SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT TO ISSUE NEW FIVE-YEAR OIL AND 
GAS LEASING PROGRAM. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW 
LEASING PROGRAMS.—Section 18(c) of the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(c)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (5) and (6); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT
OF
PROGRAM.—In pre-
paring each leasing program under this section, the 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) allow the Governor of a coastal State 
to nominate for leasing under such program 
areas of the outer Continental Shelf that are 
adjacent to the waters of that State; 
‘‘(B) include each area nominated under 
subparagraph (A) in the draft leasing program 
under this section and consider leasing of such 
areas as an additional or alternative Federal ac-
tion; and 
‘‘(C) include the established program re-
source estimates that are available, and develop 
resource estimates for the areas for which such 
data are not available including for the areas 
nominated under subparagraph (A). 
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‘‘(3) 
INCLUSION
OF
STATE-NOMINATED 
AREAS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
include in the final program issued under this 
section each area nominated by a State under 
paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines that 
development in such area will best meet na-
tional energy needs and is consistent with the 
principles set forth in subsection (a). 
‘‘(B) REPORT.—If the Secretary omits any 
area nominated under paragraph (2), the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Governor that nomi-
nated the area and the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives a re-
port detailing why oil and gas development in 
such area do not best meet national energy 
needs and is not consistent with the principles 
set forth in subsection (a). 
‘‘(C) ALTERNATIVE
VIEWS.—After sub-
mittal of the report required by subparagraph 
(B), each such Governor shall be provided 60 
days within which to offer alternative views on 
why the Secretary’s findings are not consistent 
with the principles set forth in subsection (a). 
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‘‘(4) NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS OF PLAN.— 
The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register 
a notice of the effectiveness of each oil and gas leas-
ing program issued under this section on the date 
such program takes effect.’’. 
SEC. 3. ANNUAL LEASE SALES IN GULF OF MEXICO REGION. 
Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(j) ANNUAL LEASE SALES IN GULF OF MEXICO RE-
GION.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) CENTRAL
GULF
OF
MEXICO
PLAN-
NING AREA.—The term ‘Central Gulf of Mexico 
Planning Area’ has the meaning given the term 
‘Central Planning Area’ in section 102 of the 
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 
(43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109–432). 
‘‘(B) WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO PLAN-
NING AREA.—The term ‘Western Gulf of Mex-
ico Planning Area’ means the Western Gulf of 
Mexico Planning Area of the outer Continental 
Shelf, as designated in the document entitled 
‘2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and 
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Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program’ and 
dated January 2015. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL LEASE SALES.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 
2023, the Secretary shall hold a minimum of 2 re-
gion-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 
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Secretary shall conduct any environmental re-
view required by the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
‘‘(B) TIMELINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RE-
VIEW.— 
‘‘(i) DEADLINE.—The Secretary shall 
complete an environmental review con-
ducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) not 
later than— 
‘‘(I) with respect to an environ-
mental assessment, 1 year after the 
date on which the Secretary issues a 
notice of intent to prepare such envi-
ronmental assessment; and 
‘‘(II) with respect to an environ-
mental impact statement, 2 years 
after the date on which the Secretary 
issues a notice of intent to prepare 
such environmental impact statement. 
‘‘(ii) ADJUSTMENT OF TIMELINE.—An 
entity that is issued a lease pursuant to a 
lease sale under paragraph (2) may enter 
into— 
‘‘(I) 1 or more agreements with 
the Secretary to extend a deadline de-
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scribed in clause (i) by not more than 
6 months for each such agreement; 
and 
‘‘(II) an agreement with the Sec-
retary to otherwise adjust any dead-
line under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(k) PERMITTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to sovereign con-
tracting rights and obligations, the Secretary shall 
review and grant or deny in accordance with para-
graph (2) any application for a permit or other ap-
proval 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 re-
quired by Federal law. 
‘‘(2) APPROVAL OR DENIAL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Absent clear grounds 
for denial of an application for a permit or 
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other approval described in paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall grant the permit or approval. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT.—If the Secretary de-
nies an application for a permit or other ap-
proval under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
shall provide to the applicant written notice ex-
plaining the grounds for the denial.’’. 
Æ 
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