I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3404 

To establish in the Department of the Interior an Under Secretary for 

Energy, Lands, and Minerals and a Bureau of Ocean Energy, an Ocean 

Energy Safety Service, and an Office of Natural Resources Revenue, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2011 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish in the Department of the Interior an Under 

Secretary for Energy, Lands, and Minerals and a Bureau 

of Ocean Energy, an Ocean Energy Safety Service, and 

an Office of Natural Resources Revenue, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNDER SECRETARY FOR 

4 ENERGY, LANDS, AND MINERALS AND ASSIST5 ANT SECRETARY OF OCEAN ENERGY AND 

6 SAFETY. 

7 There shall be in the Department of the Interior— 


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1 (1) an Under Secretary for Energy, Lands, and 

2 Minerals, who shall— 

3 (A) be appointed by the President, by and 

4 with the advise and consent of the Senate; 

5 (B) report to the Secretary of the Interior; 

6 (C) be paid at the rate payable for level III 

7 of the Executive Schedule; and 

8 (D) be responsible for— 

9 (i) the safe and responsible develop10 ment of our energy and mineral resources 

11 on Federal lands in appropriate accordance 

12 with United States energy demands; and 

13 (ii) ensuring multiple-use missions of 

14 the Department of the Interior that pro15 mote the safe and sustained development 

16 of energy and minerals resources on public 

17 lands (as that term is defined in the Fed18 eral Land Policy and Management Act of 

19 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)); 

20 (2) an Assistant Secretary of Ocean Energy 

21 and Safety, who shall— 

22 (A) be appointed by the President, by and 

23 with the advise and consent of the Senate; 

24 (B) report to the Under Secretary for En25 ergy, Lands, and Minerals; 


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1 (C) be paid at the rate payable for level IV 

2 of the Executive Schedule; and 

3 (D) be responsible for ensuring safe and 

4 efficient development of energy and minerals on 

5 the Outer Continental Shelf of the United 

6 States; and 

7 (3) an Assistant Secretary of Land and Min8 erals Management, who shall— 

9 (A) be appointed by the President, by and 

10 with the advise and consent of the Senate; 

11 (B) report to the Under Secretary for En12 ergy, Lands, and Minerals; 

13 (C) be paid at the rate payable for level IV 

14 of the Executive Schedule; and 

15 (D) be responsible for ensuring safe and 

16 efficient development of energy and minerals on 

17 public lands and other Federal onshore lands 

18 under the jurisdiction of the Department of the 

19 Interior, including implementation of the Min20 eral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and 

21 the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 

22 Act (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.) and administra23 tion of the Office of Surface Mining. 


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1 SEC. 2. BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

3 Department of the Interior a Bureau of Ocean Energy (re4 ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Bureau’’), which shall— 

5 (1) be headed by a Director of Ocean Energy 

6 (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Director’’); and 

7 (2) be administered under the direction of the 

8 Assistant Secretary of Ocean Energy and Safety. 

9 (b) DIRECTOR.— 

10 (1) APPOINTMENT.—The Director shall be ap11 pointed by the Secretary of the Interior. 

12 (2) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall be 

13 compensated at the rate provided for Level V of the 

14 Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 

15 United States Code. 

16 (c) DUTIES.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte18 rior shall carry out through the Bureau all func19 tions, powers, and duties vested in the Secretary re20 lating to the administration of a comprehensive pro21 gram of offshore mineral and renewable energy re22 sources management. 

23 (2) SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES.—The Director 

24 shall promulgate and implement regulations— 

25 (A) for the proper issuance of leases for 

26 the exploration, development, and production of 


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1 nonrenewable and renewable energy and min2 eral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf; 

3 (B) relating to resource identification, ac4 cess, evaluation, and utilization; 

5 (C) for development of leasing plans, lease 

6 sales, and issuance of leases for such resources; 

7 and 

8 (D) regarding issuance of environmental 

9 impact statements related to leasing and post 

10 leasing activities including exploration, develop11 ment, and production, and the use of third 

12 party contracting for necessary environmental 

13 analysis for the development of such resources. 

14 (3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not carry 

15 out through the Bureau any function, power, or duty 

16 that is— 

17 (A) required by section 3 to be carried out 

18 through the Ocean Energy Safety Service; or 

19 (B) required by section 4 to be carried out 

20 through the Office of Natural Resources Rev21 enue. 

22 (d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAND MANAGEMENT

23 AGENCIES.—Nothing in this section shall affect the au24 thorities of the Bureau of Land Management under the 

25 Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 


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1 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or of the Forest Service under the 

2 National Forest Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 

3 94–588). 

4 SEC. 3. OCEAN ENERGY SAFETY SERVICE. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

6 Department of the Interior an Ocean Energy Safety Serv7 ice (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Service’’), which 

8 shall— 

9 (1) be headed by a Director of Energy Safety 

10 (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Director’’); and 

11 (2) be administered under the direction of the 

12 Assistant Secretary of Ocean Energy and Safety. 

13 (b) DIRECTOR.— 

14 (1) APPOINTMENT.—The Director shall be ap15 pointed by the Secretary of the Interior. 

16 (2) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall be 

17 compensated at the rate provided for Level V of the 

18 Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 

19 United States Code. 

20 (c) DUTIES.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte22 rior shall carry out through the Service all functions, 

23 powers, and duties vested in the Secretary relating 

24 to the administration of safety and environmental 

25 enforcement activities related to offshore mineral 


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1 and renewable energy resources on the Outer Conti2 nental Shelf pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf 

3 Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) including the 

4 authority to develop, promulgate, and enforce regu5 lations to ensure the safe and sound exploration, de6 velopment, and production of mineral and renewable 

7 energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf in 

8 a timely fashion. 

9 (2) SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES.—The Director 

10 shall be responsible for all safety activities related to 

11 exploration and development of renewable and min12 eral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf, in13 cluding— 

14 (A) exploration, development, production, 

15 and ongoing inspections of infrastructure; 

16 (B) the suspending or prohibiting, on a 

17 temporary basis, any operation or activity, in18 cluding production under leases held on the 

19 Outer Continental Shelf, in accordance with 

20 section 5(a)(1) of the Outer Continental Shelf 

21 Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1334(a)(1)); 

22 (C) cancelling any lease, permit, or right23 of-way on the Outer Continental Shelf, in ac24 cordance with section 5(a)(2) of the Outer ConVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:13 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3404.IH H3404

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1 tinental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 

2 1334(a)(2)); 

3 (D) compelling compliance with applicable 

4 Federal laws and regulations relating to worker 

5 safety and other matters; 

6 (E) requiring comprehensive safety and en7 vironmental management programs for persons 

8 engaged in activities connected with the explo9 ration, development, and production of mineral 

10 or renewable energy resources; 

11 (F) developing and implementing regula12 tions for Federal employees to carry out any in13 spection or investigation to ascertain compli14 ance with applicable regulations, including 

15 health, safety, or environmental regulations; 

16 (G) implementing the Offshore Technology 

17 Research and Risk Assessment Program under 

18 section 21 of the Outer Continental Shelf 

19 Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1347); 

20 (H) summoning witnesses and directing 

21 the production of evidence; 

22 (I) levying fines and penalties and disquali23 fying operators; 

24 (J) carrying out any safety, response, and 

25 removal preparedness functions; and 


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1 (K) the processing of permits, exploration 

2 plans, development plans. 

3 (d) EMPLOYEES.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure 

5 that the inspection force of the Bureau consists of 

6 qualified, trained employees who meet qualification 

7 requirements and adhere to the highest professional 

8 and ethical standards. 

9 (2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The qualification re10 quirements referred to in paragraph (1)— 

11 (A) shall be determined by the Secretary, 

12 subject to subparagraph (B); and 

13 (B) shall include— 

14 (i) three years of practical experience 

15 in oil and gas exploration, development, or 

16 production; or 

17 (ii) a degree in an appropriate field of 

18 engineering from an accredited institution 

19 of higher learning. 

20 (3) ASSIGNMENT.—In assigning oil and gas in21 spectors to the inspection and investigation of indi22 vidual operations, the Secretary shall give due con23 sideration to the extent possible to their previous ex24 perience in the particular type of oil and gas oper25 ation in which such inspections are to be made. 


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1 (4) BACKGROUND CHECKS.—The Director shall 

2 require that an individual to be hired as an inspec3 tion officer undergo an employment investigation 

4 (including a criminal history record check). 

5 (5) LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS.—Individuals 

6 hired as inspectors must be able to read, speak, and 

7 write English well enough to— 

8 (A) carry out written and oral instructions 

9 regarding the proper performance of inspection 

10 duties; and 

11 (B) write inspection reports and state12 ments and log entries in the English language. 

13 (6) VETERANS PREFERENCE.—The Director 

14 shall provide a preference for the hiring of an indi15 vidual as a inspection officer if the individual is a 

16 member or former member of the armed forces and 

17 is entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or 

18 retainer pay on account of service as a member of 

19 the armed forces. 

