HOARD Act

To require the Secretary of the Interior to submit an annual report to Congress on certain statistics related to applications for a permit to drill an oil or gas well, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Having Open Access to Relevant Data Act HOARD Act 2. Report required (a) Report on APDs (1) In general Not later than January 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress a report on the following statistics: (A) The number of APDs approved by the BLM during the previous fiscal year for which the applicant has not begun drilling by the end of such year. (B) The number of APDs approved by the BLM during any fiscal year for which the applicant has not begun drilling by the end of the previous fiscal year. (C) With respect to APDs approved by the BLM during the previous fiscal year, the average number of days between receipt of an APD by the BLM and the approval of such APD, disaggregated by the average number of such days— (i) the APD was being processed by BLM; and (ii) the BLM was waiting on additional information from the applicant. (D) With respect to APDs approved by the BLM during the previous fiscal year, the average cost of approving an APD. (2) Disaggregation The Secretary of the Interior shall disaggregate each statistic required under paragraph (1) by the location of the site for which the APD was requested, including by— (A) the State in which such site is located; (B) the BLM field office that administers the land upon which such site is located; (C) whether or not the site is located on Federal land; and (D) whether or not the site is located on Indian land. (b) Discouraging hoarding and speculation (1) Limitation on Federal funds used for streamlining processing of APDs No Federal funds may be used to streamline BLM processing of APDs during a fiscal year if, on the last day of the previous fiscal year, the number of APDs approved by the BLM during any fiscal year, but for which the applicant has not begun drilling, is greater than twice the number of APDs received by the BLM during any fiscal year for which the BLM has neither approved nor requested more information from the applicant. (2) Limitation on number of outstanding APDs per applicant If any applicant, including its affiliates, has received greater than 100 approved APDs from the BLM for which such applicant, including its affiliates, has not begun drilling, then such applicant, including its affiliates, shall not be eligible to participate in the competitive and noncompetitive bidding processes for oil and gas exploration and production under the Minerals Leasing Act ( 30 U.S.C. 181 (c) Definitions In this Act: (1) Affiliate With respect to an applicant, the term affiliate (2) APD The term APD (3) BLM The term BLM

Summary: Having Open Access to Relevant Data Act or the HOARD Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to submit to Congress a report on the number and age of unused approved oil and gas drilling permits and the average cost to the Bureau of Land Management of approving such permits. Applicants who have received more than 100 approved drilling permits and have not begun drilling are not eligible for five fiscal years to participate in the competitive and noncompetitive bidding processes for oil and gas exploration and production.