Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

2/5/2024, 3:39 PM

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

This bill expedites the permitting process for oil and gas drilling on federal land.

Specifically, the bill bans the Department of the Interior from requiring a permit to drill for an oil and gas lease under the Mineral Leasing Act for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit if (1) less than 50% of the minerals within the unit are minerals owned by the federal government, and (2) the federal government does not own or lease the surface estate within the area directly impacted by the action. However, this ban does not apply to certain tribal land.

In addition, the bill requires state drilling applicants to notify Interior if their permit or plan would impact or extract federally owned oil or gas. Holders of oil or gas leases must notify Interior when they submit a state permit application to drill.

Congress
118

Number
S - 535

Introduced on
2023-02-27

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

7/11/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

This bill expedites the permitting process for oil and gas drilling on federal land.

Specifically, the bill bans the Department of the Interior from requiring a permit to drill for an oil and gas lease under the Mineral Leasing Act for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit if (1) less than 50% of the minerals within the unit are minerals owned by the federal government, and (2) the federal government does not own or lease the surface estate within the area directly impacted by the action. However, this ban does not apply to certain tribal land.

In addition, the bill requires state drilling applicants to notify Interior if their permit or plan would impact or extract federally owned oil or gas. Holders of oil or gas leases must notify Interior when they submit a state permit application to drill.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to streamline the oil and gas permitting process and to recognize fee ownership for certain oil and gas drilling or spacing units, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Energy

Potential Impact
Indian lands and resources rights
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Mining
Oil and gas
State and local government operations

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary7/21/2023

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

This bill expedites the permitting process for oil and gas drilling on federal land.

Specifically, the bill bans the Department of the Interior from requiring a permit to drill fo...


Latest Action7/11/2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 125.