20 (7) ANNUAL PROFICIENCY REVIEW.— 

21 (A) ANNUAL PROFICIENCY REVIEW.—The 

22 Director shall provide that an annual evaluation 

23 of each individual assigned inspection duties is 

24 conducted and documented. 


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1 (B) CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT.—An 

2 individual employed as an inspector may not 

3 continue to be employed in that capacity unless 

4 the evaluation demonstrates that the indi5 vidual— 

6 (i) continues to meet all qualifications 

7 and standards; 

8 (ii) has a satisfactory record of per9 formance and attention to duty based on 

10 the standards and requirements in the in11 spection program; and 

12 (iii) demonstrates the current knowl13 edge and skills necessary to courteously, 

14 vigilantly, and effectively perform Inspec15 tion functions. 

16 (8) LIMITATION ON RIGHT TO STRIKE.—Any 

17 individual that conducts permitting or inspections 

18 under this section may not participate in a strike, or 

19 assert the right to strike. 

20 (9) PERSONNEL AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding 

21 any other provision of law, the Director may employ, 

22 appoint, discipline and terminate for cause, and fix 

23 the compensation, terms, and conditions of employ24 ment of Federal service for individuals as the em25 ployees of the Service in order to restore and mainVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:13 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3404.IH H3404

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1 tain the trust of the people of the United States in 

2 the accountability of the management of our Na3 tion’s energy safety program. 

4 (10) TRAINING ACADEMY.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall es6 tablish and maintain a National Offshore En7 ergy Health and Safety Academy (referred to in 

8 this paragraph as the ‘‘Academy’’) as an agency 

9 of the Ocean Energy Safety Service. 

10 (B) FUNCTIONS OF ACADEMY.—The Sec11 retary, through the Academy, shall be respon12 sible for— 

13 (i) the initial and continued training 

14 of both newly hired and experienced off15 shore oil and gas inspectors in all aspects 

16 of health, safety, environmental, and oper17 ational inspections; 

18 (ii) the training of technical support 

19 personnel of the Bureau; 

20 (iii) any other training programs for 

21 offshore oil and gas inspectors, Bureau 

22 personnel, Department personnel, or other 

23 persons as the Secretary shall designate; 

24 and 


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1 (iv) certification of the successful 

2 completion of training programs for newly 

3 hired and experienced offshore oil and gas 

4 inspectors. 

5 (C) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 

6 (i) IN GENERAL.—In performing func7 tions under this paragraph, and subject to 

8 clause (ii), the Secretary may enter into 

9 cooperative educational and training agree10 ments with educational institutions, related 

11 Federal academies, other Federal agencies, 

12 State governments, safety training firms, 

13 and oil and gas operators and related in14 dustries. 

15 (ii) TRAINING REQUIREMENT.—Such 

16 training shall be conducted by the Acad17 emy in accordance with curriculum needs 

18 and assignment of instructional personnel 

19 established by the Secretary. 

20 (11) USE OF DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.—In 

21 performing functions under this subsection, the Sec22 retary shall use, to the extent practicable, the facili23 ties and personnel of the Department of the Interior. 

24 The Secretary may appoint or assign to the Acad25 emy such officers and employees as the Secretary 


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1 considers necessary for the performance of the du2 ties and functions of the Academy. 

3 (12) ADDITIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

5 work with appropriate educational institutions, 

6 operators, and representatives of oil and gas 

7 workers to develop and maintain adequate pro8 grams with educational institutions and oil and 

9 gas operators that are designed— 

10 (i) to enable persons to qualify for po11 sitions in the administration of this Act; 

12 and 

13 (ii) to provide for the continuing edu14 cation of inspectors or other appropriate 

15 Department of the Interior personnel. 

16 (B) FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSIST17 ANCE.—The Secretary may provide financial 

18 and technical assistance to educational institu19 tions in carrying out this paragraph. 

20 (e) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not carry out 

21 through the Service any function, power, or duty that is— 

22 (1) required by section 2 to be carried out 

23 through Bureau of Ocean Energy; or 

24 (2) required by section 4 to be carried out 

25 through the Office of Natural Resources Revenue. 


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1 SEC. 4. OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

3 Department of the Interior an Office of Natural Resources 

4 Revenue (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Office’’) to 

5 be headed by a Director of Natural Resources Revenue 

6 (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Director’’). 

7 (b) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall be ap9 pointed by the Secretary of the Interior. 

10 (2) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall be 

11 compensated at the rate provided for Level V of the 

12 Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 

13 United States Code. 

14 (c) DUTIES.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte16 rior shall carry out, through the Office, all functions, 

17 powers, and duties vested in the Secretary and relat18 ing to the administration of offshore royalty and rev19 enue management functions. 

20 (2) SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES.—The Secretary 

21 shall carry out, through the Office, all functions, 

22 powers, and duties previously assigned to the Min23 erals Management Service (including the authority 

24 to develop, promulgate, and enforce regulations) re25 garding offshore royalty and revenue collection; roy26 alty and revenue distribution; auditing and compliVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:13 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3404.IH H3404

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1 ance; investigation and enforcement of royalty and 

2 revenue regulations; and asset management for on3 shore and offshore activities. 

4 (d) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not carry out 

5 through the Office any function, power, or duty that is— 

6 (1) required by section 2 to be carried out 

7 through Bureau of Ocean Energy; or 

8 (2) required by section 3 to be carried out 

9 through the Ocean Energy Safety Service. 

10 SEC. 5. ETHICS AND DRUG TESTING. 

11 (a) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary of the Interior 

12 shall certify annually that all Department of the Interior 

13 officers and employees having regular, direct contact with 

14 lessees, contractors, concessionaires, and other businesses 

15 interested before the Government as a function of their 

16 official duties, or conducting investigations, issuing per17 mits, or responsible for oversight of energy programs, are 

18 in full compliance with all Federal employee ethics laws 

19 and regulations under the Ethics in Government Act of 

20 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) and part 2635 of title 5, Code of 

21 Federal Regulations, and all guidance issued under sub22 section (c). 

23 (b) DRUG TESTING.—The Secretary shall conduct a 

24 random drug testing program of all Department of the 

25 Interior personnel referred to in subsection (a). 


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1 (c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 

2 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 

3 supplementary ethics and drug testing guidance for the 

4 employees for which certification is required under sub5 section (a). The Secretary shall update the supplementary 

6 ethics guidance not less than once every 3 years there7 after. 

8 SEC. 6. ABOLISHMENT OF MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERV9 ICE. 

10 (a) ABOLISHMENT.—The Minerals Management 

11 Service is abolished. 

12 (b) COMPLETED ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Completed administrative 

14 actions of the Minerals Management Service shall 

15 not be affected by the enactment of this Act, but 

16 shall continue in effect according to their terms until 

17 amended, modified, superseded, terminated, set 

18 aside, or revoked in accordance with law by an offi19 cer of the United States or a court of competent ju20 risdiction, or by operation of law. 

21 (2) COMPLETED ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION DE22 FINED.—For purposes of paragraph (1), the term 

23 ‘‘completed administrative action’’ includes orders, 

24 determinations, memoranda of understanding, 

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1 sonnel actions, permits, agreements, grants, con2 tracts, certificates, licenses, registrations, and privi3 leges. 

4 (c) PENDING PROCEEDINGS.—Subject to the author5 ity of the Secretary of the Interior and the officers of the 

6 Department of the Interior under this Act— 

7 (1) pending proceedings in the Minerals Man8 agement Service, including notices of proposed rule9 making, and applications for licenses, permits, cer10 tificates, grants, and financial assistance, shall con11 tinue, notwithstanding the enactment of this Act or 

12 the vesting of functions of the Service in another 

13 agency, unless discontinued or modified under the 

14 same terms and conditions and to the same extent 

15 that such discontinuance or modification could have 

16 occurred if this Act had not been enacted; and 

17 (2) orders issued in such proceedings, and ap18 peals therefrom, and payments made pursuant to 

19 such orders, shall issue in the same manner and on 

20 the same terms as if this Act had not been enacted, 

21 and any such orders shall continue in effect until 

22 amended, modified, superseded, terminated, set 

23 aside, or revoked by an officer of the United States 

24 or a court of competent jurisdiction, or by operation 

25 of law. 


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1 (d) PENDING CIVIL ACTIONS.—Subject to the au2 thority of the Secretary of the Interior or any officer of 

3 the Department of the Interior under this Act, pending 

4 civil actions shall continue notwithstanding the enactment 

5 of this Act, and in such civil actions, proceedings shall be 

6 had, appeals taken, and judgments rendered and enforced 

7 in the same manner and with the same effect as if such 

8 enactment had not occurred. 

9 (e) REFERENCES.—References relating to the Min10 erals Management Service in statutes, Executive orders, 

11 rules, regulations, directives, or delegations of authority 

12 that precede the effective date of this Act are deemed to 

13 refer, as appropriate, to the Department, to its officers, 

14 employees, or agents, or to its corresponding organiza15 tional units or functions. Statutory reporting requirements 

16 that applied in relation to the Minerals Management Serv17 ice immediately before the effective date of this Act shall 

18 continue to apply. 

19 SEC. 7. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO EXECUTIVE 

20 SCHEDULE PAY RATES. 

21 (a) UNDER SECRETARY FOR ENERGY, LANDS, AND

22 MINERALS.—Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, 

23 is amended by inserting after the item relating to ‘‘Under 

24 Secretaries of the Treasury (3)’’ the following: 


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1 ‘‘Under Secretary for Energy, Lands, and Min2 erals, Department of the Interior.’’. 

3 (b) ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.—Section 5315 of title 

4 5, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Assistant 

5 Secretaries, Department of the Interior (6)’’ and inserting 

6 the following: 

7 ‘‘Assistant Secretaries, Department of the Inte8 rior (7).’’. 

9 (c) DIRECTORS.—Section 5316 of title 5, United 

10 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Director, Bureau of 

11 Mines, Department of the Interior.’’ and inserting the fol12 lowing new items: 

13 ‘‘Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy, Depart14 ment of the Interior. 

15 ‘‘Director, Ocean Energy Safety Service, De16 partment of the Interior. 

17 ‘‘Director, Office of Natural Resources Rev18 enue, Department of the Interior.’’. 

19 SEC. 8. OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ENERGY SAFETY AD20 VISORY BOARD. 

21 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Interior 

22 shall establish, under the Federal Advisory Committee 

23 Act, an Outer Continental Shelf Energy Safety Advisory 

24 Board (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Board’’)— 


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1 (1) to provide the Secretary and the Directors 

2 established by this Act with independent scientific 

3 and technical advice on safe, responsible, and timely 

4 mineral and renewable energy exploration, develop5 ment, and production activities; and 

6 (2) to review operations of the National Off7 shore Energy Health and Safety Academy estab8 lished under section 3(d), including submitting to 

9 the Secretary recommendations of curriculum to en10 sure training scientific and technical advancements. 

11 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

12 (1) SIZE.—The Board shall consist of not more 

13 than 11 members, who— 

14 (A) shall be appointed by the Secretary 

15 based on their expertise in oil and gas drilling, 

16 well design, operations, well containment and 

17 oil spill response; and 

18 (B) must have significant scientific, engi19 neering, management, and other credentials and 

20 a history of working in the field related to safe 

21 energy exploration, development, and produc22 tion activities. 

23 (2) CONSULTATION AND NOMINATIONS.—The 

24 Secretary shall consult with the National Academy 

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1 ing to identify potential candidates for the Board 

2 and shall take nominations from the public. 

3 (3) TERM.—The Secretary shall appoint Board 

4 members to staggered terms of not more than 4 

5 years, and shall not appoint a member for more 

6 than 2 consecutive terms. 

7 (4) BALANCE.—In appointing members to the 

8 Board, the Secretary shall ensure a balanced rep9 resentation of industry and research interests. 

10 (c) CHAIR.—The Secretary shall appoint the Chair 

11 for the Board from among its members. 

12 (d) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet not less than 

13 3 times per year and shall host, at least once per year, 

14 a public forum to review and assess the overall energy 

15 safety performance of Outer Continental Shelf mineral 

16 and renewable energy resource activities. 

17 (e) OFFSHORE DRILLING SAFETY ASSESSMENTS

18 AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—As part of its duties under 

19 this section, the Board shall, by not later than 180 days 

20 after the date of enactment of this section and every 5 

21 years thereafter, submit to the Secretary a report that— 

22 (1) assesses offshore oil and gas well control 

23 technologies, practices, voluntary standards, and 

24 regulations in the United States and elsewhere; and 


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1 (2) as appropriate, recommends modifications 

2 to the regulations issued under this Act to ensure 

3 adequate protection of safety and the environment, 

4 including recommendations on how to reduce regula5 tions and administrative actions that are duplicative 

6 or unnecessary. 

7 (f) REPORTS.—Reports of the Board shall be sub8 mitted by the Board to the Committee on Natural Re9 sources of the House or Representatives and the Com10 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 

11 and made available to the public in electronically acces12 sible form. 

13 (g) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Board, 

14 other than full-time employees of the Federal Government, 

15 while attending meeting of the Board or while otherwise 

16 serving at the request of the Secretary or the Director 

17 while serving away from their homes or regular places of 

18 business, may be allowed travel expenses, including per 

19 diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 

20 of title 5, United States Code, for individuals in the Gov21 ernment serving without pay. 

Æ 


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