1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Public Lands Renewable Energy
Development Act of 2012
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Geothermal energy
Sec. 101. Extension of funding for implementation of Energy
Policy Act of 2005.
Title II—Development of wind and solar energy on certain Federal
land
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Development of solar and wind energy on public
land.
Sec. 203. Royalties.
Sec. 204. Disposition of royalty revenue.
Sec. 205. Study and report on mitigation banking.
<enum>I</enum><header>Geothermal
energy</header>
<section id="H9796EF4B7C55422A845098A6BC42287B"><enum>101.</enum><header>Extension of
funding for implementation of Energy Policy Act of
<enum-in-header>2005</enum-in-header></header>
<subsection id="H627E91237A194655982672BFAC4562A6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 234(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 15873(a)) is amended by striking <quote>in the first 5 fiscal years
beginning after the date of enactment of this Act</quote> and inserting
<quote>through fiscal year 2020</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4EFFF17B246F430F92F3E60D7F41FD46"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>Section
234(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15873(b)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HDDEE604D3F59427F952FB716993FBEB9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Amounts</quote> and inserting <quote>Effective for fiscal year 2012 and
each fiscal year thereafter, amounts</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H132C27F8E5AA44DBBFFB7B9CEECCD4DB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>without further appropriation</quote> and inserting <quote>in such
amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Development of
wind and solar energy on certain Federal land</header>
<section id="H2A38B20B27E8415F87771AB3252D2712"><enum>201.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H68C339EBC88840769507EDA3662F3357"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered
land</header><text>The term <term>covered land</term> means land that
is—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF9722BAA9F484178973C64FAC2281981"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H46B587424FD244D1A5C4100E11646866"><enum>(i)</enum><text>public land administered
by the Secretary of the Interior; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H209E5338BA3B420C80E85349F0087018" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Forest System land administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H78399FD922D84859BE10D2639A85E9FB"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not excluded from the development of solar
or wind energy under—</text>
<clause id="HBC9828417BB34FAF889B84846B0C4718"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a final land use plan established under the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.);</text>
</clause><clause id="HD0C5A66C6F624A91969C50F55E498E03"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a final land and resource management plan
established under the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et
seq.); or</text>
</clause><clause id="H1CB3142F4D4341BCA758E1F5381EC7E4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Federal law.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H635E1A6DE8B44BC0B30258F120B39E7C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fund</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Fund</term> means the
Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund established under section 204(b).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDBAD2FB2520C4F4A9014BE2B0E988657"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Public
land</header><text>The term <term>public land</term> has the meaning given the
term <term>public lands</term> in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCF40743D0D9F47818FFF0C7544874734"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary
concerned</header><text>The term <term>Secretary concerned</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4B117F27DE42480CB52B68516663B1CD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary of
the Interior, with respect to land described in clause (i) of paragraph (1)(A);
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0876B2A0FBA8474080E9D3C7211A056E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Agriculture, with respect to land described in clause (ii) of such
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H72335B5EC4A04235AC219140C5B72A9D"><enum>202.</enum><header>Development of
solar and wind energy on public land</header>
<subsection id="HF2749995ECC04AA3BA7C9D3AD63D29D5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pilot program on
selected public land</header>
<paragraph id="HBEB9F053564843658E039BCBA82B8B4F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of the Interior shall establish a wind and solar leasing pilot program under
which the Secretary conducts lease sales of certain sites located on covered
land administered by the Secretary for purposes of carrying out wind and solar
energy projects.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4D3B424DC0F34151A7B412FEC0A861D7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Selection of
sites on covered land</header>
<subparagraph id="HC19850FDF6C24F4DB36C80125E73432F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date the pilot program
is established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall select from covered
land administered by the Secretary—</text>
<clause id="HE068D7CC0535451381D54016F3348EC4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>2
sites for the development of a solar energy project; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H233B85500DB44BCAA2972797B4E866E0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">2 sites for the development of a wind
energy project.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD423351762984CAEA96EB9A5BF7998F1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Site
selection</header><text>In selecting sites under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="H9E2E544ADD674E6D90ECAB190C670FB8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>give
a preference to sites that the Secretary determines—</text>
<subclause id="H82A4A96304E14F17BB9624C0F1E0DEFA"><enum>(I)</enum><text>are likely to
attract a high level of wind and solar energy industry interest;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HB97CFEEDE0E04EA693A30468FC63E82F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>have a
