[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2752 Reported in House (RH)]

                                                 Union Calendar No. 252
112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 2752

                          [Report No. 112-371]

  To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Secretary of the 
 Interior to conduct onshore oil and gas lease sales through Internet-
            based live lease sales, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 1, 2011

Mr. Johnson of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Bishop of Utah, and 
 Mr. Thornberry) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Natural Resources

                            January 18, 2012

Additional sponsors: Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Rivera, Mr. Flores, Mr. 
Landry, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Benishek, 
          Mr. Gosar, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, and Mr. Heck

                            January 18, 2012

  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 August 
                                1, 2011]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Secretary of the 
 Interior to conduct onshore oil and gas lease sales through Internet-
            based live lease sales, and for other purposes.


 


    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 ``BLM Live Internet Auctions Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERNET-BASED ONSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASE SALES.

    (a) Authorization.--Section 17(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
U.S.C. 226(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), in the third sentence, by 
        inserting ``, except as provided in subparagraph (C)'' after 
        ``by oral bidding''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(C) In order to diversify and expand the Nation's onshore leasing 
program to ensure the best return to the Federal taxpayer, reduce 
fraud, and secure the leasing process, the Secretary may conduct 
onshore lease sales through Internet-based bidding methods. Each 
individual Internet-based lease sale shall conclude within 7 days.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the tenth Internet-based 
lease sale conducted under the amendment made by subsection (a), the 
Secretary of the Interior shall analyze the first 10 such lease sales 
and report to Congress the findings of the analysis. The report shall 
include--
            (1) estimates on increases or decreases in such lease 
        sales, compared to sales conducted by oral bidding, in--
                    (A) the number of bidders;
                    (B) the average amount of bid;
                    (C) the highest amount bid; and
                    (D) the lowest bid;
            (2) an estimate on the total cost or savings to the 
        Department of the Interior as a result of such sales, compared 
        to sales conducted by oral bidding; and
            (3) an evaluation of the demonstrated or expected 
        effectiveness of different structures for lease sales which may 
        provide an opportunity to better maximize bidder participation, 
        ensure the highest return to the Federal taxpayers, minimize 
        opportunities for fraud or collusion, and ensure the security 
        and integrity of the leasing process.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 252

112th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 2752

                          [Report No. 112-371]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Secretary of the 
 Interior to conduct onshore oil and gas lease sales through Internet-
            based live lease sales, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            January 18, 2012

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