lic Law 109–58; 42 U.S.C. 15927), additional 160- 
acre tracts of lands the Secretary considers nec-
essary to fulfill the research and development objec-
tives of such Act; and 
(2) offer for leasing for commercial exploration, 
development, and production of oil shale resources 
under subsection (e) of such section, public lands in 
States for which the Secretary finds sufficient sup-
port and interest as required by that subsection. 
Subtitle B—Judicial Review 
Regarding Energy Projects 
SEC. 221. EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER CAUSES AND 
CLAIMS RELATING TO COVERED ENERGY 
PROJECTS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
United States District Court for the District of Columbia 
shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear all causes and 
claims under this title or any other provision of law that 
arise from any covered energy project. 
SEC. 222. TIME FOR FILING COMPLAINT. 
All causes and claims referred to in section 221 must 
be filed not later than the end of the 60-day period begin-
ning on the date of the action or decision by a Federal 
official that constitutes the covered energy project con-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:05 May 07, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1777.IH
H1777
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
cerned. Any cause or claim not filed within that time pe-
riod shall be barred. 
SEC. 223. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUM-
BIA DEADLINE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—All proceedings that are subject 
to section 221— 
(1) shall be resolved as expeditiously as pos-
sible, and in any event not more than 180 days after 
such cause or claim is filed; and 
(2) shall take precedence over all other pending 
matters before the district court. 
(b) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH DEADLINE.—If an 
interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order has not 
been issued by the district court by the deadline described 
under this section, the cause or claim shall be dismissed 
with prejudice and all rights relating to such cause or 
claim shall be terminated. 
SEC. 224. ABILITY TO SEEK APPELLATE REVIEW. 
An interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order 
of the district court in a proceeding that is subject to sec-
tion 221 may be reviewed by no other court except the 
Supreme Court. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:05 May 07, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1777.IH
H1777
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 225. DEADLINE FOR APPEAL TO THE SUPREME 
COURT. 
If a writ of certiorari has been granted by the Su-
preme Court pursuant to section 224, then— 
(1) the interlocutory or final judgment, decree, 
or order of the district court shall be resolved as ex-
peditiously as possible and in any event not more 
than 180 days after such interlocutory or final judg-
ment, decree, order of the district court is issued; 
and 
(2) all such proceedings shall take precedence 
over all other matters then before the Supreme 
Court. 
SEC. 226. COVERED ENERGY PROJECT DEFINED. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘covered energy project’’ 
means any action or decision by the President or a Federal 
official regarding— 
(1) the leasing of Federal lands (including sub-
merged lands) for the exploration, development, pro-
duction, processing, or transmission of oil, natural 
gas, or any other source or form of energy, including 
actions and decisions regarding the selection or of-
fering of Federal lands for such leasing; or 
(2) any action under such a lease. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:05 May 07, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1777.IH
H1777
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 227. LIMITATION ON APPLICATION. 
This subtitle shall not apply with respect to a covered 
energy project to the extent such application would be in-
consistent with subtitle C. 
Subtitle C—Permitting Reform 
SEC. 231. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this subtitle are to— 
(1) respond to the Nation’s increased need for 
domestic energy resources; 
(2) facilitate interagency coordination and co-
operation in the processing of permits required to 
support oil and gas use authorization on Federal 
lands, both onshore and on the Outer Continental 
Shelf, in order to achieve greater consistency, cer-
tainty, and timeliness in permit processing require-
ments; 
(3) promote process streamlining and increased 
interagency efficiency, including elimination of inter-
agency duplication of effort; 
(4) improve information sharing among agen-
cies and understanding of respective agency roles 
and responsibilities; 
(5) promote coordination with State agencies 
with expertise and responsibilities related to Federal 
oil and gas permitting decisions; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:05 May 07, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1777.IH
H1777
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(6) promote responsible stewardship of Federal 
oil and gas resources; 
(7) maintain high standards of safety and envi-
ronmental protection; and 
(8) enhance the benefits to Federal permitting 
already occurring as a result of a coordinated and 
timely interagency process for oil and gas permit re-
view for certain Federal oil and gas leases. 
SEC. 232. FEDERAL COORDINATOR. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established, as an 
independent agency in the Executive Branch, the Office 
of the Federal Oil and Gas Permit Coordinator. 
(b) FEDERAL PERMIT COORDINATOR.—The Office 
shall be headed by a Federal Permit Coordinator, who 
shall be appointed by the President within 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Federal Permit Coordinator shall 
be responsible for the following: 
(1) Coordinating the timely completion of all 
permitting activities by Federal agencies, and State 
agencies to the maximum extent practicable, with re-
spect to any oil and gas project under a Federal 
lease issued pursuant to the mineral leasing laws, ei-
ther onshore or on the Outer Continental Shelf. For 
purposes of this subtitle only, such oil and gas 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:05 May 07, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1777.IH
H1777
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS