I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4346 
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjustments to the 
regulation of surface-disturbing activities and to protect taxpayers from 
unduly bearing the reclamation costs of oil and gas development, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 
Mr. LOWENTHAL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to make certain adjust-
ments to the regulation of surface-disturbing activities 
and to protect taxpayers from unduly bearing the rec-
lamation costs of oil and gas development, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be referred to as the ‘‘Bonding Reform 
and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2019’’. 
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SEC. 2. SURFACE DISTURBANCE AND RECLAMATION. 
Section 17(g) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
226(g)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(g) BONDING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) INTERIM RECLAMATION PLAN.—The 
term ‘Interim Reclamation Plan’ means an on-
going plan specifying reclamation steps to be 
taken on all disturbed areas covered by any 
lease issued under this Act that are not needed 
for active operations. 
‘‘(B) FINAL
RECLAMATION
PLAN.—The 
term ‘Final Reclamation Plan’ means a plan 
describing all reclamation activity to be con-
ducted for all disturbed areas, including loca-
tions, facilities, trenches, rights-of-way, roads, 
and any other surface disturbance covered by a 
lease issued under this Act prior to final aban-
donment. 
‘‘(2) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior, or with respect to National Forest lands, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, shall regulate all surface- 
disturbing activities conducted pursuant to any lease 
issued under this Act, and shall determine reclama-
tion and other actions as required in the interest of 
conservation of surface resources. 
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‘‘(3) RECLAMATION PLANS REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(A) 
ANALYSIS
AND
APPROVAL
RE-
QUIRED.—No permit to drill on an oil and gas 
lease issued under this Act may be granted 
without the analysis and approval by the Sec-
retary concerned of both an interim reclamation 
plan and a final reclamation plan covering pro-
posed surface-disturbing activities within the 
lease area. 
‘‘(B) PLANS OF OPERATIONS.—All Plans 
of Operations submitted and approved pursuant 
to this Act shall include an Interim Reclama-
tion Plan. 
‘‘(C) SECRETARIAL REVIEW.—The relevant 
Secretary shall review each Interim Reclama-
tion Plan at regular intervals and shall require 
such plans to be amended as warranted, subject 
to the approval of such Secretary. 
‘‘(4) BONDING.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall, by regulation, require that an ade-
quate bond, surety, or other financial arrange-
ment will be established prior to the commence-
ment of surface-disturbing activities on any 
lease, to ensure the complete and timely rec-
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lamation of the lease tract, and the restoration 
of any lands or surface waters adversely af-
fected by lease operations after the abandon-
ment or cessation of oil and gas operations on 
the lease. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary shall 
not issue or approve the assignment of any 
lease under the terms of this section to any per-
son, association, corporation, or any subsidiary, 
affiliate, or person controlled by or under com-
mon control with such person, association, or 
corporation, during any period in which, as de-
termined by the relevant Secretary, such entity 
has failed or refused to comply in any material 
respect with the reclamation requirements and 
other standards established under this section 
for any prior lease to which such requirements 
and standards applied. 
‘‘(C) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR COM-
PLIANCE.—Prior to making such determination 
with respect to any such entity the concerned 
Secretary shall provide such entity with ade-
quate notification and an opportunity to comply 
with such reclamation requirements and other 
standards and shall consider whether any ad-
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