Dependence On Foreign Oil

Have you ever stopped to contemplate why nothing has been done to end our dependence on foreign oil? The issue has been with us since the Department of Energy was created in 1977 specifically to end our dependence on foreign oil. Areas such as the Bakken Shale Formation contain more oil than the Middle East according to some. Have you stopped to wonder why it would take 9 months to gain permits that would upgrade and increase production at a Montana refinery? That is exactly how long it took to get two coke drums the permits to get from Lewiston Idaho to Billings. Where are government agencies in this process?