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‘‘(vi) protection of correlative rights; 
and 
‘‘(vii) potential return for the lease, 
easement, or right-of-way. 
‘‘(5) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of enactment of the Energy Policy Act 
of 2005, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating and other relevant agencies of the Fed-
eral Government and affected States, shall issue any 
necessary regulations to ensure safety, protection of 
the environment, prevention of waste, and conserva-
tion of the natural resources of the outer Conti-
nental Shelf, protection of national security inter-
ests, and protection of correlative rights in the outer 
Continental Shelf. 
‘‘(6) SECURITY.—The Secretary shall require 
the holder of a lease, easement, or right-of-way 
granted under this subsection to furnish a surety 
bond or other form of security, as prescribed by the 
Secretary, and to comply with such other require-
ments as the Secretary considers necessary to pro-
tect the interests of the United States. 
‘‘(7) EFFECT OF SUBSECTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection displaces, supersedes, limits, or modifies
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the jurisdiction, responsibility, or authority of any 
Federal or State agency under any other Federal 
law. 
‘‘(8) APPLICABILITY.—This subsection does not 
apply to any area on the outer Continental Shelf 
designated as a National Marine Sanctuary.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 8 of the 
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is 
amended by striking the section heading and inserting the 
following: ‘‘LEASES, EASEMENTS, AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY 
ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF.—’’. 
(c) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in the amendment 
made by subsection (a) requires, with respect to any 
project— 
(1) for which offshore test facilities have been 
constructed before the date of enactment of this Act; 
or 
(2) for which a request for proposals has been 
issued by a public authority, 
any resubmittal of documents previously submitted or any 
reauthorization of actions previously authorized.
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SEC. 2011. PRESERVATION OF GEOLOGICAL AND GEO-
PHYSICAL DATA. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation 
Program Act of 2005’’. 
(b) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall carry out a Na-
tional Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Pro-
gram in accordance with this section— 
(1) to archive geologic, geophysical, and engi-
neering data, maps, well logs, and samples; 
(2) to provide a national catalog of such archi-
val material; and 
(3) to provide technical and financial assistance 
related to the archival material. 
(c) PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a plan for the implementation of the Program. 
(d) DATA ARCHIVE SYSTEM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish, as a component of the Program, a data ar-
chive system to provide for the storage, preservation, 
and archiving of subsurface, surface, geological, geo-
physical, and engineering data and samples. The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Com-
mittee, shall develop guidelines relating to the data
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archive system, including the types of data and sam-
ples to be preserved. 
(2) SYSTEM COMPONENTS.—The system shall 
be comprised of State agencies that elect to be part 
of the system and agencies within the Department 
of the Interior that maintain geological and geo-
physical data and samples that are designated by 
the Secretary in accordance with this subsection. 
The Program shall provide for the storage of data 
and samples through data repositories operated by 
such agencies. 
(3) LIMITATION
OF
DESIGNATION.—The Sec-
retary may not designate a State agency as a com-
ponent of the data archive system unless that agency 
is the agency that acts as the geological survey in 
the State. 
(4) DATA FROM FEDERAL LAND.—The data ar-
chive system shall provide for the archiving of rel-
evant subsurface data and samples obtained from 
Federal land— 
(A) in the most appropriate repository des-
ignated under paragraph (2), with preference 
being given to archiving data in the State in 
which the data were collected; and
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(B) consistent with all applicable law and 
requirements relating to confidentiality and pro-
prietary data. 
(e) NATIONAL CATALOG.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall develop and maintain, as a component of the 
Program, a national catalog that identifies— 
(A) data and samples available in the data 
archive system established under subsection (d); 
(B) the repository for particular material 
in the system; and 
(C) the means of accessing the material. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall make 
the national catalog accessible to the public on the 
site of the Survey on the Internet, consistent with all 
applicable requirements related to confidentiality 
and proprietary data. 
(f) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 
shall advise the Secretary on planning and imple-
mentation of the Program. 
(2) NEW
DUTIES.—In addition to its duties 
under the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992
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(43 U.S.C. 31a et seq.), the Advisory Committee 
shall perform the following duties: 
(A) Advise the Secretary on developing 
guidelines and procedures for providing assist-
ance for facilities under subsection (g)(1). 
(B) Review and critique the draft imple-
mentation plan prepared by the Secretary under 
subsection (c). 
(C) Identify useful studies of data archived 
under the Program that will advance under-
standing of the Nation’s energy and mineral re-
sources, geologic hazards, and engineering geol-
ogy. 
(D) Review the progress of the Program in 
archiving significant data and preventing the 
loss of such data, and the scientific progress of 
the studies funded under the Program. 
(E) Include in the annual report to the 
Secretary required under section 5(b)(3) of the 
National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43 
U.S.C. 31d(b)(3)) an evaluation of the progress 
of the Program toward fulfilling the purposes of 
the Program under subsection (b). 
(g) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
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(1) ARCHIVE FACILITIES.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary shall provide 
financial assistance to a State agency that is des-
ignated under subsection (d)(2) for providing facili-
ties to archive energy material. 
(2) STUDIES.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations, the Secretary shall provide financial as-
sistance to any State agency designated under sub-
section (d)(2) for studies and technical assistance 
activities that enhance understanding, interpreta-
tion, and use of materials archived in the data ar-
chive system established under subsection (d). 
(3) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
the cost of an activity carried out with assistance 
under this subsection shall be not more than 50 per-
cent of the total cost of the activity. 
(4) PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Secretary 
shall apply to the non-Federal share of the cost of 
an activity carried out with assistance under this 
subsection the value of private contributions of prop-
erty and services used for that activity. 
(h) REPORT.—The Secretary shall include in each re-
port under section 8 of the National Geologic Mapping Act 
of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31g)— 
(1) a description of the status of the Program;
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(2) an evaluation of the progress achieved in 
developing the Program during the period covered by 
the report; and 
(3) any recommendations for legislative or other 
action the Secretary considers necessary and appro-
priate to fulfill the purposes of the Program under 
subsection (b). 
(i) MAINTENANCE OF STATE EFFORT.—It is the in-
tent of Congress that the States not use this section as 
an opportunity to reduce State resources applied to the 
activities that are the subject of the Program. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee’’ means the advisory committee es-
tablished under section 5 of the National Geologic 
Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31d). 
(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the National Geological and Geophysical Data Pres-
ervation Program carried out under this section. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Geological Survey. 
(4) SURVEY.—The term ‘‘Survey’’ means the 
United States Geological Survey.
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(k) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010. 
SEC. 2012. OIL AND GAS LEASE ACREAGE LIMITATIONS. 
Section 27(d)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
U.S.C. 184(d)(1)) is amended by inserting after ‘‘acreage 
held in special tar sand areas’’ the following: ‘‘, and acre-
age under any lease any portion of which has been com-
mitted to a federally approved unit or cooperative plan or 
communitization agreement or for which royalty (includ-
ing compensatory royalty or royalty in-kind) was paid in 
the preceding calendar year,’’. 
SEC. 2013. DEADLINE FOR DECISION ON APPEALS OF CON-
SISTENCY 
DETERMINATION 
UNDER 
THE 
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1972. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 319 of the Coastal Zone 
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1465) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘APPEALS TO THE SECRETARY 
‘‘SEC. 319. (a) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall publish 
an initial notice in the Federal Register not later than 30 
days after the date of the filing of any appeal to the Sec-
retary of a consistency determination under section 307. 
‘‘(b) CLOSURE OF RECORD.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the end of 
the 120-day period beginning on the date of publica-
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tion of an initial notice under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall receive no more filings on the appeal 
and the administrative record regarding the appeal 
shall be closed. 
‘‘(2) NOTICE.—Upon the closure of the admin-
istrative record, the Secretary shall immediately 
publish a notice that the administrative record has 
been closed. 
‘‘(c) DEADLINE FOR DECISION.—The Secretary shall 
issue a decision in any appeal filed under section 307 not 
later than 120 days after the closure of the administrative 
record. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—This section applies to appeals 
initiated by the Secretary and appeals filed by an appli-
cant.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall apply with respect to any appeal initiated or 
filed before, on, or after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(2) LIMITATION.—Subsection (a) of section 319 
of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (as 
amended by subsection (a)) shall not apply with re-
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spect to an appeal initiated or filed before the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(c) CLOSURE OF RECORD FOR APPEAL FILED BE-
FORE DATE OF ENACTMENT.—Notwithstanding section 
319(b)(1) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 
(as amended by this section), in the case of an appeal of 
a consistency determination under section 307 of that Act 
initiated or filed before the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Commerce shall receive no more filings 
on the appeal and the administrative record regarding the 
appeal shall be closed not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 2014. REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS OF NEPA ANAL-
YSES, DOCUMENTATION, AND STUDIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Mineral Leasing Act is 
amended by inserting after section 37 (30 U.S.C. 193) 
the following: 
‘‘REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS OF CERTAIN ANALYSES, 
DOCUMENTATION, AND STUDIES 
‘‘SEC. 38. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the 
Interior shall issue regulations under which the Secretary 
shall reimburse a person that is a lessee, operator, oper-
ating rights owner, or applicant for any lease under this 
Act for reasonable amounts paid by the person for prepa-
ration for the Secretary by a contractor or other person 
selected by the Secretary of any project-level analysis, doc-
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umentation, or related study required pursuant to the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) with respect to the lease. 
‘‘(b) CONDITIONS.—The Secretary may provide reim-
bursement under subsection (a) only if— 
‘‘(1) adequate funding to enable the Secretary 
to timely prepare the analysis, documentation, or re-
lated study is not appropriated; 
‘‘(2) the person paid the costs voluntarily; 
‘‘(3) the person maintains records of its costs 
in accordance with regulations issued by the Sec-
retary; 
‘‘(4) the reimbursement is in the form of a re-
duction in the Federal share of the royalty required 
to be paid for the lease for which the analysis, docu-
mentation, or related study is conducted, and is 
agreed to by the Secretary and the person reim-
bursed prior to commencing the analysis, docu-
mentation, or related study; and 
‘‘(5) the agreement required under paragraph 
(4) contains provisions— 
‘‘(A) reducing royalties owed on lease pro-
duction based on market prices;
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‘‘(B) stipulating an automatic termination 
of the royalty reduction upon recovery of docu-
mented costs; and 
‘‘(C) providing a process by which the les-
see may seek reimbursement for circumstances 
in which production from the specified lease is 
not possible.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by this 
section shall apply with respect to an analysis, documenta-
tion, or a related study conducted on or after the date 
of enactment of this Act for any lease entered into before, 
on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—The Secretary 
shall issue regulations implementing the amendment made 
by this section by not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 2015. GAS HYDRATE PRODUCTION INCENTIVE. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro-
mote natural gas production from the abundant natural 
gas hydrate resources on the outer Continental Shelf and 
Federal lands in Alaska by providing royalty incentives. 
(b) SUSPENSION OF ROYALTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall grant royalty relief in accordance with this 
section for natural gas produced from gas hydrate
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resources under any lease that is an eligible lease 
under paragraph (2). 
(2) ELIGIBLE LEASES.—A lease shall be an eli-
gible lease for purposes of this section if— 
(A) it is issued under the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et 
seq.), or is an oil and gas lease issued for on-
shore Federal lands in Alaska; 
(B) it is issued prior to January 1, 2016; 
and 
(C) production under the lease of natural 
gas from the gas hydrate resources commences 
prior to January 1, 2018. 
(3) AMOUNT OF RELIEF.—The Secretary shall 
grant royalty relief under this section as a suspen-
sion volume of at least 50 billion cubic feet of nat-
ural gas produced from gas hydrate resources per 9 
square mile leased tract. Such relief shall be in addi-
tion to any other royalty relief under any other pro-
vision applicable to the lease that does not specifi-
cally grant a gas hydrate production incentive. The 
minimum suspension volume under this section for 
leased tracts that are smaller or larger than nine 
square miles shall be adjusted on a proportional 
basis.
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(4) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may place lim-
itations on the suspension of royalty relief granted 
based on market price. 
(c) APPLICATION.—This section shall apply to any el-
igible lease issued before, on, or after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(d) RULEMAKINGS.—The Secretary shall complete 
any rulemakings implementing this section within 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(e) GAS HYDRATE RESOURCES DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘gas hydrate resources’’ includes both 
the natural gas content of gas hydrates within the hydrate 
stability zone and free natural gas trapped by and beneath 
the hydrate stability zone. 
SEC. 2016. ONSHORE DEEP GAS PRODUCTION INCENTIVE. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro-
mote natural gas production from the abundant onshore 
deep gas resources on Federal lands by providing royalty 
incentives. 
(b) SUSPENSION OF ROYALTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall grant 
royalty relief in accordance with this section for nat-
ural gas produced from deep wells spudded after the 
date of enactment of this Act under any onshore 
Federal oil and gas lease.
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(2) AMOUNT OF RELIEF.—The Secretary shall 
grant royalty relief under this section as a suspen-
sion volume determined by the Secretary in an 
amount necessary to maximize production of natural 
gas volumes. The maximum suspension volume shall 
be 50 billion cubic feet of natural gas per lease. 
Such royalty suspension volume shall be applied be-
ginning with the first dollar of royalty obligation for 
production on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may place lim-
itations on the suspension of royalty relief granted 
based on market price. 
(c) APPLICATION.—This section shall apply to any 
onshore Federal oil and gas lease issued before, on, or 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(d) RULEMAKINGS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall com-
plete any rulemakings implementing this section 
within 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(2) DEFINITION OF DEEP WELL.—Such regula-
tions shall include a definition of the term ‘‘deep 
well’’ for purposes of this section.
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SEC. 2017. ENHANCED OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION 
INCENTIVE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Approximately two-thirds of the original oil 
in place in the United States remains unproduced. 
(2) Enhanced oil and natural gas production 
from the sequestering of carbon dioxide and other 
appropriate gases has the potential to increase oil 
and natural gas production in the United States by 
2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, or more. 
(3) Collection of carbon dioxide and other ap-
propriate gases from industrial facilities could pro-
vide a significant source of these gases that could be 
permanently sequestered into oil and natural gas 
fields. 
(4) Such collection could be made economic by 
providing production incentives to oil and natural 
gas lessees. 
(5) Providing production incentives for en-
hanced oil and natural gas production would pro-
mote significant advances in emissions control and 
capture technology. 
(6) Capturing and productively using industrial 
emissions of carbon dioxide would help reduce the 
carbon intensity of the economy.
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(7) Enhanced production of oil and natural gas 
lessens the potential for environmental impacts when 
compared with development of new oil and natural 
gas fields because the infrastructure, such as wells, 
pipelines, and platforms, is generally already in 
place. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is— 
(1) to promote the capturing, transportation, 
and injection of produced carbon dioxide, natural 
carbon dioxide, and other appropriate gases for se-
questration into oil and gas fields; and 
(2) to promote oil and natural gas production 
from the abundant resources on the outer Conti-
nental Shelf and onshore Federal lands by enhanc-
ing recovery of oil or natural gas (or both). 
(c) SUSPENSION OF ROYALTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall grant a royalty relief in accordance with 
this section for production of oil or natural gas (or 
both) from lands subject to an eligible lease into 
which the lessee injects carbon dioxide, or other ap-
propriate gas or other matter approved by the Sec-
retary, for the purpose of enhancing recovery of oil 
or natural gas (or both) from the eligible lease.
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(2) ELIGIBLE LEASES.—A lease shall be an eli-
gible lease for purposes of this section if it is a lease 
for production of oil or gas (or both) from Federal 
outer Continental Shelf or onshore lands that the 
Secretary determines may contain a volume of oil or 
natural gas that would not likely be produced with-
out royalty relief under this subsection. 
(3) AMOUNT OF RELIEF.—The Secretary shall 
grant royalty relief under this section as a suspen-
sion volume determined by the Secretary in an 
amount necessary to maximize production of oil and 
natural gas volumes. The maximum suspension vol-
ume shall be 50 billion cubic feet of natural gas, or 
equivalent oil volume on a Btu basis, or a combina-
tion thereof, per eligible lease. 
(4) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may place lim-
itations on the suspension of royalty relief granted 
based on market price. 
(d) APPLICATION.—This section shall apply to any 
eligible lease issued before, on, or after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(e) RULEMAKINGS.—The Secretary shall complete 
any rulemakings implementing this provision within 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 2018. OIL SHALE. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that oil shale re-
sources located within the United States— 
(1) total almost 2 trillion barrels of oil in place; 
and 
(2) are a strategically important domestic re-
source that should be developed on an accelerated 
basis to reduce our growing reliance on politically 
and economically unstable sources of foreign oil im-
ports. 
(b) REQUIREMENT TO DEVELOP OIL SHALE LEAS-
ING PROGRAM.—The Secretary of the Interior shall de-
velop a Federal commercial oil shale leasing program as 
soon as practicable and publish a final regulation imple-
menting such program by not later than December 31, 
2006. 
(c) COMMENCEMENT OF LEASE SALES.—The Sec-
retary shall hold the first oil shale lease sale under such 
program within 180 days after publishing the final regula-
tion. 
(d) REPORT.—Within 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to the Com-
mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate on- 
(1) the interim actions necessary to—
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(A) develop the program under subsection 
(b); 
(B) promulgate the final regulation under 
subsection (b); and 
(C) conduct the first lease sale under the 
program under subsection (b); and 
(2) a schedule for completing such actions. 
(e) OIL SHALE LAND EXCHANGES.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall iden-
tify and pursue to completion oil shale land ex-
changes, on a value-for-value basis, that will allow 
qualified oil shale developers to have early access to 
currently owned Federal oil shale lands and to com-
mence commercial oil shale development. 
(2) APPLICABLE
LAW.—The Secretary shall 
conduct land exchanges under this subsection in ac-
cordance with the Federal Land Policy Management 
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and the Fed-
eral Land Exchange Facilitation Act of 1988 (43 
U.S.C. 1701 note). 
SEC. 2019. USE OF INFORMATION ABOUT OIL AND GAS PUB-
LIC CHALLENGES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Government Accountability Office (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘GAO’’), in report
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HR 6 PCS 
GAO–05–124, found that the Bureau of Land Man-
agement does not systematically gather and use na-
tionwide information on public challenges to manage 
its oil and gas program. 
(2) The GAO found that this failure prevents 
the Director of the Bureau from assessing the im-
pact of public challenges on the workload of the Bu-
reau of Land Management State offices and elimi-
nates the ability of the Director to make appropriate 
staffing and funding resource allocation decisions. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the Interior 
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall systematically col-
lect and use nationwide information on public challenges 
to manage the oil and gas programs of the bureaus within 
their departments. The Secretaries shall gather such infor-
mation at the planning, leasing, exploration, and develop-
ment stages, and shall maintain such information elec-
tronically with current data. 
Subtitle B—Access to Federal Land 
SEC. 2021. OFFICE OF FEDERAL ENERGY PROJECT COORDI-
NATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish 
the Office of Federal Energy Project Coordination (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Office’’) within the Execu-
tive Office of the President in the same manner and with
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the same mission as the White House Energy Projects 
Task Force established by Executive Order No. 13212 (42 
U.S.C. 13201 note). 
(b) STAFFING.—The Office shall be staffed by func-
tional experts from relevant Federal agencies on a non-
reimbursable basis to carry out the mission of the Office. 
(c) REPORT.—The Office shall transmit an annual 
report to Congress that describes the activities put in place 
to coordinate and expedite Federal decisions on energy 
projects. The report shall list accomplishments in improv-
ing the Federal decisionmaking process and shall include 
any additional recommendations or systemic changes 
needed to establish a more effective and efficient Federal 
permitting process. 
SEC. 2022. FEDERAL ONSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING AND 
PERMITTING PRACTICES. 
(a) REVIEW OF ONSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING 
PRACTICES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agri-
culture with respect to National Forest System lands 
under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agri-
culture, shall perform an internal review of current 
Federal onshore oil and gas leasing and permitting 
practices.
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(2) INCLUSIONS.—The review shall include the 
process for— 
(A) accepting or rejecting offers to lease; 
(B) administrative appeals of decisions or 
orders of officers or employees of the Bureau of 
Land Management with respect to a Federal oil 
or gas lease; 
(C) considering surface use plans of oper-
ation, including the timeframes in which the 
plans are considered, and any recommendations 
for improving and expediting the process; and 
(D) identifying stipulations to address site- 
specific concerns and conditions, including those 
stipulations relating to the environment and re-
source use conflicts. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall transmit a report to 
Congress that describes— 
(1) actions taken under section 3 of Executive 
Order No. 13212 (42 U.S.C. 13201 note); and 
(2) actions taken or any plans to improve the 
Federal onshore oil and gas leasing program.
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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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HR 6 PCS 
(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—
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HR 6 PCS 
(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;
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(2) eliminate duplication of effort by providing 
for coordination of planning and environmental com-
pliance efforts; and 
(3) ensure that lease stipulations are— 
(A) applied consistently; 
(B) coordinated between agencies; and 
(C) only as restrictive as necessary to pro-
tect the resource for which the stipulations are 
applied. 
(c) DATA RETRIEVAL SYSTEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
establish a joint data retrieval system that is capable 
of— 
(A) tracking applications and formal re-
quests made in accordance with procedures of 
the Federal onshore oil and gas leasing pro-
gram; and 
(B) providing information regarding the 
status of the applications and requests within 
the Department of the Interior and the Depart-
ment of Agriculture. 
(2) RESOURCE
MAPPING.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
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Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agri-
culture shall establish a joint Geographic Informa-
tion System mapping system for use in— 
(A) tracking surface resource values to aid 
in resource management; and 
(B) processing surface use plans of oper-
ation and applications for permits to drill. 
SEC. 2025. ESTIMATES OF OIL AND GAS RESOURCES UN-
DERLYING ONSHORE FEDERAL LAND. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—Section 604 of the Energy Act of 
2000 (42 U.S.C. 6217) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘reserve’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) the extent and nature of any restrictions 
or impediments to the development of the resources, 
including— 
‘‘(A) impediments to the timely granting of 
leases; 
‘‘(B) post-lease restrictions, impediments, 
or delays on development for conditions of ap-
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proval, applications for permits to drill, or proc-
essing of environmental permits; and 
‘‘(C) permits or restrictions associated with 
transporting the resources for entry into com-
merce; and 
‘‘(3) the quantity of resources not produced or 
introduced into commerce because of the restric-
tions.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘reserve’’ and inserting 
‘‘resource’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘publically’’ and inserting 
‘‘publicly’’; and 
(3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(d) ASSESSMENTS.—Using the inventory, the Sec-
retary of Energy shall make periodic assessments of eco-
nomically recoverable resources accounting for a range of 
parameters such as current costs, commodity prices, tech-
nology, and regulations.’’. 
(b) METHODOLOGY.—The Secretary of the Interior 
shall use the same assessment methodology across all geo-
logical provinces, areas, and regions in preparing and 
issuing national geological assessments to ensure accurate 
comparisons of geological resources.
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SEC. 2026. PILOT PROJECT TO IMPROVE FEDERAL PERMIT 
COORDINATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Interior 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall estab-
lish a Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Pilot Project’’). 
(b) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall enter into a memorandum of understanding 
with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the 
Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers 
for purposes of this section. 
(2) STATE
PARTICIPATION.—The Secretary 
may request that the Governors of Wyoming, Mon-
tana, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico be signato-
ries to the memorandum of understanding. 
(c) DESIGNATION OF QUALIFIED STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the signing of the memorandum of un-
derstanding under subsection (b), all Federal signa-
tory parties shall assign to each of the field offices 
identified in subsection (d), on a nonreimbursable 
basis, an employee who has expertise in the regu-
latory issues relating to the office in which the em-
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ployee is employed, including, as applicable, par-
ticular expertise in— 
(A) the consultations and the preparation 
of biological opinions under section 7 of the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1536); 
(B) permits under section 404 of Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344); 
(C) regulatory matters under the Clean Air 
Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); 
(D) planning under the National Forest 
Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a et 
seq.); and 
(E) the preparation of analyses under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
(2) DUTIES.—Each employee assigned under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) not later than 90 days after the date 
of assignment, report to the Bureau of Land 
Management Field Managers in the office to 
which the employee is assigned; 
(B) be responsible for all issues relating to 
the jurisdiction of the home office or agency of 
the employee; and
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(C) participate as part of the team of per-
sonnel working on proposed energy projects, 
planning, and environmental analyses. 
(d) FIELD OFFICES.—The following Bureau of Land 
Management Field Offices shall serve as the Pilot Project 
offices: 
(1) Rawlins, Wyoming. 
(2) Buffalo, Wyoming. 
(3) Miles City, Montana 
(4) Farmington, New Mexico. 
(5) Carlsbad, New Mexico. 
(6) Glenwood Springs, Colorado. 
(7) Vernal, Utah. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to 
Congress a report that— 
(1) outlines the results of the Pilot Project to 
date; and 
(2) makes a recommendation to the President 
regarding whether the Pilot Project should be imple-
mented throughout the United States. 
(f) ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.—The Secretary shall 
assign to each field office identified in subsection (d) any 
additional personnel that are necessary to ensure the ef-
fective implementation of—
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(1) the Pilot Project; and 
(2) other programs administered by the field of-
fices, including inspection and enforcement relating 
to energy development on Federal land, in accord-
ance with the multiple use mandate of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq). 
(g) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section af-
fects— 
(1) the operation of any Federal or State law; 
or 
(2) any delegation of authority made by the 
head of a Federal agency whose employees are par-
ticipating in the Pilot Project. 
SEC. 2027. DEADLINE FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPLICA-
TIONS FOR PERMITS. 
Section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
226) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(p) DEADLINES FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPLICA-
TIONS FOR PERMITS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 10 days 
after the date on which the Secretary receives an ap-
plication for any permit to drill, the Secretary 
shall—
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‘‘(A) notify the applicant that the applica-
tion is complete; or 
‘‘(B) notify the applicant that information 
is missing and specify any information that is 
required to be submitted for the application to 
be complete. 
‘‘(2) ISSUANCE OR DEFERRAL.—Not later than 
30 days after the applicant for a permit has sub-
mitted a complete application, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) issue the permit; or 
‘‘(B)(i) defer decision on the permit; and 
‘‘(ii) provide to the applicant a notice that 
specifies any steps that the applicant could take 
for the permit to be issued. 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS FOR DEFERRED APPLICA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary pro-
vides notice under paragraph (2)(B)(ii), the ap-
plicant shall have a period of 2 years from the 
date of receipt of the notice in which to com-
plete all requirements specified by the Sec-
retary, including providing information needed 
for compliance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
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‘‘(B) ISSUANCE
OF
DECISION
ON
PER-
MIT.—If the applicant completes the require-
ments within the period specified in subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall issue a decision 
on the permit not later than 10 days after the 
date of completion of the requirements de-
scribed in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) DENIAL OF PERMIT.—If the appli-
cant does not complete the requirements within 
the period specified in subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall deny the permit. 
‘‘(q) REPORT.—On a quarterly basis, each field office 
of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Serv-
ice shall transmit to the Secretary of the Interior or the 
Secretary of Agriculture, respectively, a report that— 
‘‘(1) specifies the number of applications for 
permits to drill received by the field office in the pe-
riod covered by the report; and 
‘‘(2) describes how each of the applications was 
disposed of by the field office in accordance with 
subsection (p).’’.
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SEC. 2028. CLARIFICATION OF FAIR MARKET RENTAL 
VALUE DETERMINATIONS FOR PUBLIC LAND 
AND FOREST SERVICE RIGHTS-OF-WAY. 
(a) LINEAR
RIGHTS-OF-WAY
UNDER
FEDERAL 
LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976.—Section 
504 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1764) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(k) DETERMINATION OF FAIR MARKET VALUE OF 
LINEAR RIGHTS-OF-WAY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Effective beginning on the 
date of the issuance of the rules required by para-
graph (2), for purposes of subsection (g), the Sec-
retary concerned shall determine the fair market 
value for the use of land encumbered by a linear 
right-of-way granted, issued, or renewed under this 
title using the valuation method described in para-
graphs (2), (3), and (4). 
‘‘(2) REVISIONS.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of the Interior shall 
amend section 2803.1–2 of title 43, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of 
enactment of this subsection, to revise the per 
acre rental fee zone value schedule by State,
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county, and type of linear right-of-way use to 
reflect current values of land in each zone; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
make the same revision for linear rights-of-way 
granted, issued, or renewed under this title on 
National Forest System land. 
‘‘(3) UPDATES.—The Secretary concerned shall 
annually update the schedule revised under para-
graph (2) by multiplying the current year’s rental 
per acre by the annual change, second quarter to 
second quarter (June 30 to June 30) in the Gross 
National Product Implicit Price Deflator Index pub-
lished in the Survey of Current Business of the De-
partment of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Anal-
ysis. 
‘‘(4) REVIEW.—If the cumulative change in the 
index referred to in paragraph (3) exceeds 30 per-
cent, or the change in the 3-year average of the 1- 
year Treasury interest rate used to determine per 
acre rental fee zone values exceeds plus or minus 50 
percent, the Secretary concerned shall conduct a re-
view of the zones and rental per acre figures to de-
termine whether the value of Federal land has dif-
fered sufficiently from the index referred to in para-
graph (3) to warrant a revision in the base zones
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and rental per acre figures. If, as a result of the re-
view, the Secretary concerned determines that such 
a revision is warranted, the Secretary concerned 
shall revise the base zones and rental per acre fig-
ures accordingly. Any revision of base zones and 
rental per acre figure shall only affect lease rental 
rates at inception or renewal.’’. 
(b) RIGHTS-OF-WAY
UNDER
MINERAL
LEASING 
ACT.—Section 28(l) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
U.S.C. 185(l)) is amended by inserting before the period 
at the end the following: ‘‘using the valuation method de-
scribed in section 2803.1–2 of title 43, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as revised in accordance with section 504(k) 
of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(43 U.S.C. 1764(k))’’. 
SEC. 2029. ENERGY FACILITY RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND COR-
RIDORS ON FEDERAL LAND. 
(a) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, shall sub-
mit to Congress a joint report—
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(A) that addresses— 
(i) the location of existing rights-of- 
way and designated and de facto corridors 
for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and 
electric transmission and distribution fa-
cilities on Federal land; and 
(ii) opportunities for additional oil, 
gas, and hydrogen pipeline and electric 
transmission capacity within those rights- 
of-way and corridors; and 
(B) that includes a plan for making avail-
able, on request, to the appropriate Federal, 
State, and local agencies, tribal governments, 
and other persons involved in the siting of oil, 
gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electricity 
transmission facilities Geographic Information 
System-based information regarding the loca-
tion of the existing rights-of-way and corridors 
and any planned rights-of-way and corridors. 
(2) CONSULTATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS.— 
In preparing the report, the Secretary of the Interior 
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall consult 
with— 
(A) other agencies of Federal, State, tribal, 
or local units of government, as appropriate;
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HR 6 PCS 
(B) persons involved in the siting of oil, 
gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electric trans-
mission facilities; and 
(C) other interested members of the public. 
(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of the Interior 
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall limit the dis-
tribution of the report and Geographic Information 
System-based information referred to in paragraph 
(1) as necessary for national and infrastructure se-
curity reasons, if either Secretary determines that 
the information may be withheld from public disclo-
sure under a national security or other exception 
under section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) CORRIDOR DESIGNATIONS.— 
(1) 11 CONTIGUOUS
WESTERN
STATES.—Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary 
of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
retary of Energy, and the Secretary of the Interior, 
in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission and the affected utility industries, shall 
jointly— 
(A) designate, under title V of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
U.S.C. 1761 et seq.) and other applicable Fed-
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HR 6 PCS 
eral laws, corridors for oil, gas, and hydrogen 
pipelines and electricity transmission and facili-
ties on Federal land in the eleven contiguous 
Western States (as defined in section 103 of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)); 
(B) perform any environmental reviews 
that may be required to complete the designa-
tions of corridors for the facilities on Federal 
land in the eleven contiguous Western States; 
and 
(C) incorporate the designated corridors 
into— 
(i) the relevant departmental and 
agency land use and resource management 
plans; or 
(ii) equivalent plans. 
(2) OTHER STATES.—Not later than 4 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, 
and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation 
with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
and the affected utility industries, shall jointly—
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(A) identify corridors for oil, gas, and hy-
drogen pipelines and electricity transmission 
and distribution facilities on Federal land in the 
States other than those described in paragraph 
(1); and 
(B) schedule prompt action to identify, 
designate, and incorporate the corridors into 
the land use plan. 
(3) ONGOING
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, 
and the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
lands under their respective jurisdictions, in con-
sultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission and the affected utility industries, shall es-
tablish procedures that— 
(A) ensure that additional corridors for oil, 
gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electricity 
transmission and distribution facilities on Fed-
eral land are promptly identified and des-
ignated; and 
(B) expedite applications to construct or 
modify oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and 
electricity transmission and distribution facili-
ties within the corridors, taking into account
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prior analyses and environmental reviews un-
dertaken during the designation of corridors. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretaries shall take into account the need for up-
graded and new electricity transmission and distribution 
facilities to— 
(1) improve reliability; 
(2) relieve congestion; and 
(3) enhance the capability of the national grid 
to deliver electricity. 
(d) DEFINITION OF CORRIDOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section and title V of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761 et seq.), the term ‘‘corridor’’ 
means— 
(A) a linear strip of land— 
(i) with a width determined with con-
sideration given to technological, environ-
mental, and topographical factors; and 
(ii) that contains, or may in the fu-
ture contain, 1 or more utility, communica-
tion, or transportation facilities; 
(B) a land use designation that is estab-
lished— 
(i) by law;
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HR 6 PCS 
(ii) by Secretarial Order; 
(iii) through the land use planning 
process; or 
(iv) by other management decision; 
and 
(C) a designation made for the purpose of 
establishing the preferred location of compatible 
linear facilities and land uses. 
(2) SPECIFICATIONS
OF
CORRIDOR.—On des-
ignation of a corridor under this section, the center-
line, width, and compatible uses of a corridor shall 
be specified. 
SEC. 2030. CONSULTATION REGARDING ENERGY RIGHTS- 
OF-WAY ON PUBLIC LAND. 
(a) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the 
Secretary of Defense with respect to lands under 
their respective jurisdictions, shall enter into a 
memorandum of understanding to coordinate all ap-
plicable Federal authorizations and environmental 
reviews relating to a proposed or existing utility fa-
cility. To the maximum extent practicable under ap-
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HR 6 PCS 
plicable law, the Secretary of Energy shall, to ensure 
timely review and permit decisions, coordinate such 
authorizations and reviews with any Indian tribes, 
multi-State entities, and State agencies that are re-
sponsible for conducting any separate permitting 
and environmental reviews of the affected utility fa-
cility. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The memorandum of under-
standing shall include provisions that— 
(A) establish— 
(i) a unified right-of-way application 
form; and 
(ii) an administrative procedure for 
processing right-of-way applications, in-
cluding lines of authority, steps in applica-
tion processing, and timeframes for appli-
cation processing; 
(B) provide for coordination of planning 
relating to the granting of the rights-of-way; 
(C) provide for an agreement among the 
affected Federal agencies to prepare a single 
environmental review document to be used as 
the basis for all Federal authorization decisions; 
and
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HR 6 PCS 
(D) provide for coordination of use of 
right-of-way stipulations to achieve consistency. 
(b) NATURAL GAS PIPELINES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to permitting 
activities for interstate natural gas pipelines, the 
May 2002 document entitled ‘‘Interagency Agree-
ment On Early Coordination Of Required Environ-
mental And Historic Preservation Reviews Con-
ducted In Conjunction With The Issuance Of Au-
thorizations To Construct And Operate Interstate 
Natural Gas Pipelines Certificated By The Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission’’ shall constitute 
compliance with subsection (a). 
(2) REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
every 2 years thereafter, agencies that are sig-
natories to the document referred to in para-
graph (1) shall transmit to Congress a report 
on how the agencies under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretaries are incorporating and imple-
menting the provisions of the document referred 
to in paragraph (1). 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report shall ad-
dress—
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HR 6 PCS 
(i) efforts to implement the provisions 
of the document referred to in paragraph 
(1); 
(ii) whether the efforts have had a 
streamlining effect; 
(iii) further improvements to the per-
mitting process of the agency; and 
(iv) recommendations for inclusion of 
State and tribal governments in a coordi-
nated permitting process. 
(c) DEFINITION OF UTILITY FACILITY.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘utility facility’’ means any privately, pub-
licly, or cooperatively owned line, facility, or system— 
(1) for the transportation of— 
(A) oil, natural gas, synthetic liquid fuel, 
or gaseous fuel; 
(B) any refined product produced from oil, 
natural gas, synthetic liquid fuel, or gaseous 
fuel; or 
(C) products in support of the production 
of material referred to in subparagraph (A) or 
(B); 
(2) for storage and terminal facilities in connec-
tion with the production of material referred to in 
paragraph (1); or
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(3) for the generation, transmission, and dis-
tribution of electric energy. 
SEC. 2031. ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINE RIGHT-OF- 
WAY, CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST AND 
ADJACENT PUBLIC LAND, CALIFORNIA. 
(a) ISSUANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the completion of the environmental reviews under 
subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall issue all necessary 
grants, easements, permits, plan amendments, and 
other approvals to allow for the siting and construc-
tion of a high-voltage electricity transmission line 
right-of-way running approximately north to south 
through the Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleve-
land National Forest in the State of California and 
adjacent lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau 
of Land Management and the Forest Service. 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—The right-of-way approvals 
under paragraph (1) shall provide all necessary Fed-
eral authorization from the Secretary of the Interior 
and the Secretary of Agriculture for the routing, 
construction, operation, and maintenance of a 500- 
kilovolt transmission line capable of meeting the 
long-term electricity transmission needs of the region
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HR 6 PCS 
between the existing Valley-Serrano transmission 
line to the north and the Telega-Escondido trans-
mission line to the south, and for connecting to fu-
ture generating capacity that may be developed in 
the region. 
(b) PROTECTION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall not allow any portion of a transmission line right- 
of-way corridor identified in subsection (a) to enter any 
identified wilderness area in existence as of the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(c) ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
ADMINISTRATIVE
RE-
VIEWS.— 
(1) DEPARTMENT
OF
INTERIOR
OR
LOCAL 
AGENCY.—The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Director of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement, shall be the lead Federal agency with over-
all responsibility to ensure completion of required 
environmental and other reviews of the approvals to 
be issued under subsection (a). 
(2) NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND.—For the 
portions of the corridor on National Forest System 
lands, the Secretary of Agriculture shall complete all 
required environmental reviews and administrative
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actions in coordination with the Secretary of the In-
terior. 
(3) EXPEDITIOUS
COMPLETION.—The reviews 
required for issuance of the approvals under sub-
section (a) shall be completed not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(d) OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The trans-
mission line right-of-way shall be subject to such terms 
and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture consider necessary, based on the 
environmental reviews under subsection (c), to protect the 
value of historic, cultural, and natural resources under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Sec-
retary of Agriculture. 
(e) PREFERENCE AMONG PROPOSALS.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall give a preference to any application or preapplication 
proposal for a transmission line right-of-way referred to 
in subsection (a) that was submitted before December 31, 
2002, over all other applications and proposals for the 
same or a similar right-of-way submitted on or after that 
date.
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SEC. 2032. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DEVELOP-
MENT OF MINERALS UNDER PADRE ISLAND 
NATIONAL SEASHORE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Pursuant to Public Law 87–712 (16 U.S.C. 
459d et seq.; popularly known as the ‘‘Federal Ena-
bling Act’’) and various deeds and actions under 
that Act, the United States is the owner of only the 
surface estate of certain lands constituting the 
Padre Island National Seashore. 
(2) Ownership of the oil, gas, and other min-
erals in the subsurface estate of the lands consti-
tuting the Padre Island National Seashore was never 
acquired by the United States, and ownership of 
those interests is held by the State of Texas and pri-
vate parties. 
(3) Public Law 87–712 (16 U.S.C. 459d et 
seq.)— 
(A) expressly contemplated that the United 
States would recognize the ownership and fu-
ture development of the oil, gas, and other min-
erals in the subsurface estate of the lands con-
stituting the Padre Island National Seashore by 
the owners and their mineral lessees; and
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HR 6 PCS 
(B) recognized that approval of the State 
of Texas was required to create Padre Island 
National Seashore. 
(4) Approval was given for the creation of 
Padre Island National Seashore by the State of 
Texas through Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. Art. 
6077(t) (Vernon 1970), which expressly recognized 
that development of the oil, gas, and other minerals 
in the subsurface of the lands constituting Padre Is-
land National Seashore would be conducted with full 
rights of ingress and egress under the laws of the 
State of Texas. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that with regard to Federal law, any regulation of 
the development of oil, gas, or other minerals in the sub-
surface of the lands constituting Padre Island National 
Seashore should be made as if those lands retained the 
status that the lands had on September 27, 1962. 
SEC. 2033. LIVINGSTON PARISH MINERAL RIGHTS TRANS-
FER. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 102 of Public Law 102– 
562 (106 Stat. 4234) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘and subject to the reservation 
in subsection (b),’’; and
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(3) by striking subsection (b). 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENT.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior shall execute the legal instruments 
necessary to effectuate the amendment made by sub-
section (a)(3). 
Subtitle C—Naval Petroleum 
Reserves 
SEC. 2041. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION 
AND ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, NAVAL 
PETROLEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 2, KERN 
COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION JURISDICTION TRANSFER TO 
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.—Effective on the date of 
the enactment of this Act, administrative jurisdiction and 
control over all public domain lands included within Naval 
Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 located in Kern County, 
California, (other than the lands specified in subsection 
(b)) are transferred from the Secretary of Energy to the 
Secretary of the Interior for management, subject to sub-
section (c), in accordance with the general land laws. 
(b) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN RESERVE LANDS.—The 
transfer of administrative jurisdiction made by subsection 
(a) does not include the following lands: 
(1) That portion of Naval Petroleum Reserve 
Numbered 2 authorized for disposal under section
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3403(a) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 
105–261; 10 U.S.C. 7420 note). 
(2) That portion of the surface estate of Naval 
Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 conveyed to the City 
of Taft, California, by section 2042 of this Act. 
(c) PURPOSE OF TRANSFER.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the principle purpose of the lands 
subject to transfer under subsection (a) is the production 
of hydrocarbon resources, and the Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall manage the lands in a fashion consistent with 
this purpose. In managing the lands, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall regulate operations only to prevent unneces-
sary degradation and to provide for ultimate economic re-
covery of the resources. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3403 of the 
Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–261; 10 U.S.C 7420 
note) is amended by striking subsection (b). 
SEC. 2042. LAND CONVEYANCE, PORTION OF NAVAL PETRO-
LEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 2, TO CITY OF 
TAFT, CALIFORNIA. 
(a) CONVEYANCE.—Effective on the date of the en-
actment of this Act, there is conveyed to the City of Taft, 
California (in this section referred to as the ‘‘City’’), all
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surface right, title, and interest of the United States in 
and to a parcel of real property consisting of approxi-
mately 167 acres located in the N1⁄2 of section 18, town-
ship 32 south, range 24 east, Mount Diablo meridian, 
more fully described as Parcels 1 and 2 according to the 
Record of Survey filed on July 1, 1974, in Book 11 of 
Record Surveys at page 68, County of Kern, State of Cali-
fornia. 
(b) CONSIDERATION.—The conveyance under sub-
section (a) is made without the payment of consideration 
by the City. 
(c) TREATMENT OF EXISTING RIGHTS.—The convey-
ance under subsection (a) is subject to valid existing 
rights, including Federal oil and gas lease SAC—019577. 
(d) TREATMENT OF MINERALS.—All coal, oil, gas, 
and other minerals within the lands conveyed under sub-
section (a) are reserved to the United States, except that 
the United States and its lessees, licensees, permittees, or 
assignees shall have no right of surface use or occupancy 
of the lands. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 
to require the United States or its lessees, licensees, per-
mittees, or assignees to support the surface of the con-
veyed lands. 
(e) INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS.—The City 
shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the United
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States for, from, and against, and the City shall assume 
all responsibility for, any and all liability of any kind or 
nature, including all loss, cost, expense, or damage, arising 
from the City’s use or occupancy of, or operations on, the 
land conveyed under subsection (a), whether such use or 
occupancy of, or operations on, occurred before or occur 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(f) INSTRUMENT OF CONVEYANCE.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Energy shall execute, file, and cause to be 
recorded in the appropriate office a deed or other appro-
priate instrument documenting the conveyance made by 
this section. 
SEC. 2043. REVOCATION OF LAND WITHDRAWAL. 
Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Executive Order of December 13, 1912, which created 
Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2, is revoked in its 
entirety. 
SEC. 2044. EFFECT OF TRANSFER AND CONVEYANCE. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed—— 
(1) to impose on the Secretary of Energy any 
new liability or responsibility that the Secretary of 
Energy did not bear before the date of the enact-
ment of this Act; or
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(2) to increase the level of responsibility of the 
Secretary of Energy with respect to any responsi-
bility borne by the Secretary of Energy before that 
date. 
Subtitle D—Miscellaneous 
Provisions 
SEC. 2051. SPLIT-ESTATE FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASING 
AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES. 
(a) REVIEW.—In consultation with affected private 
surface owners, oil and gas industry, and other interested 
parties, the Secretary of the Interior shall undertake a re-
view of the current policies and practices with respect to 
management of Federal subsurface oil and gas develop-
ment activities and their effects on the privately owned 
surface. This review shall include— 
(1) a comparison of the rights and responsibil-
ities under existing mineral and land law for the 
owner of a Federal mineral lease, the private surface 
owners and the Department; 
(2) a comparison of the surface owner consent 
provisions in section 714 of the Surface Mining Con-
trol and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1304) 
concerning surface mining of Federal coal deposits 
and the surface owner consent provisions for oil and
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gas development, including coalbed methane produc-
tion; and 
(3) recommendations for administrative or leg-
islative action necessary to facilitate reasonable ac-
cess for Federal oil and gas activities while address-
ing surface owner concerns and minimizing impacts 
to private surface. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary of the Interior shall re-
port the results of such review to Congress not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 2052. ROYALTY PAYMENTS UNDER LEASES UNDER 
THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS 
ACT. 
(a) ROYALTY RELIEF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of providing 
compensation for lessees and a State for which 
amounts are authorized by section 6004(c) of the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–380), a les-
see may withhold from payment any royalty due and 
owing to the United States under any leases under 
the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1301 et seq.) for offshore oil or gas production from 
a covered lease tract if, on or before the date that 
the payment is due and payable to the United
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States, the lessee makes a payment to the State of 
44 cents for every $1 of royalty withheld. 
(2) TREATMENT
OF
AMOUNTS.—Any royalty 
withheld by a lessee in accordance with this section 
(including any portion thereof that is paid to the 
State under paragraph (1)) shall be treated as paid 
for purposes of satisfaction of the royalty obligations 
of the lessee to the United States. 
(3) CERTIFICATION OF WITHHELD AMOUNTS.— 
The Secretary of the Treasury shall— 
(A) determine the amount of royalty with-
held by a lessee under this section; and 
(B) promptly publish a certification when 
the total amount of royalty withheld by the les-
see under this section is equal to— 
(i) the dollar amount stated at page 
47 of Senate Report number 101–534, 
which is designated therein as the total 
drainage claim for the West Delta field; 
plus 
(ii) interest as described at page 47 of 
that Report. 
(b) PERIOD OF ROYALTY RELIEF.—Subsection (a) 
shall apply to royalty amounts that are due and payable 
in the period beginning on January 1, 2006, and ending
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on the date on which the Secretary of the Treasury pub-
lishes a certification under subsection (a)(4)(B). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section: 
(1) COVERED LEASE TRACT.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered lease tract’’ means a leased tract (or portion of 
a leased tract)— 
(A) lying seaward of the zone defined and 
governed by section 8(g) of the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(g)); or 
(B) lying within such zone but to which 
such section does not apply. 
(2) LESSEE.—The term ‘‘lessee’’— 
(A) means a person or entity that, on the 
date of the enactment of the Oil Pollution Act 
of 1990, was a lessee referred to in section 
6004(c) of that Act (as in effect on that date 
of the enactment), but did not hold lease rights 
in Federal offshore lease OCS–G–5669; and 
(B) includes successors and affiliates of a 
person or entity described in subparagraph (A). 
SEC. 2053. DOMESTIC OFFSHORE ENERGY REINVESTMENT. 
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1331 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
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‘‘SEC. 32. DOMESTIC OFFSHORE ENERGY REINVESTMENT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COASTAL
ENERGY
STATE.—The term 
‘Coastal Energy State’ means a Coastal State off 
the coastline of which, within the seaward lateral 
boundary as determined under section 4, outer Con-
tinental Shelf bonus bids or royalties are generated. 
‘‘(2) COASTAL
POLITICAL
SUBDIVISION.—The 
term ‘coastal political subdivision’ means a county, 
parish, or other equivalent subdivision of a Coastal 
Energy State, all or part of which lies within the 
boundaries of the coastal zone of the State, as iden-
tified in the State’s approved coastal zone manage-
ment program under the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) on the date 
of the enactment of this section. 
‘‘(3) COASTAL POPULATION.—The term ‘coastal 
population’ means the population of a coastal polit-
ical subdivision, as determined by the most recent 
official data of the Census Bureau. 
‘‘(4) COASTLINE.—The term ‘coastline’ has the 
same meaning as the term ‘coast line’ in subsection 
2(c) of the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1301(c)).
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‘‘(5) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the Se-
cure Energy Reinvestment Fund established by this 
section. 
‘‘(6) LEASED TRACT.—The term ‘leased tract’ 
means a tract maintained under section 6 or leased 
under section 8 for the purpose of drilling for, devel-
oping, and producing oil and natural gas resources. 
‘‘(7) QUALIFIED OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF 
REVENUES.—The term ‘qualified outer Continental 
Shelf revenues’ means all amounts received by the 
United States on or after October 1, 2005, from 
each leased tract or portion of a leased tract lying 
seaward of the zone defined and governed by section 
8(g), or lying within such zone but to which section 
8(g) does not apply, including bonus bids, rents, roy-
alties (including payments for royalties taken in kind 
and sold), net profit share payments, and related in-
terest. 
‘‘(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
‘‘(b) SECURE ENERGY REINVESTMENT FUND.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Treasury of the United States a separate ac-
count which shall be known as the ‘Secure Energy
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Reinvestment Fund’. The Fund shall consist of 
amounts deposited under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—For each of fiscal years 2006 
through 2015, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
deposit into the Fund, subject to appropriations, the 
following: 
‘‘(A) Notwithstanding section 9, all quali-
fied outer Continental Shelf revenues attrib-
utable to royalties received by the United States 
in the fiscal year that are in excess of the fol-
lowing amount: 
‘‘(i) $7,000,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2006. 
‘‘(ii) $7,100,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2007. 
‘‘(iii) $7,300,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2008. 
‘‘(iv) $6,900,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2009. 
‘‘(v) $7,200,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2010. 
‘‘(vi) $7,250,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2011. 
‘‘(vii) $8,125,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2012.
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‘‘(viii) $8,100,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2013. 
‘‘(ix) $9,000,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2014. 
‘‘(x) $7,500,000,000 in the case of 
royalties received in fiscal year 2015. 
‘‘(B) Notwithstanding section 9, all quali-
fied outer Continental shelf revenues attrib-
utable to bonus bids received by the United 
States in each of the fiscal years 2006 through 
2015 that are in excess of $880,000,000. 
‘‘(C) Notwithstanding section 9, in addi-
tion to amounts deposited under subparagraphs 
(A) and (B), $35,000,000 of amounts received 
by the United States each fiscal year as royal-
ties for oil or gas production on the outer Con-
tinental Shelf. 
‘‘(D) All interest earned under paragraph 
(4). 
In no event shall deposits under subparagraphs (A) 
through (C) total more than $50,000,000 per fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(3) DEPOSITS AFTER FISCAL YEAR 2015.—For 
each fiscal year after fiscal year 2015, the Secretary
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of the Treasury shall deposit into the Fund the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) 25 percent of qualified outer Conti-
nental Shelf revenues received by the United 
States in the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) All interest earned under paragraph 
(4). 
‘‘(4) INVESTMENT.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury shall invest moneys in the Fund (including 
interest) in public debt securities with maturities 
suitable to the needs of the Fund, as determined by 
the Secretary of the Treasury, and bearing interest 
at rates determined by the Secretary of the Treas-
ury, taking into consideration current market yields 
on outstanding marketable obligations of the United 
States of comparable maturity. Such invested mon-
eys shall remain invested until needed to meet re-
quirements for disbursement under this section. 
‘‘(c) USE
OF
SECURE
ENERGY
REINVESTMENT 
FUND.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—(A) The Secretary shall use 
amounts in the Fund remaining after the application 
of subsection (d) to pay to each Coastal Energy 
State, and to coastal political subdivisions of such 
State, the amount allocated to the State or coastal
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political subdivision, respectively, under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall make payments under 
this paragraph in December of 2006, and of each 
year thereafter, from revenues received by the 
United States in the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—The Secretary shall allo-
cate amounts deposited into the Fund in a fiscal 
year, and other amounts determined by the Sec-
retary to be available, among Coastal Energy States, 
and to coastal political subdivisions of such States, 
as follows: 
‘‘(A)(i) The allocation for each Coastal En-
ergy State shall be calculated based on the ratio 
of qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues 
generated off the coastline of the Coastal En-
ergy State to the qualified outer Continental 
Shelf revenues generated off the coastlines of 
all Coastal Energy States for the preceding fis-
cal year. 
‘‘(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, 
qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues shall 
be considered to be generated off the coastline 
of a Coastal Energy State if the geographic 
center of the lease tract from which the reve-