Conservation Funding Protection Act

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require annual lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico region of the outer Continental Shelf, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Conservation Funding Protection Act 2. Annual lease sales in Gulf of Mexico region Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1344 (i) 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 Draft Proposed Program Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2007–2012 (2) Annual lease sales Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2022, 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 reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 42 U.S.C. 4321 (B) Deadline (i) Individual review If the Secretary conducts environmental reviews with respect to a lease sale under subparagraph (A) for each individual lease included in the lease sale, the Secretary shall complete all environmental reviews for the lease sale, including by issuing a finding of no significant impact or a record of decision, if applicable, in less than 365 calendar days. (ii) Programmatic review If the Secretary conducts a programmatic environmental review with respect to a lease sale under subparagraph (A) for all leases under the lease sale, the Secretary shall complete the programmatic environmental review, including by issuing a finding of no significant impact or a record of decision, if applicable, in less than 180 calendar days. (j) 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 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: Conservation Funding Protection Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to 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. In addition, the bill establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews of the lease sales.