1.Short title; table of contents(a)
This Act may be cited as the North Atlantic Energy Security Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—Natural gas gathering enhancement
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Findings.
Sec. 103. Authority to approve natural gas pipelines.
Sec. 104. Certain natural gas gathering lines located on Federal land and Indian land.
Sec. 105. Deadlines for permitting natural gas gathering lines under the Mineral Leasing Act.
Sec. 106. Deadlines for permitting natural gas gathering lines under the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976.
Sec. 107. LNG regulatory certainty.
Sec. 108. Expedited approval of exportation of natural gas to Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty
Organization member countries and Japan.
TITLE II—Onshore oil and gas permit streamlining
Subtitle A—Streamlining permitting
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Permit to drill application timeline.
Sec. 203. Making pilot offices permanent to improve energy permitting on Federal land.
Sec. 204. Administration.
Sec. 205. Judicial review.
Subtitle B—BLM live internet auctions
Sec. 211. Short title.
Sec. 212. Internet-based onshore oil and gas lease sales.
<enum>I</enum><header>Natural gas gathering enhancement</header><section id="id7F10C627908B4C1D8BB8B17F9B6646A7"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Natural Gas Gathering Enhancement Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="id5BA49850112D4449A59B65D286C58426" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>102.</enum>
<header>Findings</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress finds that—</text>
<paragraph id="id6c88dfe2818e4522b2defd14b4d3c202">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>record volumes of natural gas production in the United States as of the date of enactment of this
Act are providing enormous benefits to the United States, including by—</text>
<subparagraph id="id95dc65022c37468ebc6fd6da5efaf3ad">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>reducing the need for imports of natural gas, thereby directly reducing the trade deficit;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb95c030bb2c64d2090f0575793006136">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>strengthening trade ties among the United States, Canada, and Mexico;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaa80fabd19894982aae2b2d8a963b53c">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>providing the opportunity for the United States to join the emerging global gas trade through the
export of liquefied natural gas;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf1a97c02f7f74cdda9afc0233c0ed53d">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>creating and supporting millions of new jobs across the United States;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id256d78eab8304824af17443cb3a43cdf">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>adding billions of dollars to the gross domestic product of the United States every year;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id28eaadc152d8475db2d684a874f952a9">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>generating additional Federal, State, and local government tax revenues; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8eb1c9b3c48f4db3a8e41b976c08b75f">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>revitalizing the manufacturing sector by providing abundant and affordable feedstock;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1f25a7a3c8740dead9d3e97d393ca38">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>large quantities of natural gas are lost due to venting and flaring, primarily in areas where
natural gas infrastructure has not been developed quickly enough, such as
States with large quantities of Federal land and Indian land;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide5980f460a3e4ceeb13255858fb20b51">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>permitting processes can hinder the development of natural gas infrastructure, such as pipeline
lines and gathering lines on Federal land and Indian land; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5acb54a4e2cd4fe4b9de3763b78a7273">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>additional authority for the Secretary of the Interior to approve natural gas pipelines and
gathering lines on Federal land and Indian land would—</text>
<subparagraph id="id0B52A60172F44F928861A6465C774A13">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>assist in bringing gas to market that would otherwise be vented or flared; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBA0AC1FD17BB44B9B0093600F62D4F0F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>significantly increase royalties collected by the Secretary of the Interior and disbursed to
Federal, State, and tribal governments and individual Indians.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="idA41CF0950C014035BECDE95CE7DBF5CA" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>103.</enum>
<header>Authority to approve natural gas pipelines</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1 of the Act of February 15, 1901 (31 Stat. 790, chapter 372; 16 U.S.C. 79), is amended by
inserting <quote>, for natural gas pipelines</quote> after <quote>distribution of electrical power</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idA5D0E86567A547C0B9C1E38536661482" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>104.</enum>
<header>Certain natural gas gathering lines located on Federal land and Indian land</header>
<subsection id="idF767A96D5C6D4EC3BB629A15802F9BD3">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subtitle B of title III of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 685) is
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3DA1786B9C6D4D40A7A9530911B95402" style="OLC">
<section id="idB7A6528A6038481E920D50DB43F42651">
<enum>319.</enum>
<header>Certain natural gas gathering lines located on Federal land and Indian land</header>
<subsection id="id0BAB9DD51912413197E1AEEC32BA59F0">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id88F453C38D654EAAB063B7DE43310712">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Gas gathering line and associated field compression unit</header>
<subparagraph id="idB2203C5D8AC448FF91E85CAE6D801D67">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The term <term>gas gathering line and associated field compression unit</term> means—</text>
<clause id="idF789C502C83B45078F3204D1331BAF00">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>a pipeline that is installed to transport natural gas production associated with 1 or more wells
drilled and completed to produce crude oil; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id947D5F92CF4E473D87911FED74AB8F6E">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>if necessary, a compressor to raise the pressure of that transported natural gas to higher
pressures suitable to enable the gas to flow into pipelines and other
facilities.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6D54E6AA60024194B43D86CAFE8EA2BE">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Exclusions</header>
<text>The term <term>gas gathering line and associated field compression unit</term> does not include a pipeline or compression unit that is installed to transport natural gas from a
processing plant to a common carrier pipeline or facility.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7EB656C658374406A14B6CD2BE4B55EF">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Federal land</header>
<subparagraph id="idA9A4F7D5E2A84ADDBE86961F07FA98D3">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The term <term>Federal land</term> means land the title to which is held by the United States.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id96E3181E8EDD48EBB40269620588E646">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Exclusions</header>
<text>The term <term>Federal land</term> does not include—</text>
<clause id="id7833FB1716184850A03962BFC94BAF76">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>a unit of the National Park System;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1e8fbc363b1944fc8a86484ae79029d0">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>a
unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System; or</text>
</clause><clause id="IDb3635f784eca47deab3a57cda3d600f1">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>a
component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id595B31F0AD174E3D88DAE76DE235C16F">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Indian land</header>
<text>The term <term>Indian land</term> means land the title to which is held by—</text>
<subparagraph id="id3ECE33124B494A75B246192477DE1E9D">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the United States in trust for an Indian tribe or an individual Indian; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id13A3B262FDA142D286B081448068B2D7">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>an Indian tribe or an individual Indian subject to a restriction by the United States against
alienation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD744373CA82144D79028451AB69F7A90">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Certain natural gas gathering lines</header>
<paragraph id="id4DEA1C074F7D443CA6344F6A49F73560">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subject to paragraph (2), the issuance of a sundry notice or right-of-way for a gas gathering line
and associated field compression unit that is located on Federal land or
Indian land and that services any oil well shall be considered to be an
action that is categorically excluded (as defined in section 1508.4 of
title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of
enactment of this Act)) for purposes of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if the gas gathering line and
associated field compression unit are—</text>
<subparagraph id="id4F50858E995A4128B3549971E16E22B1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>within a field or unit for which an approved land use plan or an environmental document prepared
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.) analyzed transportation of natural gas produced from 1 or more
oil wells in that field or unit as a reasonably foreseeable activity; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4F5C353E2D304D3D93ADB24E44D1E0CA">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>located adjacent to an existing disturbed area for the construction of a road or pad.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6609EE88E38C48DCBD9AE9825D9780F1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Applicability</header>
<subparagraph id="idAE03282F16804A1AAAC683EB8AC74EEA">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>Federal land</header>
<text>Paragraph (1) shall not apply to Federal land, or a portion of Federal land, for which the
Governor of the State in which the Federal land is located submits to the
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable,
a written request that paragraph (1) not apply to that Federal land (or
portion of Federal land).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCA974537C8C74B638E38A8B21F34B382">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Indian land</header>
<text>Paragraph (1) shall apply to Indian land, or a portion of Indian land, for which the Indian tribe
with jurisdiction over the Indian land submits to the Secretary of the
Interior a written request that paragraph (1) apply to that Indian land
(or portion of Indian land).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE9C2D58A661A4CD1A08F83DA313AF220"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effect on other law</header><text>Nothing in this section affects or alters any requirement—</text><paragraph id="id40025006CB15412FACD9DC4AA4368548"><enum>(1)</enum><text>relating to prior consent under—</text><subparagraph id="id821A5F82032A414F9B84129BA13D5AF0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>section 2 of the Act of February 5, 1948 (25 U.S.C. 324); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC218722E880C4631A16A3F3FB96FBE5D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>section 16(e) of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 476(e)) (commonly known as the <quote>Indian Reorganization Act</quote>); or</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1C638E6F73D74F4694E53DEB73ED6E81"><enum>(2)</enum><text>under any other Federal law (including regulations) relating to tribal consent for rights-of-way
across Indian land.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idd1194a40891849849d6bff6baaf7d4d0">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Assessments</header>
<text>Title XVIII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 1122) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idef6567662d4248c0943690bed8cdb90d" style="OLC">
<section id="idf9217e87adfe41c7afedc2aca2df3f15">
<enum>1841.</enum>
<header>Natural gas gathering system assessments</header>
<subsection id="id8c0677af55ba4d42913a77bb1ffc915e">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Definition of gas gathering line and associated field compression unit</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>gas gathering line and associated field compression unit</term> has the meaning given the term in section 319.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id9884101B55A04F10A807A71384B77B36">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Study</header>
<text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the <short-title>North Atlantic Energy Security Act of 2014</short-title>, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies, States,
and Indian tribes, shall conduct a study to identify—</text>
<paragraph id="id46a25db73a524fc1b85c88a2c0216727">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>any actions that may be taken, under Federal law (including regulations), to expedite permitting
for gas gathering lines and associated field compression units that are
located on Federal land or Indian land, for the purpose of transporting
natural gas associated with crude oil production on any land to a
processing plant or a common carrier pipeline for delivery to markets;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb2ee5527cf404d73a7611d2c75d69763">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>any proposed changes to Federal law (including regulations) to expedite permitting for gas
gathering lines and associated field compression units that are located on
Federal land or Indian land, for the purpose of transporting natural gas
associated with crude oil production on any land to a processing plant
or a common carrier pipeline for delivery to markets.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfe35408c8a33415185344696bc6eae75">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the <short-title>North Atlantic Energy Security Act of 2014</short-title>, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with other
appropriate Federal agencies, States, and Indian tribes, shall submit to
Congress a report that describes—</text>
<paragraph id="id80748d1ae94847d898fb91acbcfd3522">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>the progress made in expediting permits for gas gathering lines and associated field compression
units that are located on Federal land or Indian land, for the purpose of
transporting natural gas associated with crude oil production on any land
to a processing plant or a common carrier pipeline for delivery to
markets; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1d240885872348c5a54767533ef1a391">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>any issues impeding that progress.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id311F627C702E474EABA2D68D18AD4D42">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Technical amendments</header>
<paragraph id="id480C505F96744DB1B656ADB96B46DAD1">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Section 1(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 594) is amended by
adding at the end of subtitle B of title III the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id987D5826FC2440E2BF1C695A4A86DF82" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 319. Certain natural gas gathering lines located on Federal land and Indian land.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF98C2F7800284321BD5862A7623C2277">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Section 1(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 594) is amended by
adding at the end of title XXVIII the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5C1B1EF42B19456EBEDBADB3FEFCD9DC" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 1841. Natural gas gathering system assessments.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idCB2AD31065DC42AD840246D264791289"><enum>105.</enum><header>Deadlines for permitting natural gas gathering lines under the Mineral Leasing Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id662C43E27A2642B5ACA3614DD626DACD" style="OLC"><subsection id="id3C5FD772548E48148A63729195879A57"><enum>(z)</enum><header>Natural gas gathering lines</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior or other appropriate agency head shall issue a sundry notice or
right-of-way for a gas gathering line
and associated field compression unit (as defined in section 319(a) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005) that is located on Federal lands—</text><paragraph id="idDCAAA60F47AB4042BA685324AC0E55E1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for a gas gathering line and associated field compression unit described in section 319(b) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005, not later than 30 days after the date on which
the applicable agency head receives the request for issuance; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD57553050BE9494E900DB8FEF85AEDA9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for all other gas gathering lines and associated field compression units, not later than 60 days
after the date on which the applicable agency head receives the request
for issuance.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id10116C4C083A4D62BAF94C4D18F8776E"><enum>106.</enum><header>Deadlines for permitting natural gas gathering lines under the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 504 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1764) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id72AFA8D4C54548DB9B5DF89CBE0C75BF" style="OLC"><subsection id="idD76AF16DA3EB43DCB1F9CA0B69C2E4B8"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Natural gas gathering lines</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall issue a sundry notice or right-of-way for a gas gathering line
and associated field compression unit (as defined in section 319(a) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005) that is located on public lands—</text><paragraph id="idC3EEC504E41043A1841FB3055F47C41E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for a gas gathering line and associated field compression unit described in section 319(b) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005, not later than 30 days after the date on which
the applicable agency head receives the request for issuance; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id962F515123C74D68988DE6FBE8B4B305"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for all other gas gathering lines and associated field compression units, not later than 60 days
