‘‘(i) within a regional or agency office 
of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and 
‘‘(ii) to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, in an area in which there exists a 
high quantity of tribal energy development 
opportunities, as determined by the Sec-
retary in consultation with Indian tribes. 
‘‘(D) DIRECTORS.—Each Indian Energy 
Development Office established under this para-
graph shall be headed by a director. 
‘‘(E) DUTIES.—The director of each Indian 
Energy Development Office shall— 
‘‘(i) provide energy-related information 
and resources to Indian tribes and tribal 
members; 
‘‘(ii) coordinate meetings and outreach 
among Indian tribes, tribal members, en-
ergy companies, and relevant Federal, 
State, and tribal agencies; 
‘‘(iii) oversee, and ensure the timely 
processing of, Indian energy applications, 
permits, licenses, and other documents that 
are subject to development, review, or proc-
essing by— 
‘‘(I) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:25 Oct 23, 2012
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3973.RH
H3973
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(II) the Bureau of Land Man-
agement; 
‘‘(III) the National Park Service; 
‘‘(IV) the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service; 
‘‘(V) the Bureau of Reclamation; 
‘‘(VI) the Minerals Management 
Service; or 
‘‘(VII) the Office of Special Trust-
ee for American Indians of the Depart-
ment of the Interior; and 
‘‘(iv) consult with Indian tribes that 
will be served by an Indian Energy Devel-
opment Office to determine what services, 
information, facilities, or programs would 
best expedite the responsible development of 
energy resources. 
‘‘(F) STAFF.—Each Indian Energy Devel-
opment Office established under this paragraph 
shall be adequately staffed to meet the demand 
for energy permitting in the region or agency 
where the office is established.’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:25 Oct 23, 2012
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3973.RH
H3973
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 7. BLM OIL AND GAS FEES. 
The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bu-
reau of Land Management, shall not collect any fee for any 
of the following: 
(1) For an application for a permit to drill on 
Indian land. 
(2) To conduct any oil or gas inspection activity 
on Indian land. 
(3) On any oil or gas lease for nonproducing 
acreage on Indian land. 
SEC. 8. BONDING REQUIREMENTS AND NONPAYMENT OF 
ATTORNEYS’ FEES TO PROMOTE INDIAN EN-
ERGY PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A plaintiff who obtains a prelimi-
nary injunction or administrative stay in an energy related 
action, but does not ultimately prevail on the merits of the 
energy related action, shall be liable for damages sustained 
by a defendant who— 
(1) opposed the preliminary injunction or ad-
ministrative stay; and 
(2) was harmed by the preliminary injunction 
or administrative stay. 
(b) BOND.—Unless otherwise specifically exempted by 
Federal law, a court may not issue a preliminary injunc-
tion and an agency may not grant an administrative stay 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:25 Oct 23, 2012
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3973.RH
H3973
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
in an energy related action until the plaintiff posts with 
the court or the agency a surety bond or cash equivalent— 
(1) in an amount the court or agency decides is 
30 percent of that amount that the court or agency 
considers is sufficient to compensate each defendant 
opposing the preliminary injunction or administra-
tive stay for damages, including but not limited to 
preliminary development costs, additional develop-
ment costs, and reasonable attorney fees, that each de-
fendant may sustain as a result of the preliminary 
injunction or administrative stay; 
(2) written by a surety licensed to do business in 
the state in which the Indian Land or other land 
where the activities are undertaken is situated; and 
(3) payable to each defendant opposing the pre-
liminary injunction or administrative stay, in the 
event that the plaintiff does not prevail on the merits 
of the energy related action, Provided, that, if there 
is more than one plaintiff, the court or agency shall 
establish the amount of the bond required by this Sub-
section for each plaintiff in a fair and equitable man-
ner. 
(c) LIMITATION
ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS.—Notwith-
standing section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, no 
award may be made under section 504 of title 5, United 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:25 Oct 23, 2012
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3973.RH
H3973
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
States Code, or under section 2412 of title 28, United States 
Code, and no amounts may be obligated or expended from 
the Claims and Judgment Fund of the United States Treas-
ury to pay any fees or other expenses under such sections 
to any plaintiff related to an energy related action. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the 
following definitions apply: 
(1) ADMINISTRATIVE STAY.—The term ‘‘Admin-
istrative Stay’’ means a stay or other temporary rem-
edy issued by a Federal agency, including the Depart-
ment of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, 
the Department of Energy, the Department of Com-
merce, and the Environmental Protection Agency. 
(2) INDIAN LAND.—The term ‘‘Indian Land’’ has 
the same meaning given such term in section 
203(c)(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109–58; 25 U.S.C. 3501), including lands owned 
by Native Corporations under the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act (Public Law 92–203; 43 
U.S.C. 1601). 
(3) ENERGY RELATED ACTION.—The term ‘‘en-
ergy related action’’ means a cause of action that— 
(A) is filed on or after the effective date of 
this Act; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:25 Oct 23, 2012
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3973.RH
H3973
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS