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SEC. 2023. MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEAS-
ING PROGRAMS.
(a) TIMELY ACTION ON LEASES AND PERMITS.—To
ensure timely action on oil and gas leases and applications
for permits to drill on land otherwise available for leasing,
the Secretary of the Interior (in this section referred to
as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall—
(1) ensure expeditious compliance with section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C));
(2) improve consultation and coordination with
the States and the public; and
(3) improve the collection, storage, and retrieval
of information relating to the leasing activities.
(b) BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall develop and implement best manage-
ment practices to—
(A) improve the administration of the on-
shore oil and gas leasing program under the
Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);
and
(B) ensure timely action on oil and gas
leases and applications for permits to drill on
lands otherwise available for leasing.
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(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the best
management practices under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall consider any recommendations from the
review under section 2022.
(3) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days
after the development of best management practices
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish, for
public comment, proposed regulations that set forth
specific timeframes for processing leases and appli-
cations in accordance with the practices, including
deadlines for—
(A) approving or disapproving resource
management plans and related documents, lease
applications, and surface use plans; and
(B) related administrative appeals.
(c) IMPROVED ENFORCEMENT.—The Secretary shall
improve inspection and enforcement of oil and gas activi-
ties, including enforcement of terms and conditions in per-
mits to drill.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry
out section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C.
226), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009—
929
(1) $40,000,000 to carry out subsections (a)
and (b); and
(2) $20,000,000 to carry out subsection (c).
SEC. 2024. CONSULTATION REGARDING OIL AND GAS LEAS-
ING ON PUBLIC LAND.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into a memo-
randum of understanding regarding oil and gas leasing
on—
(1) public lands under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior; and
(2) National Forest System lands under the ju-
risdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b) CONTENTS.—The memorandum of understanding
shall include provisions that—
(1) establish administrative procedures and
lines of authority that ensure timely processing of oil
and gas lease applications, surface use plans of oper-
ation, and applications for permits to drill, including
steps for processing surface use plans and applica-
tions for permits to drill consistent with the
timelines established by the amendment made by
section 2028;