after the date on which the applicable agency head receives the request
for issuance.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id967b5ff4a930403890057e453ed8ce39"><enum>107.</enum><header>LNG regulatory certainty</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idab945fcd88154099ad50b295fa54f5ac" style="OLC"><subsection id="id937017aeeab24ac7900b474dc5a1ab32"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Deadline for certain applications for exportation of natural gas</header><paragraph id="idafe622cc5a284baf96eea2d6827986d9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission shall make a public interest determination and issue an
order under subsection (a) for an application for the exportation of
natural gas to a foreign country through a particular LNG terminal not
later than 45 days after receipt of an application under subsection (e)
for—</text><subparagraph id="id0515287511654927aa0c168b3c685087"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the conversion of that LNG terminal into an LNG import or export facility; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6d6b944f885d47f29a28255a0705f824"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the construction of that LNG terminal.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idaaa0c7a80c6347ca8853e29ec8ba8a8b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Application</header><text>This subsection shall not apply with respect to an application under subsection (a) for the
exportation of natural gas—</text><subparagraph id="id25b34b53199440c6a884757be326c2d5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to a foreign country—</text><clause id="idcbe6f2e5a26c47888c036bdb0b5b3aa2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to which the exportation of natural gas is otherwise prohibited by law; or</text></clause><clause id="id7c2275b49cdf4052a5541160701c91da"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>described in subsection (c); or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1609c2d5c1074c1d9a574478c5c85a42"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the Commission has made a contingent determination with respect to the application.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddc0bd09162e84cd9891ccd6b78b2c1e8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Except as specifically provided in this subsection, nothing in this subsection affects the
authority of the Commission to review, process, and make a determination
with respect to an application for the exportation of natural gas.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id58FD12978C9246A1A804CA6F29A58A1C"><enum>108.</enum><header>Expedited approval of exportation of natural gas to Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty Organization
member countries and Japan</header><subsection id="idd57289c21c844e8e974c4b1417ab6fe3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In accordance with clause 3 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States
(delegating to Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign
nations), Congress finds that exports of natural gas produced
in the United States to Ukraine, member countries of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, and Japan is—</text><paragraph id="id5012b3ca2efb4f4d9de2a48c6ab11c9c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>necessary for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id30d3ceb1ed2242bcaf9051abba78a678"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the public interest pursuant to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide06f222c9a4b4f7f849da415d739124e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expedited approval</header><text>Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(c)) is amended by inserting <quote>, to Ukraine, to a member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or to Japan</quote> after <quote>trade in natural gas</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="ideb5ecedc940d4e16aa0bf7894846778e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply to applications for the authorization to export
natural gas under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) that
are pending on, or filed on or after, the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Onshore oil and gas permit streamlining</header><subtitle id="idC8D8C5E628C5497096264ED9A30E477B" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Streamlining permitting</header><section id="H92BF5DE4BF184AF398E85F0092A4C513" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This subtitle may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Streamlining Permitting of American Energy Act of 2014</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H403A5988535848CD81F38975EA3DF857"><enum>202.</enum><header>Permit to drill application timeline</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 17(p) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(p)) is amended by striking paragraph (2)
and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block id="H3ED107F3F2D942EE821E912B1578513C" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H23758AA980F94DA1B363E99E18B1D865"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applications for permits to drill reform and process</header>
<subparagraph id="H07CE2F02EE62447A917719D7C32D1E8D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Timeline</header><clause id="id4ED0F54F602D462986B2228D71F8711B"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application for a permit
to drill, the Secretary shall decide whether to issue or deny the permit.</text></clause><clause id="id87F714CACF044A0FB99C12618AB9D5CA"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>On giving written notice of a delay to the applicant, the Secretary may extend the period described
in clause (i) for not more than
2 additional periods of 15 days each.</text></clause><clause id="id0FB1E77AC96F4C74AB28268E98AC37A8"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Form of notice</header><text>The notice referred to in clause (ii) shall—</text><subclause id="idA6182AD6797543EEAE8BFEE449BF8079"><enum>(I)</enum><text>be in the form of a letter
from the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id668D607DCF5C4E969084C2F43C2C5D67"><enum>(II)</enum><text>shall include the
names and titles of the persons processing the application, the specific
reasons for the delay, and a specific date a final decision on the
application is expected.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2E1AC408B2E8491782A5B82A2DE46166"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Application considered approved</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary has not made a decision on the application by the end of the 60-day period
beginning on the date the application is received by the Secretary, the
application shall be considered to be approved, except in a case in which
an existing review
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.) or the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is
incomplete.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE816F1749C494B99AFE524723E9A00DD"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Denial of permit</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary decides not to issue a permit to drill in accordance with subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="H3810D2EE56124F05BA2389F36B0502AE"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide to the applicant a description of the reasons for the denial of the permit;</text>
</clause><clause id="H78E5B8E5180541AE8EF5F368F87B27AB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allow the applicant to resubmit an application for a permit to drill during the 10-day period
beginning on the date the applicant receives the description of the denial
from the Secretary; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H61408F52E2FE44AB8D84D5A3948F3C7C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>issue or deny any resubmitted application not later than 10 days after the date on which the
application is
submitted to the Secretary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8DD29A536F5A431A964D9FEF14FC90B7"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Fee</header>
<clause id="H083070DDCC8749ED8F5D71D0E76FCD11"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall collect a single $6,500 permit
processing fee
per application from each applicant at the time the final decision is made
whether to issue a permit under subparagraph (A).</text></clause><clause id="id90039DF3EFD9403EB0D8BF591B099419"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The fee described in clause (i) shall not apply
to any resubmitted application.</text>
</clause><clause id="H0ECC897732B6489A8F6CF3B0D94622DF"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Treatment of permit processing fee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of all amounts collected as fees under this paragraph, 50 percent shall be—</text><subclause id="id438FFA5A0FA3489EAA3C86A7E4FA8283"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">transferred to the field office
where the fee is collected; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idB0053A195C664B8FB0FAA0F562651F34"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">used to process leases and permits
under this Act, subject to appropriation.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HD542884CF7464D6D98D173A316573F69"><enum>203.</enum><header>Making pilot offices permanent to improve energy permitting on Federal land</header><subsection id="idB812DDF74AE4409FAD9B764CFC777738"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id0156CA54A1FF40B4AA62E4E36D711D16"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Energy projects</header><text>The term <term>energy projects</term> includes oil, natural gas, and other energy projects, as defined by the Secretary.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0B602C06BA9140A592A34B088E1F4553"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Project</header><text>The term <term>Project</term> means the Federal Permit Streamlining Project established under subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8731729159B44091BD929736D4526956"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H05CE19B489E44B94B5477D991F434B89"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a Federal Permit Streamlining Project in every Bureau of Land
Management field office with responsibility for permitting energy
projects on Federal land.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H48DC2565B7314341A8C3F93CC88862CD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Memorandum of understanding</header>
<paragraph id="HD7CE1C1D02E24AF68371AA1E41E4E637"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a
memorandum of understanding for purposes of this section with—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFC457F727F244D35A94967575A7EBAF6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary of Agriculture;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H69F4B3C4C84E4258BCB9ADF57BF9CD73"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H37F9AE0383E74A8B84EBB83269AD9C13"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Chief of Engineers.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1DCABA25A61A4DB4A96F60C4A3CC9D5B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>State participation</header><text>The Secretary may request that the Governor of any State in which energy projects on Federal land
are located
be a signatory to the memorandum of understanding.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H204FA69661B84EE2A0FD246BB0493911"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Designation of qualified staff</header>
<paragraph id="HD7B3127D73DD465E9D5C20E355459F60"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding under
subsection (c), all Federal signatory parties shall, if appropriate,
assign to each of the Bureau of Land Management field offices an employee
who has expertise in the regulatory issues relating to the office in which
the employee is employed, including, as applicable, particular expertise
in—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEFD1F19AD26E410E92F07E9CC84F90D2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the consultations and the preparation of biological opinions under section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF1AD16559EB64103BF98F69984C08195"><enum>(B)</enum><text>permits under section 404 of Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0266B9FD27574EE0AC9286D7ADB47C25"><enum>(C)</enum><text>regulatory matters under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8DC1139F5759482C92064566C7EEDE44"><enum>(D)</enum><text>planning under the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a et seq.); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDC608BE241954E898DB5FDEFEB8240F6"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the preparation of analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB12A7BCA6B5B409E8EE62ADAD562B817"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>Each employee assigned under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H38F66A8CEFFE469588048F265C62F6EC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 90 days after the date of assignment, report to the Bureau of Land Management Field
