118 HR 7375 RH: Expression of Interest Sensibility Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-12-10 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IB Union Calendar No. 677 118th CONGRESS2d Session H. R. 7375 [Report No. 118–830] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 15, 2024 Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources December 10, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 15, 2024 A BILL To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to improve the assessment of expression of interest fees, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Expression of Interest Sensibility Act.

2.

Fee for expression of interest

(a)

Deadline To issue lease

Section 17(b)(1)(A) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking the remainder of the bonus bid, if any, and inserting , as applicable, the remainder of the bonus bid, the fee for the expression of interest under subsection (q)(2)(B),. (b)

Expressions of interest

Section 17(q) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(q)) is amended— (1)in the heading, by striking Fee for; (2)by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); (3)by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1)

Submission of expression of interest

A person may, in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary to carry out this subsection, submit an expression of interest in leasing land available for disposition under this section for exploration for, and development of, oil or gas. (2)

Assessment of fees

(A)

No bid

If land covered by an expression of interest submitted under paragraph (1) is offered at a lease sale and no bid is received for such land, the Secretary shall assess at the time of the sale a fee for the expression of interest against the person that submitted the first expression of interest for the land. (B)

Successful bid

If land covered by an expression of interest submitted under paragraph (1) receives a successful bid at a lease sale, the Secretary shall assess a fee for the expression of interest against the successful bidder.; (4)in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking paragraph (1) and inserting paragraph (2); and (5)by adding at the end the following: (4)

Term

An expression of interest submitted under this section shall remain active for a term of not less than 5 years unless the land covered by the expression of interest is offered at a lease sale..

December 10, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed