More Energy More Jobs Act of 2023

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue an oil and gas leasing program under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the More Energy More Jobs Act of 2023 2. Requirement to issue new five-year oil and gas leasing program (a) Requirements for development of new leasing programs Section 18(c) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1344(c) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (5) and (6); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Development of program In preparing each leasing program under this section, the Secretary shall— (A) allow the Governor of a coastal State to nominate for leasing under such program areas of the outer Continental Shelf that are adjacent to the waters of that State; (B) include each area nominated under subparagraph (A) in the draft leasing program under this section and consider leasing of such areas as an additional or alternative Federal action; and (C) include the established program resource estimates that are available, and develop resource estimates for the areas for which such data are not available including for the areas nominated under subparagraph (A). (3) Inclusion of State-Nominated areas (A) In general The Secretary shall include in the final program issued under this section each area nominated by a State under paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines that development in such area will best meet national energy needs and is consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a). (B) Report If the Secretary omits any area nominated under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the Governor that nominated the area and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report detailing why oil and gas development in such area do not best meet national energy needs and is not consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a). (C) Alternative views After submittal of the report required by subparagraph (B), each such Governor shall be provided 60 days within which to offer alternative views on why the Secretary’s findings are not consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a). (4) Notice of effectiveness of plan The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the effectiveness of each oil and gas leasing program issued under this section on the date such program takes effect. . 3. Annual lease sales in Gulf of Mexico region Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1344 (j) Annual lease sales in Gulf of Mexico Region (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area The term Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area Central Planning Area 43 U.S.C. 1331 Public Law 109–432 (B) Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area The term Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program (2) Annual lease sales Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Secretary shall hold a minimum of 2 region-wide lease sales annually in the Gulf of Mexico pursuant to this Act, each of which shall include areas in— (A) the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area; and (B) the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. (3) Requirements (A) In general In carrying out the lease sales under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall issue leases to the highest responsible qualified bidder or bidders. (B) Areas included in lease sales In carrying out the lease sales under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall include in each lease sale all unleased areas that are not subject to restrictions as of the date of the lease sale. (4) Environmental review (A) In general With respect to each lease sale required under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall conduct any environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (B) Timeline for environmental review (i) Deadline The Secretary shall complete an environmental review conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) not later than— (I) with respect to an environmental assessment, 1 year after the date on which the Secretary issues a notice of intent to prepare such environmental assessment; and (II) with respect to an environmental impact statement, 2 years after the date on which the Secretary issues a notice of intent to prepare such environmental impact statement. (ii) Adjustment of timeline An entity that is issued a lease pursuant to a lease sale under paragraph (2) may enter into— (I) 1 or more agreements with the Secretary to extend a deadline described in clause (i) by not more than 6 months for each such agreement; and (II) an agreement with the Secretary to otherwise adjust any deadline under this subparagraph. (k) Permitting (1) In general Pursuant to sovereign contracting rights and obligations, the Secretary shall review and grant or deny in accordance with paragraph (2) any application for a permit or other approval for offshore oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production activities under a lease issued pursuant to this Act by not later than the earlier of— (A) 75 calendar days after the date on which the application is received by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; or (B) any other applicable deadline required by Federal law. (2) Approval or denial (A) In general Absent clear grounds for denial of an application for a permit or other approval described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall grant the permit or approval. (B) Requirement If the Secretary denies an application for a permit or other approval under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide to the applicant written notice explaining the grounds for the denial. .

Summary: More Energy More Jobs Act of 2023 This bill revises requirements concerning oil and gas lease sales under the Outer Continental Shelf leasing program. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to allow coastal states to nominate areas off their coasts for oil and gas development. In addition, Interior must hold at least two region-wide oil and gas lease sales per year in the Gulf of Mexico. Each lease sale must include areas in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. The bill also establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews of the lease sales.