More Energy More Jobs Act of 2021
This bill revises requirements concerning oil and gas lease sales under the Outer Continental Shelf leasing program.
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to allow coastal states to nominate areas off their coasts for oil and gas development.
In addition, Interior must hold at least two region-wide oil and gas lease sales per year in the Gulf of Mexico. Each lease sale must include areas in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. The bill also establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews of the lease sales.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1325 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1325
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue an oil and gas leasing
program under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2021
Mr. Brady (for himself and Mr. Cuellar) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue an oil and gas leasing
program under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``More Energy More Jobs Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT TO ISSUE NEW FIVE-YEAR OIL AND GAS LEASING PROGRAM.
(a) Requirements for Development of New Leasing Programs.--Section
18(c) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(c)) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(5) and (6); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Development of program.--In preparing each leasing
program under this section, the Secretary shall--
``(A) allow the Governor of a coastal State to
nominate for leasing under such program areas of the
outer Continental Shelf that are adjacent to the waters
of that State;
``(B) include each area nominated under
subparagraph (A) in the draft leasing program under
this section and consider leasing of such areas as an
alternative Federal action; and
``(C) include in development of the program
resource estimates that are available, and develop
resource estimates for the areas for which such data
are not available including for the areas nominated
under subparagraph (A).
``(3) Inclusion of state-nominated areas.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall include in
the final program issued under this section each area
nominated by a State under paragraph (2) if the
Secretary determines that development in such area will
best meet national energy needs and is consistent with
the principles set forth in subsection (a).
``(B) Report.--If the Secretary omits any area
nominated under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall
submit to the Governor that nominated the area and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report detailing why oil and gas
development in such area do not best meet national
energy needs and is not consistent with the principles
set forth in subsection (a).
``(C) Alternative views.--After submittal of the
report required by subparagraph (B), each such Governor
shall be provided 60 days within which to offer
alternative views on why the Secretary's findings are
not consistent with the principles set forth in
subsection (a).
``(4) Notice of effectiveness of plan.--The Secretary shall
publish in the Federal Register a notice of the effectiveness
of each oil and gas leasing program issued under this section
on the date such program takes effect.''.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL LEASE SALES IN GULF OF MEXICO REGION.
Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1344) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Annual Lease Sales in Gulf of Mexico Region.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Central gulf of mexico planning area.--The
term `Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area' has the
meaning given the term `Central Planning Area' in
section 102 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act
of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109-432).
``(B) Western gulf of mexico planning area.--The
term `Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area' means the
Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area of the outer
Continental Shelf, as designated in the document
entitled `Draft Proposed Program Outer Continental
Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2007-2012' and dated
February 2006.
``(2) Annual lease sales.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Secretary
shall hold a minimum of 2 region-wide lease sales annually in
the Gulf of Mexico pursuant to this Act, each of which shall
include areas in--
``(A) the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area; and
``(B) the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
``(3) Requirements.--
``(A) In general.--In carrying out the lease sales
under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall issue leases
to the highest responsible qualified bidder or bidders.
``(B) Areas included in lease sales.--In carrying
out the lease sales under paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall include in each lease sale all unleased areas
that are not subject to restrictions as of the date of
the lease sale.
``(4) Environmental review.--
``(A) In general.--With respect to each lease sale
required under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall
conduct any environmental reviews required by the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.).
``(B) Deadline.--
``(i) Individual review.--If the Secretary
conducts environmental reviews with respect to
a lease sale under subparagraph (A) for each
individual lease included in the lease sale,
the Secretary shall complete all environmental
reviews for the lease sale, including by
issuing a finding of no significant impact or a
record of decision, if applicable, in less than
365 calendar days.
``(ii) Programmatic review.--If the
Secretary conducts a programmatic environmental
review with respect to a lease sale under
subparagraph (A) for all leases under the lease
sale, the Secretary shall complete the
programmatic environmental review, including by
issuing a finding of no significant impact or a
record of decision, if applicable, in less than
180 calendar days.
``(j) Permitting.--
``(1) In general.--Pursuant to sovereign contracting rights
and obligations, the Secretary shall review and grant or deny
in accordance with paragraph (2) any application for a permit
or other approval for offshore oil and natural gas exploration,
development, and production activities under a lease issued
pursuant to this Act by not later than the earlier of--
``(A) 75 calendar days after the date on which the
application is received by the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental
Enforcement; or
``(B) any other applicable deadline required by
law.
``(2) Approval or denial.--
``(A) In general.--Absent clear grounds for denial
of an application for a permit or other approval
described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall grant
the permit or approval.
``(B) Requirement.--If the Secretary denies an
application for a permit or other approval under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide to the
applicant written notice explaining the grounds for the
denial.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
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