comparatively low value for resources other than wind and solar energy;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H4EE1E442FC99456BBBC78D4ECF08C564"><enum>(III)</enum><text>would serve as
models for the expansion of the pilot program to other locations if the program
is expanded under subsection (c);</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HD322F8D2EF35495290B7BDCD06AFE285"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>take into
consideration the value of the multiple resources of the covered land on which
such sites are located; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HF71AAA636DA0427882EE1F3440C6A9B7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>not select any
site for which a right-of-way for site testing or construction has been issued
under title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1761 et seq.).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H96D4FCABBA6044A0BA7018876CF7E80D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Lease sales of
project sites</header>
<subparagraph id="HF0B772B660B04F6EB123BC958DBDE54F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (4)(B)(i), not later than
180 days after the date on which sites are selected under paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall offer each site for competitive leasing under such terms and
conditions as the Secretary requires.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H91ADF66140644F5385D13C012F398F28"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Bidding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Bidding on a site offered for lease under
this subsection shall be—</text>
<clause id="HD99628C91A55452BB8CE4BA280540694"><enum>(i)</enum><text>limited to one
round;</text>
</clause><clause id="H535A591165DA4AD5B3AC2FFA332A2CB4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">open only to bidders who—</text>
<subclause id="H0482103D0E7F4270A95CFC36299FE720"><enum>(I)</enum><text>submit a plan of
development for such site together with the bid; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H808867EF4F1D40E5A86AC9302591CA7F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the Secretary
determines are qualified under subparagraph (C)(ii); and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HF0D1A68316704AAA8B5451B224E1DC60"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conducted using
a bidding system selected by the Secretary, including—</text>
<subclause id="H8F351ADF0B524172A123E3012934234D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a
cash bonus bids system requiring payment of the royalty established under this
title;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6F89A8233CDA48AD962A9B742954067A"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a variable royalty bids system based on a
percentage of the gross proceeds from the sale of electricity produced from the
site offered for lease, except that the royalty shall not be less than the
royalty required under this title, together with a fixed cash bonus; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H4C559B0271EC4CC686778DE9F67889FB"><enum>(III)</enum><text>such other
bidding system as ensures a fair return to the public consistent with the
royalty established under this title.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84405CF1CA274B82B54D9CD5CE457BF2"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Bidder
qualifications</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="H29E00D5E02F5471CAF4AABEB46F97535"><enum>(i)</enum><text>before conducting
any lease sale under this subsection, establish qualification requirements for
bidders on a site offered for lease that ensure that such bidders, with respect
to wind or solar energy projects—</text>
<subclause id="H8D9FE33E28544ED4A898C8FD3A22BCDD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>are able to
expeditiously develop such a project on the site;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H8385ABEB77074FF28F81A924A871E5B1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>possess the
financial resources necessary to complete such a project;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H0FBB9D996BB64CB0AB38631B798A101F"><enum>(III)</enum><text>possess
knowledge of the technology needed to complete such a project;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H8CF4FA190AD74624A25DD20B7765890F"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>meet the
eligibility requirements for leasing under the first section of the Mineral
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181); and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H0C6BBEEC63FD44D6A5053D9DEB380C3E"><enum>(V)</enum><text>possess such other
qualifications as the Secretary determines are necessary; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HF4D76B72F29B45AC9668076180602781"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>using the
requirements established under clause (i), determine whether a person is
qualified to be a bidder on a site offered for lease under this subsection.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA1AA0715BE9C48B29204CD46744207CF"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Credit for bid
preparation expenditures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In
the case of a site offered for lease under this subsection with respect to
which more than one bid is submitted on the date of the lease sale of such
site, the Secretary shall give credit to each person who submitted a bid with
respect to such site for expenditures such person incurred in the preparation
of such bid.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H46D0CDB97DBC4209A39B07B3DC645E27"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Fees, charges,
and commissions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 304
of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1734) shall
apply to a bid submitted under this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H256F82909A194613869FF41DE197AF5B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Lease
terms</header>
<subparagraph id="HD2142A7832114482AAB1BCD4FAB0A497"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may establish such lease terms and
conditions, including the duration of the lease with respect to any site
offered for lease under this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H162EFC8353DE4D63A597AD04F7297BCB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Short-term
leases for data collection</header><text>In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="HABFC843786FB48F18E4284665820066C"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">offer on a noncompetitive basis a
short-term lease on not less than one site selected under paragraph (2) for
purposes of data collection; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H84719BEFC4FB4A529385ADEA3B7BDA6B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>upon the
expiration of the short-term lease, offer on a competitive basis a long-term
lease, giving credit toward the bonus bid submitted with respect to the
long-term lease to the holder of the short-term lease for any qualified
expenditures made by such holder to collect data or to develop the site during
such short-term lease.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA3790F7EC3234B208AFF773B2FA9ED98"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Revenues</header><text>Subject
to section 203, the Secretary may collect bonus bids, royalties, fees, or other
payments (except rental payments) with respect to sites offered for lease under
this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H10405491726540DCB0104FC8D1CBDD58"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date on
which the Secretary conducts the final lease sale under this subsection, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a
report on the results of each lease sale conducted under this subsection,
including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H77009E26949E46E5B3CC0731E4308C2E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the level of
competitive interest;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H80A58D3818FB42F3BCEA7B1E78EAB0A2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a summary of bids
and revenues received; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF0019E2D7E2346AAB800AE567C6F4786"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other factors
that may have impacted the lease sale.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC19856BEAA024044A39630A74C74C3F9"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Other
laws</header>
<subparagraph id="H9E34ACA329934361B8031F8C919EC547"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Compliance with
land management and environmental laws</header><text>In offering sites for
lease under this subsection, the Secretary shall comply with—</text>
<clause id="H988969967D0C4668AC93374938DC652C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>all
Federal laws applicable to public land or National Forest System land;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H55384131530F48248CC9D84FB07BBCEF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Federal or State
environmental laws or any other relevant laws.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0B6B2A604CCD4CE4AD9674A9F47C1857"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Applicability to
wind and solar energy projects under other Federal laws</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed so as to prohibit the Secretary from
issuing rights-of-way with respect to wind and solar energy projects in
compliance with other Federal laws and regulations in effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1205471483C24A5599E88BBFA8948E4D"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Enforcement of
Federal land policy management</header>
<subparagraph id="H5BC9DA9A1CDA4AEDADD19E4E715EFEA3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 302(c) and
303 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1732(c),
1733) shall apply to activities conducted on sites offered for lease under this
subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB3675FD86FC04097BAAD6144C430CC93"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Effect on
enforcement authority under other Federal law</header><text>Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed so as to reduce or limit the enforcement
authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior or the Attorney General on
covered land under any other Federal law.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3CA6F75BB84E4DA9B74C4EEA434B915F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Temporary
extension of pilot program</header><text>Until final regulations are issued
under subsection (c)(4), the Secretary of the Interior shall continue to carry
out the pilot program under subsection (a) on the sites offered for lease under
such subsection. The Secretary may extend any lease issued for such sites under
subsection (a) under the same terms and conditions applicable to such lease on
the date of the lease sale as necessary until final regulations are issued
under subsection (c)(4) with respect to such sites.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4C175CAAB6A7406881897B85FD886B77"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Expansion of
pilot program to all covered land</header>
<paragraph id="H3947BDEB5A3C4998AB4F360A0CACA851"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Joint
determination required</header><text>Not later than 5 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture shall jointly determine whether to expand the pilot program
established under subsection (a) to apply to all covered land, including sites
with respect to which leases were issued under subsection (a). In making such
determination, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7537F6F31C8942B4AB36BA5DAF581EF7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>take into
consideration the results of the pilot program;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B9B583B9FEB481596E722EB8E9DE4EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>consult
with—</text>
<clause id="HBDBA5BFAB0FF436F998D64699C4E1B8C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
heads of Federal agencies and relevant State agencies (including State fish and
wildlife agencies);</text>
</clause><clause id="H738AD60D175C4485BC5175DBA3173DDC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>interested
States, Indian tribes, and local governments;</text>
</clause><clause id="H42529731E165418DB3477E8AC598F983"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">representatives of the solar and wind
energy industries;</text>
</clause><clause id="H0F119AB1E110431EA31862219FF6AEE8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">representatives of the environment,
conservation, and outdoor sporting communities; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HECBFFBD9FD3044A0816C9F1972C97ADF"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the
public; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3966ADE4C75545A38BF06429A47A7A1D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>consider whether
such expansion—</text>
<clause id="HCC27052E72E745EB92376B8653EC01FB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>provides an
