I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6211 
To allow Americans the opportunity to see their vast oil shale and tar 
sands resources on Federal lands developed by providing the President 
with the ability to determine the quickest and most responsible way 
to access oil shale resources. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 9, 2008 
Mr. CANNON (for himself, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. DREIER, Mr. HERGER, Mr. 
PETERSON of Pennsylvania, and Mr. BROWN of South Carolina) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To allow Americans the opportunity to see their vast oil 
shale and tar sands resources on Federal lands developed 
by providing the President with the ability to determine 
the quickest and most responsible way to access oil shale 
resources. 
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 cited as the ‘‘Oil Shale Opportunity 
Act of 2008’’. 
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SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS ON OIL SHALE DEVEL-
OPMENT. 
(a) INTERIM LIMITATION OF APPLICATION OF PRO-
VISIONS OF LAW.—Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the President shall limit the application of such 
provisions of law as he in his sole discretion deems nec-
essary in order to expedite the exploration and production 
of oil and gas from oil shale and tar sands, including, but 
not limited to, in the issuance of any Federal permit to 
explore and produce oil and gas from oil shale and tar 
sands. The President shall not be required to follow the 
provisions of subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United 
States Code, in taking action under this subsection. 
(b) FEDERAL COURT REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The district courts of the 
United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction to 
hear all causes or claims arising from any action un-
dertaken, or any decision made, by the President 
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. A cause 
of action or claim may only be brought alleging a 
violation of the Constitution of the United States. 
The court shall not have jurisdiction to hear any 
claim not specified in this subsection. 
(2) TIME
FOR
FILING
OF
COMPLAINT.—Any 
cause or claim brought pursuant to this subsection 
shall be filed not later than 60 days after the date 
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of the action or decision made by the President. A 
claim shall be barred unless it is filed within the 
time specified. 
(3) ABILITY TO SEEK APPELATE REVIEW.—An 
interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order of 
the district court may be reviewed only upon petition 
for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the 
United States. 
SEC. 3. ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL ROYALTIES. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, one half 
of royalties due to the Federal government from the pro-
duction under the authority of this Act shall be dedicated 
to fund private grants for research and development to: 
limit or capture carbon emissions from the combustion of 
fossil fuels; alternative fuels; and energy efficiency. 
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
No later than 30 days after taking action under sec-
tion 2(a) of this Act, the President shall report to the com-
mittees of Congress having jurisdiction respectively over 
natural resources and administrative law regarding the 
nature and expected effects of such action. 
Æ 
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