Certainty for States and Tribes Act

Bill: 114-hr-5259
Sponsor: Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-At Large]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Coal
Department of the Interior
Economic performance and conditions
Energy revenues and royalties
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Federal-Indian relations
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Mining
Oil and gas
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 

Certainty for States and Tribes Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee, which should include members representing states and Indian tribes who produce minerals on federal or tribal land. In addition, Interior must establish a State and Tribal Resources Board, a subcommittee to the Royalty Policy Committee. The board and committee must advise Interior as it formulates policies and regulations regarding mineral production on federal and tribal lands. The board can delay the issuance of a final regulation by Interior if the board determines that such regulation will have a negative state or Tribal budgetary or economic impact.
 
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must complete by January 15, 2019, its programmatic review of the federal coal leasing program as described in Secretarial Order 3338. Secretarial Order 3338 directed the BLM to prepare a discretionary review of the federal coal program. (Interior issued Secretarial Order 3338 on January 15, 2016.)
 
The moratorium on the issuance of new federal coal leasesby the BLMshall terminate on January 16, 2019.Additionally, the bill allows leases and modifications to be issued by the BLM for any coalleasing application currently under review. Secretarial Order 3338 prohibited approval of such leases and modifications.
 
The bill also directs the BLM toconduct federal coal lease sales and modifications within one year after it completes an analysis of anapplication.

action_date: 2016-11-22
text: 

Certainty for States and Tribes Act

 
(Sec. 2)This bill directs the Department of the Interior to reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee, which must include members representing states and Indian tribes who produce minerals on federal or tribal land. In addition, Interior must establish a State and Tribal Resources Board, a subcommittee of the Royalty Policy Committee. 
 
(Sec. 3)The board and committee must advise Interior as it formulates policies and regulations regarding mineral production on federal and tribal lands. Interior must delay issuing a final regulation for 180 days if the board determines that such regulation will have a negative state or tribal budgetary or economic impact.
 
(Sec. 4)The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must complete by January 15, 2019, its programmatic review of the federal coal leasing program as described in Secretarial Order 3338, dated January 15, 2016. Secretarial Order 3338 directed the BLM to prepare a discretionary review of the federal coal program. 
 
The moratorium on the issuance of new federal coal leasesby the BLMshall terminate on January 16, 2019.Additionally, the bill allows leases and modifications to be issued by the BLM for any coalleasing application currently under review. Secretarial Order 3338 prohibited approval of such leases and modifications.
 
(Sec. 6)The bill also directs the BLM toconduct federal coal lease sales and modifications within one year after it completes an environmental analysis of anapplication.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-22
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 654.
action_date: 2016-11-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-833.
action_date: 2016-11-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-833.
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 13.
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Discharged.
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2016-06-14
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in House