[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 719 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 719

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to notify surface estate owners 
 in cases in which the leasing of Federal minerals underlying the land 
             are to be leased for oil and gas development.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 26, 2009

  Mr. Tester 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 notify surface estate owners 
 in cases in which the leasing of Federal minerals underlying the land 
             are to be leased for oil and gas development.

    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 ``Surface Estate Owner Notification 
Act''.

SEC. 2. SURFACE OWNER NOTIFICATION.

    (a) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Lease.--The term ``lease'' means a lease that--
                    (A) is issued by the Secretary under the Mineral 
                Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or any other law; 
                and
                    (B) provides for development of oil and gas 
                resources (including coalbed methane) owned by the 
                United States.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (b) Notification Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) at least 45 days before a lease sale, submit to 
                the surface estate owner of the land subject to the 
                lease written notice of the lease sale;
                    (B) not later than 10 working days after the date 
                on which a lease is issued, submit to the surface 
                estate owner notice of the identity of the lessee;
                    (C) notify the surface estate owner in writing 
                concerning any subsequent decisions regarding a lease, 
                such as modifying or waiving stipulations and approving 
                rights of way; and
                    (D) not later than 5 days after the date of 
                issuance of a drilling permit under a lease, submit to 
                the surface estate owner notice of the issuance of the 
                drilling permit.
            (2) Inclusions.--A written notice under paragraph (1)(A) 
        shall include information on--
                    (A) split estates; and
                    (B) the rights and responsibilities of landowners.
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