II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3343 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2010 Mr. Lautenberg introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish an annual fee on Federal offshore areas that are subject to a lease for production of oil or natural gas and to establish a fund to reduce pollution and the dependence of the United States on oil.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Beyond Petroleum Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Fund

The term Fund means the Oil Dependence Reduction Fund established by section 4(a). (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Oil dependence reduction fee

(a)

Oil dependence reduction fee

(1)

In general

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish by regulation an annual fee for Federal offshore areas that are subject to a lease for production of oil or natural gas as of May 1, 2010. (2)

Lease fee terms

The amount of the fee established under paragraph (1) shall be equal to $10 for each acre that is subject to a lease described in that paragraph. (3)

Assessment and collection

The Secretary shall assess and collect the fee established under paragraph (1). (4)

Deposit

Amounts received by the United States as a fee under this section shall be deposited in the Fund. (b)

Regulations

The Secretary may issue regulations to prevent evasion of the fee established under subsection (a)(1).

4.

Oil Dependence Reduction Fund

(a)

Establishment of Fund

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the Oil Dependence Reduction Fund, to be jointly administered by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Transportation, to be available without fiscal year limitation and subject to appropriation to research, develop, deploy, or expand the use of renewable technologies or programs that— (1)significantly decrease the use of oil; and (2)significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (b)

Transfers to Fund

(1)

In general

The Fund shall consist of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under paragraph (2). (2)

Fees

There are appropriated to the Fund, out of funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, amounts equivalent to amounts collected as fees and received in the Treasury under section 3. (c)

Prohibition

Amounts in the Fund may not be made available for any purpose other than a purpose described in subsection (a). (d)

Annual reports

(1)

In general

Not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2010, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Transportation shall jointly submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the operation of the Fund during the fiscal year. (2)

Contents

Each report shall include, for the fiscal year covered by the report, the following: (A)A statement of the amounts deposited into the Fund. (B)A description of the expenditures made from the Fund for the fiscal year, including the purpose of the expenditures. (C)Recommendations for additional authorities to fulfill the purpose of the Fund. (D)A statement of the balance remaining in the Fund at the end of the fiscal year. (e)

Separate appropriations account

Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraphs (35) and (36) as paragraphs (36) and (37), respectively; (2)by redesignating the second paragraph (33) (relating to obligational authority and outlays requested for homeland security) as paragraph (35); and (3)by adding at the end the following: (38)a separate statement for the Oil Dependence Reduction Fund established under section 4(a) of the Beyond Petroleum Act, which shall include the estimated amount of deposits into the Fund, obligations, and outlays from the Fund. .