(2) 75 per centum of this amount if the first 
production well is spudded between 3 and 4 years 
after issuance of the lease, 
(3) 50 per centum of this amount if the first 
production well is spudded between 4 and 5 years 
after issuance of the lease, and 
(4) 25 per centum of this amount if the first 
production well is spudded between 5 and 6 years 
after issuance of the lease. 
SEC. 30. OCS JOINT PERMITTING OFFICES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Interior 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall estab-
lish Federal OCS Joint Regional Permitting Offices (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Regional Permitting Of-
fices’’). 
(b) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of under-
standing for purposes of this section with— 
(1) the Secretary of Commerce; 
(2) the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency; and 
(3) the Chief of Engineers. 
(c) DESIGNATION OF QUALIFIED STAFF.— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:07 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00093
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1108.IH
H1108
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the signing of the memorandum of un-
derstanding under subsection (b), all Federal signa-
tory parties shall assign to each of the Regional Per-
mitting Offices identified in subsection (d) a suffi-
cient number of employees with expertise to address 
the full spectrum of agency regulatory issues relat-
ing to the Regional Permitting Office in which the 
employee is employed, including, as applicable, par-
ticular expertise in— 
(A) the consultations and the preparation 
of biological opinions under section 7 of the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1536); 
(B) permits under section 404 of Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344); 
(C) regulatory matters under the Clean Air 
Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); 
(D) the consultations and preparation of 
documents under the Marine Mammals Protec-
tion Act; and 
(E) the preparation of analyses under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:07 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1108.IH
H1108
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
(2) DUTIES.—Each employee assigned under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) not later than 90 days after the date 
of assignment, report to the Minerals Manage-
ment Service Regional Director in the Regional 
Permitting Office to which the employee is as-
signed; 
(B) be responsible for all issues relating to 
the jurisdiction of the home office or agency of 
the employee; and 
(C) participate as part of the team of per-
sonnel working on proposed energy projects, 
planning, and environmental analyses. 
(d) REGIONAL
PERMITTING
OFFICES.—The fol-
lowing Minerals Management Service Regional Head-
quarters shall serve as the Regional Permitting Offices: 
(1) Anchorage, Alaska. 
(2) New Orleans, Louisiana. 
(3) Minerals Management Service Pacific Re-
gional Headquarters. 
(4) Minerals Management Service Atlantic Re-
gional Headquarters. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:07 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1108.IH
H1108
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
Congress a report that outlines the results of the Regional 
Permitting Offices to date. 
(f) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—For the purposes of co-
ordination and processing of oil and gas use authorizations 
on the Federal outer Continental Shelf under the adminis-
tration of the Regional Permitting Offices identified in 
subsection (d), the Secretary may authorize the expendi-
ture or transfer of such funds as are necessary to— 
(1) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
(2) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 
(3) the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(4) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration; and 
(5) the Corps of Engineers. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:07 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00096
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1108.IH
H1108
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS