HR 4761 PCS 
(C) A list of additional actions that assist, 
or would assist, in managing, including miti-
gating either onsite or offsite, or both, the im-
pacts of energy and mineral development on 
wildlife, fish, and other natural resources. 
(D) A summary of private (non-Federal) 
funds used to plan, conduct, and complete the 
plans and programs identified in paragraphs 
(2)(A) and (2)(B). 
SEC. 14. TERMINATION OF EFFECT OF LAWS PROHIBITING 
THE SPENDING OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS 
FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES. 
All provisions of existing Federal law prohibiting the 
spending of appropriated funds to conduct oil and natural 
gas leasing and preleasing activities, or to issue a lease 
to any person, for any area of the outer Continental Shelf 
shall have no force or effect. 
SEC. 15. OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF INCOMPATIBLE USE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No Federal agency may permit 
construction or operation (or both) of any facility, or des-
ignate or maintain a restricted transportation corridor or 
operating area on the Federal outer Continental Shelf or 
in State waters, that will be incompatible with, as deter-
mined by the Secretary of the Interior, oil and gas or nat-
ural gas leasing and substantially full exploration and pro-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
duction of tracts that are geologically prospective for oil 
or natural gas (or both). 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to 
any facility, transportation corridor, or operating area the 
construction, operation, designation, or maintenance of 
which is or will be— 
(1) located in an area of the outer Continental 
Shelf that is unavailable for oil and gas or natural 
gas leasing by operation of law; 
(2) used for a military readiness activity (as de-
fined in section 315(f) of Public Law 107–314; 16 
U.S.C. 703 note); or 
(3) required in the national interest, as deter-
mined by the President. 
SEC. 16. REPURCHASE OF CERTAIN LEASES. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO REPURCHASE AND CANCEL CER-
TAIN LEASES.—The Secretary of the Interior shall repur-
chase and cancel any Federal oil and gas, geothermal, 
coal, oil shale, tar sands, or other mineral lease, whether 
onshore or offshore, but not including any outer Conti-
nental Shelf oil and gas leases that are subject to litigation 
in the Court of Federal Claims on January 1, 2006, if 
the Secretary finds that such lease qualifies for repurchase 
and cancellation under the regulations authorized by this 
section. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 365 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
publish a final regulation stating the conditions under 
which a lease referred to in subsection (a) would qualify 
for repurchase and cancellation, and the process to be fol-
lowed regarding repurchase and cancellation. Such regula-
tion shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 
(1) The Secretary shall repurchase and cancel 
a lease after written request by the lessee upon a 
finding by the Secretary that— 
(A) a request by the lessee for a required 
permit or other approval complied with applica-
ble law, except the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), and 
terms of the lease and such permit or other ap-
proval was denied; 
(B) a Federal agency failed to act on a re-
quest by the lessee for a required permit, other 
approval, or administrative appeal within a reg-
ulatory or statutory time-frame associated with 
the requested action, whether advisory or man-
datory, or if none, within 180 days; or 
(C) a Federal agency attached a condition 
of approval, without agreement by the lessee, to 
a required permit or other approval if such con-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
dition of approval was not mandated by Federal 
statute or regulation in effect on the date of 
lease issuance, or was not specifically allowed 
under the terms of the lease. 
(2) A lessee shall not be required to exhaust ad-
ministrative remedies regarding a permit request, 
administrative appeal, or other required request for 
approval for the purposes of this section. 
(3) The Secretary shall make a final agency de-
cision on a request by a lessee under this section 
within 180 days of request. 
(4) Compensation to a lessee to repurchase and 
cancel a lease under this section shall be the amount 
that a lessee would receive in a restitution case for 
a material breach of contract. 
(5) Compensation shall be in the form of a 
check or electronic transfer from the Department of 
the Treasury from funds deposited into miscella-
neous receipts under the authority of the same Act 
that authorized the issuance of the lease being re-
purchased. 
(6) Failure of the Secretary to make a final 
agency decision on a request by a lessee under this 
section within 180 days of request shall result in a 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
10 percent increase in the compensation due to the 
lessee if the lease is ultimately repurchased. 
(c) NO PREJUDICE.—This section shall not be inter-
preted to prejudice any other rights that the lessee would 
have in the absence of this section. 
SEC. 17. OFFSITE ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any per-
son conducting activities under the Mineral Leasing Act 
(30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), the Geothermal Steam Act (30 
U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), the Mineral Leasing Act for Ac-
quired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.), the Weeks Act (16 
U.S.C. 552 et seq.), the General Mining Act of 1872 (30 
U.S.C. 22 et seq.), the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 
601 et seq.), or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), may in satisfying any mitigation 
requirements associated with such activities propose miti-
gation measures on a site away from the area impacted 
and the Secretary of the Interior shall accept these pro-
posed measures if the Secretary finds that they generally 
achieve the purposes for which mitigation measures apper-
tained. 
SEC. 18. MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE. 
The bureau known as the ‘‘Minerals Management 
Service’’ in the Department of the Interior shall be known 
as the ‘‘National Ocean Resources and Royalty Service’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
SEC. 19. AUTHORITY TO USE DECOMMISSIONED OFFSHORE 
OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS AND OTHER FA-
CILITIES FOR ARTIFICIAL REEF, SCIENTIFIC 
RESEARCH, OR OTHER USES. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Rigs to Reefs Act of 2006’’. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by insert-
ing after section 9 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 10. USE OF DECOMMISSIONED OFFSHORE OIL AND 
GAS PLATFORMS AND OTHER FACILITIES 
FOR 
ARTIFICIAL 
REEF, 
SCIENTIFIC 
RE-
SEARCH, OR OTHER USES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall issue regula-
tions under which the Secretary may authorize use of an 
offshore oil and gas platform or other facility that is de-
commissioned from service for oil and gas purposes for 
an artificial reef, scientific research, or any other use au-
thorized under section 8(p) or any other applicable Fed-
eral law. 
‘‘(b) TRANSFER
REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall not allow the transfer of a decommissioned offshore 
oil and gas platform or other facility to another person 
unless the Secretary is satisfied that the transferee is suf-
ficiently bonded, endowed, or otherwise financially able to 
fulfill its obligations, including but not limited to— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
‘‘(1) ongoing maintenance of the platform or 
other facility; 
‘‘(2) any liability obligations that might arise; 
‘‘(3) removal of the platform or other facility if 
determined necessary by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(4) any other requirements and obligations 
that the Secretary may deem appropriate by regula-
tion. 
‘‘(c) PLUGGING
AND
ABANDONMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that plugging and abandonment of 
wells is accomplished at an appropriate time. 
‘‘(d) POTENTIAL TO PETITION TO OPT-OUT OF REG-
ULATIONS.—An Adjacent State acting through a resolu-
tion of its legislature, with concurrence of its Governor, 
may preliminarily petition to opt-out of the application of 
regulations promulgated under this section to platforms 
and other facilities located in the area of its Adjacent Zone 
within 12 miles of the coastline. Upon receipt of the pre-
liminary petition, the Secretary shall complete an environ-
mental assessment that documents the anticipated envi-
ronmental effects of approving the petition. The Secretary 
shall provide the environmental assessment to the State, 
which then has the choice of no action or confirming its 
petition by further action of its legislature, with the con-
currence of its Governor. The Secretary is authorized to 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
except such area from the application of such regulations, 
and shall approve any confirmed petition. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.—A person that had 
used an offshore oil and gas platform or other facility for 
oil and gas purposes and that no longer has any ownership 
or control of the platform or other facility shall not be 
liable under Federal law for any costs or damages arising 
from such platform or other facility after the date the plat-
form or other facility is used for any purpose under sub-
section (a), unless such costs or damages arise from— 
‘‘(1) use of the platform or other facility by the 
person for development or production of oil or gas; 
or 
‘‘(2) another act or omission of the person. 
‘‘(f) OTHER LEASING AND USE NOT AFFECTED.— 
This section, and the use of any offshore oil and gas plat-
form or other facility for any purpose under subsection 
(a), shall not affect— 
‘‘(1) the authority of the Secretary to lease any 
area under this Act; or 
‘‘(2) any activity otherwise authorized under 
this Act.’’. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of 
the Interior shall issue regulations under subsection (b) 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(d) STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF REMOVAL 
OF PLATFORMS.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, 
in consultation with other Federal agencies as the Sec-
retary deems advisable, shall study and report to the Con-
gress regarding how the removal of offshore oil and gas 
platforms and other facilities from the outer Continental 
Shelf would affect existing fish stocks and coral popu-
lations. 
SEC. 20. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT COM-
PREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF OCS OIL AND 
NATURAL GAS RESOURCES. 
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109– 
58) is amended— 
(1) by repealing section 357 (119 Stat. 720; 42 
U.S.C. 15912); and 
(2) in the table of contents in section 1(b), by 
striking the item relating to such section 357. 
SEC. 21. MINING AND PETROLEUM SCHOOLS. 
(a) MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION OF EXISTING 
AND HISTORIC PETROLEUM AND MINING ENGINEERING 
PROGRAMS.—Public Law 98–409 (30 U.S.C. 1221 et 
seq.) is amended to read as follows: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS
HR 4761 PCS 
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Energy and Mineral 
Schools Reinvestment Act’. 
‘‘SEC. 2. POLICY. 
‘‘It is the policy of the United States to maintain the 
human capital needed to preserve and foster the economic, 
energy, and mineral resources security of the United 
States. The petroleum and mining engineering programs 
and the applied geology and geophysics programs at State 
chartered schools, universities, and institutions that 
produce human capital are national assets and should be 
assisted with Federal funds to ensure their continued 
health and existence. 
‘‘SEC. 3. MAINTAINING AND RESTORING HISTORIC AND EX-
ISTING PETROLEUM AND MINING ENGINEER-
ING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘Secretary’) shall provide funds to historic 
and existing State-chartered recognized petroleum or min-
ing schools to assist such schools, universities, and institu-
tions in maintaining programs in petroleum, mining, and 
mineral engineering education and research. All funds 
shall be directed only to these programs and shall be sub-
ject to the conditions of this section. Such funds shall not 
be less than 25 percent of the annual outlay of funds au-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:38 Sep 06, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4761.PCS
H4761
jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with BILLS