Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1503
Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Legal fees and court costs
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations
User charges and fees
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies several provisions related to oil and gas leasing on public lands.
 
Among other requirements, the bill replaces the competitive auction process with a competitive-sealed bidding process. It also eliminates non-competitive bidding. 
 
Additionally, the bill increases royalty rates, rental rates, and the minimum bid amount. Further, the bill creates a fee for nominating lands for leasing.
 
Lease sales must be held in each state no more than three times per year instead of quarterly. The bill also decreases lease term durations from 10 to 5 years. Certain lease information must be made available on public websites, including the names of all current and former lessees and operators.
 
The Department of the Interior may issue master leasing plans to avoid conflicts between mineral leasing and other land uses.
 
The bill also adds a number of new provisions related to protection of private surface estate owners.
 
Finally, the bill establishes requirements to protect water resources, including by requiring oil or gas operators to replace certain water supplies affected by drilling, hydraulic fracturing (i.e., fracking), or production operations. In addition, the Bureau of Land Management must issue regulations governing the use of fracking under oil and gas leases for federal lands. The regulations must require (1) baseline water testing, and (2) public disclosure of each chemical used for fracking.

action_date: 2022-12-14
text: 

Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies several provisions related to oil and gas leasing on public lands.
 
Among other requirements, the bill replaces the competitive auction process with a competitive-sealed bidding process. It also eliminates non-competitive bidding. 
 
Additionally, the bill increases royalty rates, rental rates, and the minimum bid amount. Further, the bill creates a fee for nominating lands for leasing.
 
Lease sales must be held in each state no more than three times per year instead of quarterly. The bill also decreases lease term durations from 10 to 5 years. Certain lease information must be made available on public websites, including the names of all current and former lessees and operators.
 
The bill also adds a number of new provisions related to protection of private surface estate owners.
 
Finally, the bill establishes requirements to protect water resources, including by requiring oil or gas operators to replace certain water supplies affected by drilling, hydraulic fracturing (i.e., fracking), or production operations. In addition, the Bureau of Land Management must issue regulations governing the use of fracking under oil and gas leases for federal lands. The regulations must require (1) baseline water testing, and (2) public disclosure of each chemical used for fracking.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 452.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-628, Part I.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-628, Part I.
action_date: 2021-05-05
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 15.
action_date: 2021-05-05
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-05-05
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-03-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in House