For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office SENATE RESOLUTION 45 NATIONAL FUELS AND ENERGY POLICY STUDY This publication is a background document for the National Fuels and Energy Policy Study authorized by Senate Resolution 45, introduced by Senators Jennings Randolph and Henry M. Jackson on February 4, 1971, and considered, amended, and agreed to by the Senate on May 3, 1971. The resolution authorized the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, and ex-officio members of the Committees on Commerce and on Public Works and the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, to make a full and complete investigation and study of National Fuels and Energy Policies. Subsequently, on March 1, 1974, in the furtherance of the purposes of Senate Resolution 45 (92d Congress), the Senate approved the addition of ex-officio members from the Committees on Finance, on Foreign Relations, on Government Operations, and on Labor and Public Welfare, also. COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS FOR NATIONAL FUELS AND ENERGY POLICY STUDY MEMORANDUM OF THE CHAIRMAN To Members and Ex-Officio Members of the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Study of National Fuels and Energy Policy Pursuant to Senate Resolution 45: In the winter of 1973-74, the Nation experienced its first peacetime gasoline shortages. These shortages were due to a combination of factors: unprecedented growth in demand; the Arab production cuts and embargo; mismanagement of stocks; and poor planning on the part of industry and Government. The results of the shortage were long gas lines, higher prices at the pump, curtailments in travel, economic dislocations, and serious inconvenience for the American consumer. The experiences of this past winter have left the American people concerned and uncertain about the likelihood of future shortages. Clearly no one wants to risk a repetition of last winter's experience. But unless the public has some understanding of the gasoline supply situation anticipated for 1974, they cannot be expected to make appropriate adjustments in their consumption. For this reason, I requested the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress to prepare a report on the projected availability of gasoline for the balance of 1974 and beyond. I have directed that this report by David Lindahl of the Environmental Policy Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, be published as a committee print for the use of the Senate's National Fuels and Energy Policy Study. Also included in the print as Appendixes are two related documents. One is a post-embargo supply-demand outlook prepared by the Federal Energy Office. The other is a brief report on the gasoline supply picture for the second and third quarters prepared by the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation. Publication of these documents is being undertaken as part of the committee's continuing effort to assure the availability of current, accurate information on critical energy problems. HENRY M. JACKSON, Chairman. |