by the Congressional Research Service says expanded production options favored by Republicans and oil-state Democrats might not reverse that trend.”  

“‘There is, however, continued interest among some in Congress to open more federal lands for oil and gas development (e.g., the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and areas offshore) and increase the speed of the permitting process,’ the report by the non-partisan research service says. ‘But having more lands accessible may not translate into higher levels of production on federal lands, as industry seeks out the most promising prospects and higher returns on more accessible non-federal lands.'”  

“One reason hydraulic fracking, which is growing, primarily occurs on private land.”  

“The report was released Wednesday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”