[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6211 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6211

To allow Americans the opportunity to see their vast oil shale and tar 
 sands resources on Federal lands developed by providing the President 
with the ability to determine the quickest and most responsible way to 
                      access oil shale resources.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 9, 2008

  Mr. Cannon (for himself, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Dreier, Mr. Herger, Mr. 
 Peterson of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Brown of South Carolina) introduced 
  the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, 
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 allow Americans the opportunity to see their vast oil shale and tar 
 sands resources on Federal lands developed by providing the President 
with the ability to determine the quickest and most responsible way to 
                      access oil shale resources.

    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 ``Oil Shale Opportunity Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS ON OIL SHALE DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Interim Limitation of Application of Provisions of Law.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President shall limit 
the application of such provisions of law as he in his sole discretion 
deems necessary in order to expedite the exploration and production of 
oil and gas from oil shale and tar sands, including, but not limited 
to, in the issuance of any Federal permit to explore and produce oil 
and gas from oil shale and tar sands. The President shall not be 
required to follow the provisions of subchapter II of chapter 5 of 
title 5, United States Code, in taking action under this subsection.
    (b) Federal Court Review.--
            (1) In general.--The district courts of the United States 
        shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear all causes or claims 
        arising from any action undertaken, or any decision made, by 
        the President pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. A 
        cause of action or claim may only be brought alleging a 
        violation of the Constitution of the United States. The court 
        shall not have jurisdiction to hear any claim not specified in 
        this subsection.
            (2) Time for filing of complaint.--Any cause or claim 
        brought pursuant to this subsection shall be filed not later 
        than 60 days after the date of the action or decision made by 
        the President. A claim shall be barred unless it is filed 
        within the time specified.
            (3) Ability to seek appelate review.--An interlocutory or 
        final judgment, decree, or order of the district court may be 
        reviewed only upon petition for a writ of certiorari to the 
        Supreme Court of the United States.

SEC. 3. ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL ROYALTIES.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, one half of royalties 
due to the Federal government from the production under the authority 
of this Act shall be dedicated to fund private grants for research and 
development to: limit or capture carbon emissions from the combustion 
of fossil fuels; alternative fuels; and energy efficiency.

SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    No later than 30 days after taking action under section 2(a) of 
this Act, the President shall report to the committees of Congress 
having jurisdiction respectively over natural resources and 
administrative law regarding the nature and expected effects of such 
action.
                                 <all>