[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1163 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1163

 To amend title 10, United States Code, to transfer jurisdiction over 
   Naval Oil Shale Reserves Numbered 1 and 3 to the Secretary of the 
Interior and to authorize the leasing of such reserves for oil and gas 
                      exploration and production.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 1997

Mr. Hefley (for himself and Mr. McInnis) introduced the following bill; 
   which was referred to the Committee on National Security, and in 
addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 10, United States Code, to transfer jurisdiction over 
   Naval Oil Shale Reserves Numbered 1 and 3 to the Secretary of the 
Interior and to authorize the leasing of such reserves for oil and gas 
                      exploration and production.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION, NAVAL OIL SHALE RESERVES NUMBERED 
              1 AND 3.

    (a) Transfer Required.--Chapter 641 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7439. Certain oil shale reserves: transfer of jurisdiction and 
              petroleum exploration, development, and production
    ``(a) Transfer Required.--(1) Upon the enactment of this section, 
the Secretary of Energy shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior 
administrative jurisdiction over all public domain lands included 
within Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 1 and those public domain lands 
included within the undeveloped tracts of Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 3.
    ``(2) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
this section, the Secretary of Energy shall transfer to the Secretary 
of the Interior administrative jurisdiction over those public domain 
lands included within the developed tract of Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 
3, which consists of approximately 6,000 acres and 24 natural gas 
wells, together with pipelines and associated facilities.
    ``(3) Notwithstanding the transfer of jurisdiction, the Secretary 
of Energy shall continue to be responsible for all environmental 
restoration, waste management, and environmental compliance activities 
that are required under Federal and State laws with respect to 
conditions existing on the lands at the time of the transfer.
    ``(b) Authority to Lease.--(1) Beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior may lease 
public domain lands in Oil Shale Reserves Numbered 1 and 3 (including 
the developed tract of Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 3) to one or more 
private entities for the purpose of exploration for, and development 
and production of, petroleum and natural gas (other than in the form of 
oil shale). Any such lease shall be made and any monies received by the 
United States in connection with any such leases shall be disposed of 
in accordance with the requirements of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
U.S.C. 181 et seq.) regarding the lease of oil and gas lands and shall 
be subject to valid existing rights.
    ``(2) Notwithstanding the delayed transfer of the developed tract 
of Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 3 under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary 
of the Interior shall endeavor to enter into a lease under paragraph 
(1) with respect to the developed tract before the end of the one-year 
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this section.
    ``(3) Section 7431 of this title shall not apply to the lease of 
lands by the Secretary of the Interior under this subsection.
    ``(c) Management.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting through 
the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall manage the surface 
estate in the lands transferred under subsection (a) in accordance with 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.) and other laws applicable to the public lands.
    ``(d) Transfer of Existing Equipment.--The lease of lands by the 
Secretary of the Interior under this section may include the transfer, 
at fair market value, of any well, gathering line, or related equipment 
owned by the United States on the lands transferred under subsection 
(a) and suitable for use in the exploration, development, or production 
of petroleum on the lands.
    ``(e) Cost Minimization.--The Secretary of the Interior shall take 
such actions as are necessary to ensure that the cost of compliance 
with this section is minimized.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``7439. Certain oil shale reserves: transfer of jurisdiction and 
                            petroleum exploration, development, and 
                            production.''.
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