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missioning of the nuclear power reactor is completed
to the satisfaction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-
sion;
‘‘(2) obligations of licensees, former licensees, or
any other person to use funds or other assets to satisfy
a responsibility described in paragraph (1) may not
be rejected, avoided, or discharged in any proceeding
under this title or in any liquidation, reorganization,
receivership, or other insolvency proceeding under
Federal or State law; and
‘‘(3) private insurance premiums and standard
deferred premiums held and maintained in accord-
ance with section 170b. of the Atomic Energy Act of
1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210(b)) shall not be used to satisfy
the claim of any creditor in any proceeding under
this title, until the indemnification agreement exe-
cuted in accordance with section 170c. of that Act (42
U.S.C. 2210(c)) is terminated.’’.
Subtitle E—NRC Personnel Crisis
SEC. 541. ELIMINATION OF PENSION OFFSET.
Section 161 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42
U.S.C. 2201) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘y. exempt from the application of sections 8344 and
8468 of title 5, United States Code, an annuitant who was
formerly an employee of the Commission who is hired by
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the Commission as a consultant, if the Commission finds
that the annuitant has a skill that is critical to the perform-
ance of the duties of the Commission.’’.
SEC. 542. NRC TRAINING PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to maintain the human
resource investment and infrastructure of the United States
in the nuclear sciences, health physics, and engineering
fields, in accordance with the statutory authorities of the
Commission relating to the civilian nuclear energy pro-
gram, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall carry out
a training and fellowship program to address shortages of
individuals with critical safety skills.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2003 through 2006.
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Funds made available under
paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.
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DIVISION B—DOMESTIC OIL AND
GAS 
PRODUCTION 
AND
TRANSPORTATION
TITLE VI—OIL AND GAS
PRODUCTION
SEC. 601. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE STRA-
TEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE.
(a) AMENDMENT TO TITLE I OF THE ENERGY POLICY
AND CONSERVATION ACT.—Title I of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6211 et seq.) is amended—
(1) by striking section 166 (42 U.S.C. 6246) and
inserting—
‘‘SEC. 166. There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this part, to remain available until expended.’’; and
(2) by striking part E (42 U.S.C. 6251; relating
to the expiration of title I of the Act) and its heading.
(b) AMENDMENT TO TITLE II OF THE ENERGY POLICY
AND CONSERVATION ACT.—Title II of the Energy Policy
and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6271 et seq.) is
amended—
(1) by striking section 256(h) (42 U.S.C.
6276(h)) and inserting—
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such
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sums as may be necessary to carry out this part, to remain
available until expended.’’;
(2) by striking section 273(e) (42 U.S.C. 6283(e);
relating to the expiration of summer fill and fuel
budgeting programs); and
(3) by striking part D (42 U.S.C. 6285; relating
to the expiration of title II of the Act) and its head-
ing.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents
for the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended by
striking the items relating to part D of title I and part
D of title II.
SEC. 602. FEDERAL ONSHORE LEASING PROGRAMS FOR OIL
AND GAS.
(a) TIMELY ACTION ON LEASES AND PERMITS.—To
ensure timely action on oil and gas leases and applications
for permits to drill on lands otherwise available for leasing,
the Secretary of the Interior shall—
(1) ensure expeditious compliance with the re-
quirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C));
(2) improve consultation and coordination with
the States; and
(3) improve the collection, storage, and retrieval
of information related to such leasing activities.
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(b) 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.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For each
of the fiscal years 2003 through 2006, in addition to
amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated for the
purpose of carrying out section 17 of the Mineral Leasing
Act (30 U.S.C. 226), there are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of the Interior—
(1) $40,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out
paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a); and
(2) $20,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out
subsection (b).
SEC. 603. 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: ‘‘as well as acreage
under any lease any portion of which has been committed
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,’’.