Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

Bill: 114-s-3079
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2016-06-21
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Advisory bodies

Coal

Department of the Interior

Energy revenues and royalties

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Government studies and investigations

Indian lands and resources rights

Land use and conservation

Mining
Latest action: action_date: 2016-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-06-21
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act</b></p> <p>This bill establishes a deadline for the Department of the Interior to complete a comprehensive review of the federal coal leasing program.The review, in the form of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, is designed to ensure that the federal coal program is properly structured to provide a fair return to taxpayers and toreflect its impacts on the environment, while continuing to helpmeet energy needs.</p> <p>In addition, Interior shall reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee to ensure consultation among state, tribal, environmental, energy, and federal stakeholders.The committee must provide advice to Interior on the management of federal and Indian mineral leases and shall be composed of federal and non-federal members.</p> <p>The bill also requires Interior to authorize earlier emergency coal leasing than is currently authorized under federal regulations.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3079 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 21, 2016 Mr. Tester introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To improve the management of the Federal coal leasing program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act . 2. Sense of the Senate relating to a review of the Federal coal leasing program It is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the Federal coal leasing program should be reviewed— (A) to ensure that taxpayers receive a fair rate of return for Federal minerals; (B) to provide appropriate transparency; and (C) to ensure that management of Federal land and minerals is in the public interest; (2) the responsible development of coal resources on Federal land provides an important source of jobs and revenue for States and local economies; and (3) the review under paragraph (1) should be completed as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act. 3. Deadline for Completion of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Not later than January 15, 2021, the Secretary of the Interior shall complete the programmatic review of coal leasing on Federal land described in section 4 of Secretarial Order 3338, issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016. 4. Royalty Policy Committee (a) In general To ensure consultation with key State, tribal, environmental, energy, and Federal stakeholders, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretary ) shall reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee (referred to in this section as the Committee ) in accordance with the charter of the Secretary, dated March 26, 2010, as modified by this section. (b) Duties The Committee shall— (1) provide advice to the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Natural Resource Revenue, on the management of Federal and Indian mineral leases and revenues under the law governing the Department of the Interior; (2) review and comment on revenue management and other mineral and energy-related policies; and (3) provide a forum to convey views representative of mineral lessees, operators, revenue payers, revenue recipients, governmental agencies, and public interest groups. (c) Advisory The duties of the Committee shall be solely advisory. (d) Meetings The Committee shall meet at least once a year at the request of the Secretary. (e) Duration The charter of the Committee may be renewed in 2-year increments by the Secretary. (f) Membership (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall appoint non-Federal members and alternates to the Committee for a term of up to 3 years. (2) Terms (A) In general The terms of non-Federal Committee members and alternates shall be staggered to preserve the integrity of the Committee. (B) Terms Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the terms of new or reappointed non-Federal members of the Committee shall be 3 years. (C) Shorter terms If a term of 3 years would result in more than 1/3 of the terms of the non-Federal members expiring in any year, appointments of non-Federal members may be extended for 1 year or 2 terms to provide continuity of the Committee. (D) Maximum number of years (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), non-Federal members may not serve more than 6 consecutive years as a member of the Committee. (ii) Reappointment After a 2-year break in service, any non-Federal member who has served 6 consecutive years shall be eligible for reappointment to the Committee. (3) Meetings The Secretary may revoke the appointment of a member of the Committee and the alternate if the appointed member or alternate fails to attend 2 or more consecutive meetings of the Committee. (4) Balanced representation Committee members shall be comprised of non-Federal and Federal members in order to ensure fair and balanced representation with consideration for the efficiency and fiscal economy of the Committee. (5) Discretionary service All members of the Committee shall serve at the discretion of the Secretary. (6) Non-Federal members In appointing non-Federal members of the Committee, the Secretary shall appoint up to— (A) 5 members who represent States that receive over $10,000,000 annually in royalty revenues from Federal leases; (B) 5 members who represent Indian tribes; (C) 5 members who represent various mineral or energy interests, including at least 1 member who represents labor interests; and (D) 5 members who represent public interest groups, including groups representing taxpayers and groups with academic expertise. (7) Federal members The following officials, or their designees, shall be nonvoting, ex-officio members of the Committee: (A) The Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. (B) The Director of the Bureau of Land Management. (C) The Director of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue. (g) Subcommittees (1) In general Subject to the approval of the Secretary and paragraph (2), subcommittees or workgroups of the Committee may be formed for the purposes of compiling information or conducting research. (2) Administration Subcommittees or workgroups of the Committee shall— (A) act only under the direction of the Committee; and (B) report their recommendations to the full Committee for consideration. (3) Appointment The Committee Chair, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, shall appoint subcommittee or workgroup members. (4) Meetings Subcommittees and workgroups of the Committee shall meet as necessary to accomplish assignments, subject to the approval of the Secretary and the availability of resources. 5. Emergency leasing (a) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall amend section 3425.1–4 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, and Secretarial Order 3338, issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016, to authorize earlier emergency leasing than is authorized under section 3425.1–4 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as of the date of enactment of this Act). (b) Administration In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall substitute 4 years for 3 years each place it appears in section 3425.1–4 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, for the duration of the programmatic review of the Federal coal program and the limitations on the issuance of Federal coal leases described in Secretarial Order 3338 issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016.