Managers in the office to which the employee is assigned;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0A1D159F21714F4FAF3DECF804F88036"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be responsible for all issues relating to the energy projects that arise under the authorities of
the agency of the employee; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB290F9EF83E4283809E1EB399A9E48D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>participate as part of the team of personnel working on proposed energy projects, planning, and
environmental analyses on Federal land.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAAA92DC49CD34965B06BFA376B653980"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Additional personnel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall assign to each Bureau of Land Management field office identified in subsection
(b) any additional personnel that are necessary to ensure the effective
approval and implementation of energy projects administered by the Bureau
of Land Management field offices, including inspection and enforcement
relating to energy development on Federal land, in accordance with the
multiple use mandate of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
(43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBB9DF149BD4743CA8AB812950BF03B1D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Salaries for the additional personnel shall be funded from the collection of fees described in
section 17(p)(2)(D) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30
U.S.C. 226(p)(2)(D)) (as amended by section 202).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2CE3D3C679234D92B5544A40C5092349"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Savings provision</header><text>Nothing in this section affects—</text>
<paragraph id="H534AEFA951594D7BAAF8840CCA92AEAC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the operation of any Federal or State law; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBD3AD6B2E1644DC58330F6711A6E2A82"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any delegation of authority made by the head of a Federal agency whose employees are participating
in the Project.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H2BB37ECCB3F14C63A0FD91ECEE952B39"><enum>204.</enum><header>Administration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of the Interior shall not require a finding of
extraordinary circumstances in administering section 390 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15942).</text>
</section><section id="H040D877C222845EE92DE0940E1499F66"><enum>205.</enum><header>Judicial review</header><subsection id="id82C1868A801A429E906952C8623FC485"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="HA9F49B800C4241F29FC94871B29C24ED"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered civil action</header><text>The term <term>covered civil action</term> means a civil action containing a claim under section 702 of title 5, United States Code,
regarding agency action (as defined for the purposes of that section)
affecting a covered energy project on Federal land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB4C34A29D9A84A92A4B98D3192577478"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered energy project</header><subparagraph id="idF6E8819EF7614C11A583A967BBC133DC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>covered energy project</term> means the leasing of Federal land for the exploration, development,
production, processing, or transmission of oil, natural gas, or any other
source of energy, and any action carried out pursuant to that lease.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id745419C26E0143E896FD99E076A96F11"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>covered energy project</term>
does not include any disputes between the parties to a lease regarding the
obligations under the lease, including regarding any alleged breach of
the lease.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H644EBE62DD624ADFB11F2A434F74E0F3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exclusive venue for certain civil actions relating to covered energy projects</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Venue for any covered civil action shall lie in the district court where the project or leases
exist or are proposed.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3B615862B2854F7BAD5CB90E8E1F8CEF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Timely filing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To ensure timely redress by the courts, a covered civil action shall be filed not later than the
last day
of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the final Federal agency
action to which the covered civil action relates.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H00EE193F65F14B2B8E0BFD57016E6A66"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Expedition in hearing and determining the action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The court shall endeavor to hear and determine any covered civil action as expeditiously as
possible.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H556C85E8815145B68EFF66595E0D75D7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Standard of review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In any judicial review of a covered civil action, administrative findings and conclusions relating
to the challenged Federal action or decision shall be presumed to be
correct, and the presumption may be rebutted only by the preponderance of
the evidence contained in the administrative record.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H177BB645C095482A90E7C71984634E9E"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Limitation on injunction and prospective relief</header><paragraph id="id634673D31C994A77AD57D646B8149E83"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In a covered civil action, the court shall not grant or approve any prospective relief unless the
court finds that the relief is narrowly drawn, extends no further than
necessary to correct the violation of a legal requirement, and is the
least intrusive means necessary to correct that violation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2E9211012B5D45AFBDB598F521F244A4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duration of preliminary injunctions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A court shall limit the duration of a preliminary injunction to halt a covered
energy project to a period of not more than 60 days, unless the court
finds clear
reasons to extend the injunction.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC3B56B0D141041B1B31C8C5D75BCCE1A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Duration of extension</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An extension under paragraph (2) shall—</text><subparagraph id="idDDC1D3524AA549C58B662AA9D26DCD2C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">only be for a period of not more than 30 days; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEA39318D76E94E8CB62B0CA9B3EC5340"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require action by
the court to renew the injunction.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6DC7090BDD6C47928BE3452D7F9DBF86"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Limitation on attorneys’ fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 504 of title 5 and 2412 of title
28, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Equal
Access to Justice Act</quote>) shall not apply to a covered
civil action, nor shall any party in the covered civil action receive
payment from the Federal Government for attorneys’ fees, expenses,
or other court costs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H77BB15C1358940FFA111E9467086B556"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Legal standing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A person filing an appeal with the Department of the Interior Board of Land Appeals shall meet the
same standing requirements as a person before a United States district
court.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idF67304EA35D94C689EEF2547E6165EB2" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>BLM live internet auctions</header><section id="idB329BC093C9D4764963F120FD516BEFC"><enum>211.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This subtitle may be cited as the <quote><short-title>BLM Live Internet Auctions Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="id5B53627684EC47FC920DB874EA47C118"><enum>212.</enum><header>Internet-based onshore oil and gas lease sales</header><subsection id="id62cf058b59e14c18afea86360c718dee"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>Section 17(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(b)(1)) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idfe02bf445fc346e7b248e9b53971986c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), in the third sentence, by inserting <quote>, except as provided in subparagraph (C)</quote> after <quote>by oral bidding</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0d26a03a8fd64e30b5bc2025b04a9b46"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3291793101834CA2BBDDADA0205667C8" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id78C4D8655BEE47BB9507FE6F53BA2DD8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Internet-based bidding</header><clause id="idFE1C45BB42784EBD9A4C7564B8D99990"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to diversify and expand the onshore leasing program in the United States to ensure the
best return to the Federal taxpayer, reduce fraud, and secure the leasing
process, the Secretary may conduct onshore lease sales through
Internet-based bidding methods.</text></clause><clause id="idBD74C9192A4949CDB3C4663C32C3EAEA"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Conclusion of sale</header><text>Each individual Internet-based lease sale shall conclude not later than 7 days after the date of
initiation of the sale.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc3e6d07e789f4ad6b9029b7cc8af42aa"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the tenth Internet-based lease sale conducted pursuant to
subparagraph (C) of section 17(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C.
226(b)(1)) (as added by subsection (a)), the Secretary of the Interior
shall conduct, and submit to Congress a report describing the results of,
an analysis of the first 10 such lease sales, including—</text><paragraph id="id42a4908dcdd444288ea52f4e475eca65"><enum>(1)</enum><text>estimates of increases or decreases in the lease sales, compared to sales conducted by oral
bidding, in—</text><subparagraph id="id8d65a787990d4a17a11a9b3aa5bf7705"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of bidders;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6a62356cd8c74882ab12cae917e8b3d8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the average amount of the bids;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id317c38fb9d99496eaf5566f9de83b07f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the highest amount of the bids; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf96b53ed5b914610a6ee5c8ba5e0ff5e"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the lowest amount of the bids;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id59e46e566ca647608327e0f27b726772"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an estimate on the total cost or savings to the Department of the Interior as a result of the
sales, as compared to sales conducted by oral bidding; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id210e4ae9c08142159289ca40bc41ce5a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an evaluation of the demonstrated or expected effectiveness of different structures for lease
sales, which may—</text><subparagraph id="idC9E4198C97D0417FA1F97C689DA48E28"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide an opportunity to better maximize bidder participation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id97BE5ACA61AF47E1935CF6D9645AEDBF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ensure the highest return to the Federal taxpayers;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEE16CAA4CE4F450E91D5BA720861AC5D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>minimize opportunities for fraud or collusion; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6D841A7EEDBB451D962249EBC4E47219"><enum>(D)</enum><text>ensure the security and integrity of the leasing process.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle>