Extractive industries transparency initiative in the united states

EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES

Mia Steinle Project On Government Oversight

Project On Government Oversight

Founded in 1981 Nonpartisan independent watchdog that

champions good government reforms POGO’s investigations into corruption,

misconduct, and conflicts of interest achieve a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical federal government.

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

Global standard that promotes revenue transparency and accountability in extractive sector

President Obama committed U.S. to EITI in 2011

U.S. Scandals in Resource Management

“Culture of ethical failure” at Interior Department: Sex, drug use, and inappropriate gifts from

industry

Deepwater Horizon explosion: Largest offshore oil leak in U.S. history Prompted reorganization of Interior Department

U.S. EITI Scoping Decisions

Commodity/Industry Reconciliation* Unilateral Disclosure

Publically Sourced Narrative

Exclude From 1st Report

Leasable Minerals (such as oil, gas, coal)

x x x

Non-Fuel Minerals (such as gold, uranium, sand)

x x x

Renewable Energy (geothermal, solar, wind)

x x

Hydropower† x

Timber† x

Fisheries† x

Grazing x

* Parent companies that pay annual revenues to the Interior Department of at least $50 million meet the reconciliation threshold for the first report. The multi-stakeholder group is proposing to decrease the reconciliation threshold to $20 million for the second report. † The multi-stakeholder group will consider hydropower, timber, and fisheries for inclusion in the second report.

Challenges to Implementation

Federalism: Federal government can’t require states to

participate Tribal Sovereignty:

566 tribes have right to self-governanceFifty United States

Next Steps for U.S. EITI Public engagement

How can U.S. EITI engage citizens at community level?

How can U.S. EITI be accessible to average people?

Global leadership U.S. EITI can be the model for UK, France,

and Canada

Contact Mia Steinle

Investigator, Project On Government Oversight

Email: msteinle@pogo.orgTwitter: @miasteinle

1100 G Street NW, Suite 500Washington, DC 20005, USA