Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

This bill revises requirements for oil and gas or geothermal drilling permits under the Mineral Leasing Act as well as the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from requiring an operator to obtain a federal drilling permit for oil, gas, or geothermal exploration and production activities conducted on a nonfederal surface estate if (1) the federal ownership interest is less than 50% of the subsurface mineral estate to be accessed by the proposed action; and (2) the operator submits to Interior a state permit to conduct such activities on the nonfederal surface estate.

Such activities are not considered to be a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and thus are not subject to environmental review requirements under NEPA. Further, such activities are not subject to requirements for federal actions under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Bill 118 hr 1205, also known as the Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to address issues related to the spacing of mineral leases on federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The bill aims to establish a uniform spacing requirement for mineral leases on BLM-managed lands, in order to promote efficient and responsible development of these resources. By setting specific spacing guidelines, the bill seeks to prevent overcrowding and ensure that mineral development is carried out in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner.

Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act includes provisions for the establishment of a process for granting waivers to the spacing requirements in certain circumstances. This flexibility is intended to accommodate unique geological conditions or other factors that may necessitate deviations from the standard spacing rules. Overall, the bill is designed to streamline the permitting process for mineral development on federal lands, while also safeguarding against potential negative impacts on the environment and public safety. It represents a bipartisan effort to balance the interests of industry and conservation in the management of our nation's natural resources.