October 27, 2005 INHOFE APPLAUDS EFFORTS TO EXPAND LOUISIANA REFINERY’S CAPACITY An Important, Positive Step By One Company, But Improved Permitting Process Is Still Critical to Helping Lower Gas Prices and Ensuring An Adequate Supply Nationwide WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, today applauded the decision by Marathon Oil to expand the capacity of its Garyville, La., refinery from 245,000 barrels per day to 425,000 barrels. “Clearly this is an important, positive step by one company to expand capacity at one of its facilities,” Senator Inhofe said. “I applaud Marathon for its decision to invest $2 billion in this significant effort. But I’d remind my friends on the other side of the aisle, who all voted unanimously this week to socialize petroleum refining instead of embracing the far more sensible – and realistic – approach of the Gas PRICE Act, that the Congress must act to help stabilize and lower prices, and at a minimum, help ensure an adequate fuel supply for American consumers. To do that, we must begin by improving the permitting process, just as my colleague Senator Feinstein suggested to her own state’s governor. “I am pleased that Marathon is operating and expanding refineries instead of the EPA building and operating refineries as Senate Democrats would prefer.”