effective means of developing wind or solar energy; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H259DDF07E1004B0AB10B0B961D361B87"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is
in the public interest.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H68709B2342E749F88AD458E8C4DB4D49"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Expansion
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The pilot program
shall be expanded only if the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture determined to expand the pilot program under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H51AF95084AAB41E390EA449D78728AD6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report on joint
determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than
60 days after making the determination under paragraph (1) to expand the pilot
program, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall
jointly submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report
describing the basis and findings for the determination.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2DC1B68A3B5F4F2599906C3B1A0B4BEF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Regulations to
implement expansion</header><text>Not later than one year after making a
determination to expand the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary of
the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly issue final
regulations to implement such expansion on covered land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF14CA2E3FDBA46E8B63A2FF33CCBCF37"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Applicability of
provisions of pilot program to expanded program</header>
<subparagraph id="HCDC3F2696424405DB1576D98DB79C643"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), paragraphs (3),
(7), and (8) of subsection (a) shall apply to covered land offered for lease
under this subsection in the same manner as such paragraphs apply to sites
offered for lease under subsection (a), except that such paragraphs shall apply
as if the terms <term>Secretary of the Interior</term> and
<term>Secretary</term> read <quote>Secretary concerned</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEEEFBA13365C47B58756A3F65B4E7CF4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Competitive
leasing not required under certain circumstances</header><text>The requirement
under subsection (a)(3) that a lease be sold on a competitive basis shall not
apply to a lease issued under this subsection if the Secretary concerned
determines that—</text>
<clause id="H98EEBF59F294475A9B015D219F42DCD2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>no
competitive interest exists for the covered land offered for lease;</text>
</clause><clause id="H99AC423947074228BBEF8FAB39FCC705"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the public interest would not be served by
the competitive issuance of a lease with respect to such covered land;
or</text>
</clause><clause id="HDBC1BD4AE1B249D6A7F7A82CF67669C8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the lease is for a purpose described in
paragraph (7)(A)(ii).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB356B9606BCD4876A60BD28390AE2FCF"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Payments</header>
<subparagraph id="H1D7430B4DBBA493EA288152FBC24E9C5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to section
203, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall
jointly establish fees, bonuses, or other payments (except rental payments) to
ensure a fair return to the United States for any lease issued under this
subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8958ACDA8B774E1DBDB04639184D9570"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Bonus
bids</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned
may grant credit toward any bonus bid for a qualified expenditure by the holder
of a lease described in paragraph (7)(A)(ii) in any competitive lease sale held
for a long-term lease of the covered land that is the subject of the lease
described in such paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDEA2F0A8FB86493497C0370E13A1D6AA"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Readjustment</header>
<clause id="HE6E26A9C3312428ABEFC00997C735116"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Royalties and other terms and conditions of a lease
issued under this subsection shall be subject to readjustment—</text>
<subclause id="H30B45A1231864EA6A89EBFEE6EB5C408"><enum>(I)</enum><text>on the date that
is 15 years after the date on which the lease is issued; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HE2AF202CF28944759BFDC7AC56A21D39"><enum>(II)</enum><text>every 10 years
thereafter.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HF428F644D97B425DAC04C9CCF9D7BA9B"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Indexing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective on the first day of the first
month beginning after the date of enactment of this Act and each year
thereafter, the amount of royalties or other terms and conditions subject to
readjustment under clause (i) shall be adjusted to reflect changes for the
12-month period ending on the most recent date for which data are available in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4D3F5A870FB64BA99BC857C9586DA4D3"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Lease duration,
administration, and readjustment</header>
<subparagraph id="HE17440383EC2493FB55A135FDB04F044"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Duration</header>
<clause id="H47A254BDD881478997E78E90774257E8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in clause (ii), a lease issued under
this subsection shall be for—</text>
<subclause id="H2995A588CC534180B909309A76D91FA1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>an initial term of
25 years; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H2A391B125F3949AEA6E6A3E7A45A3FCE"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any additional
period after the initial 25-year term during which electricity is being
produced annually in commercial quantities from the lease.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HE774734E791A4318A7C2CA40259D33B8"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Data collection
leases</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a lease
issued under this subsection for the placement and operation of a
meteorological or data collection facility or for the development or
demonstration of a new wind or solar technology, such lease shall have a term
of not more than 5 years.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C7B078DF65D41BBB591185D6D5ED0BB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly
establish terms and conditions for the issuance, transfer, renewal, suspension,
and cancellation of a lease issued under this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBA582F0E1E674A328E9D8D1449B67A36"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Readjustment
provision required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each lease
issued under this subsection shall provide for readjustment in accordance with
subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1CBB093D99CC4A9A86E40618CAB29627"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Surface-Disturbing
activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly issue regulations
regarding surface-disturbing activities conducted under any lease issued under
this subsection, including any reclamation and other actions necessary for the
conservation of surface resources.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAEBB04A596B946D6BE043A3286120ECC"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Security</header>
<subparagraph id="H3B552CA260A44307A56DDF9C84630BB0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
concerned shall require that the holder of a lease issued under this
subsection—</text>
<clause id="H57510307B0FD497BA8FD5C0B6A72FB27"><enum>(i)</enum><text>furnish a surety
bond or other form of security, as prescribed by the Secretary;</text>
</clause><clause id="HA95A37C710984350A971756D6C19B93F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide for the
reclamation and restoration of the covered land that is the subject of the
lease; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HD089604AC1534399B08E17D70C6E0CF8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>comply with such
other requirements as the Secretary considers necessary to protect the
interests of the public and the United States.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H74CB9961114148EDB90040966211B61A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Periodic
review</header><text>Not less frequently than once every 5 years, the Secretary
concerned shall conduct a review of the adequacy of the surety bond or other
form of security provided by the holder of a lease issued under this
subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HA5F2F2639AAF49258B585B813DF2DE8A"><enum>203.</enum><header>Royalties</header>
<subsection id="H4D56E3EB609A466DAD33A7A39DCD34B5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
concerned shall require as a term and condition of any lease issued under
section 202, the payment of a royalty. The Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture shall establish such royalty pursuant to a joint
rulemaking that shall be a percentage of the gross proceeds from the sale of
electricity produced on covered land that is the subject of such lease at a
rate that—</text>
<paragraph id="H0D8AB69EADE1428684E336755C032DD7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>encourages
production of solar or wind energy;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF427360504BF49D18B73730F9BECEA0D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensures a fair
return to the public comparable to the return that would be obtained on State
or private land; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5B75592723D14536BC8A09B3DE32DD74"><enum>(3)</enum><text>encourages the
maximum energy generation while disturbing the least quantity of covered land
and other natural resources, including water.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H24062E6B0FEA410B80917EA9CF27C9A1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In
establishing the royalty under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider the relative capacity factors
of wind and solar energy projects.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC4367D1534E148F18F0425B4D10EF6B6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Exclusive
payment on sale of electricity</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The royalty under subsection (a) shall be
the only rent, royalty, or similar payment to the Federal Government required
with respect to the sale of electricity produced under a lease issued under
section 202.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5B9C63C393594432B957B6526B4C73FB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Royalty
relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
concerned may reduce the royalty rate established under subsection (a) if the
holder of a lease issued under this title shows by clear and convincing
evidence that—</text>
<paragraph id="H5268A754F49F41B99E21505657309A17"><enum>(1)</enum><text>collection of the
full royalty would unreasonably burden energy generation on covered land that
is the subject of the lease; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1BB232E8D4614B56BDBE81999629BA13"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the royalty
reduction is in the public interest.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3AC4B96D995C48DFAF0FDE3EC44FBCCC"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<paragraph id="H4C956E41EF544445B7074FD883574D70"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Auditing
system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly establish a
comprehensive inspection, collection, fiscal, and production accounting and
auditing system—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5DB7542F915E41A49051434756443F2A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to accurately
determine royalties, interest, fines, penalties, fees, deposits, and other
payments owed under this title; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBB80397CE7E843B39B7C3081B6B1212E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to collect and account for the payments in
a timely manner.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF2A183A6E9464B96A712E146FCE727AA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability of
Federal Oil and Royalty Management Act</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The provisions of the Federal Oil and Gas
Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (including the civil
and criminal enforcement provisions of such Act) shall apply to leases issued
under this title with respect to wind and solar energy projects in the same
manner as such provisions apply to oil and gas leases.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H24AD825407574D97BCBAFA385736B68D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Report on
royalties</header><text>Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives a report consisting of a review of
the collections and impacts of the royalties and fees collected under this
title, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H4AA88E260C9B4F9FB72A33F0EB6CA8FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total revenues received (by category)
on an annual basis as royalties from wind, solar, and geothermal development
and production (specified by energy source) on covered land;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6FACC36A0A454E178A185571F55D66CC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>whether the
revenues received for the development of wind, solar, and geothermal
development are comparable to the revenues received for similar development on
State or private land;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6CF50EACF2ED4D0EAAF7B7986325E98E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any impact on the
development of wind, solar, and geothermal development and production on
covered land as a result of the royalties; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE2C1C797647440D2AC03EC1C0EDC7BA3"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any recommendations with respect to changes
in Federal law (including regulations) relating to the amount or method of
collection (including auditing, compliance, and enforcement) of the
royalties.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3EBD350944004B9EB9FEE417A5DDF89B"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly issue final
regulations to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HF61796ECD28848D281A1A3ECF35CE50C"><enum>204.</enum><header>Disposition of
royalty revenue</header>
<subsection id="HF71A477F8C444B0F9E20195DA7119A5D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Allocation of
revenue</header><text>Effective beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act, all amounts collected by the Secretary concerned as royalties or bonuses
under subsection (a)(5) or (c)(6) of section 202, shall be distributed as
follows:</text>
<paragraph id="H9F2960E0EFA244A1B7236BC98DCEE83A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Twenty-five percent shall be paid by the
Secretary of the Treasury to States within the boundaries of which the
royalties or bonuses are derived, to be allocated among such States based on
the percentage of covered land from which such royalties or bonuses are derived
in each State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD7FBE06520D545D989AD1FA017E54D2A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Twenty-five percent shall be paid by the
Secretary of the Treasury to the counties within the boundaries of which the
royalties or bonuses are derived, to be allocated among such counties based on
the percentage of covered land from which such royalties or bonuses are derived
in each county.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBC12461B7A654CE0AD04310C7395B558"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Twenty-five
percent shall be deposited in the Fund (established by subsection (b)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE5D6744177D741D3B6F1027425494E19"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the period that begins on the date of
the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is 15 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, 15 percent shall be paid by the Secretary of
the Treasury directly to the State offices of the Bureau of Land Management in
States within the boundaries of which the royalties or bonuses are derived for
purposes of reducing the number of renewable energy permits that have not been
processed before the date of the enactment of this Act, to be allocated among
such State offices based on the percentage of covered land from which the
royalties or bonuses are derived in each State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H24B00C9095CA48FC83DAEE0DE8622E0A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The remainder
shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury for purposes of
reducing the annual Federal budget deficit.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAFCBF6EBE63A45BA921B8DF14773A3C8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Renewable Energy
Resource Conservation Fund</header>
<paragraph id="H64F05BCDF1FD41AB85E173D94334EBF4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There
is established in the Treasury of the United States a Renewable Energy Resource
Conservation Fund to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCE5D36963B4F4671AC6548F08A98CB72"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of
funds</header><text>The Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to make
payments to State agencies, Federal agencies, or other interested persons for
use for—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1C99C286745B45A59A80A3940A2AEB36"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">mitigating the impacts of renewable energy
on Federal land, including—</text>
<clause id="H633BEBEB08BF453FB46875D44D03DF8B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>protecting fish
and wildlife corridors and other sensitive land; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0A07FA27B3FE413CAE8AA858C97DF4F7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>restoring fish
and wildlife habitat; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF8513E52BC5F41B683FFFD821CD6933B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">carrying out any activity authorized under
Public Law 88–578 (16 U.S.C. 460l–4 et seq.) in the State, except for the
acquisition of land, water, or interests therein within such State.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF2F6F45999764E859F6350BA12FA497B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Availability of
amounts</header><text>Amounts in the Fund shall be available for expenditure,
in accordance with this subsection, without further appropriation and without
fiscal year limitation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3ABFAC0971D644BE8885BB59A8D2DFD2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Investment of
Fund</header>
<subparagraph id="HC0F0E1C674B946F9A200D50212717722"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any amounts deposited in the Fund shall earn interest in
an amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury on the basis of the
current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the
United States of comparable maturities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H425A46EA407D437B9CC1824E654EC9A2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Use</header><text>Any
interest earned under subparagraph (A) may be expended in accordance with this
subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA067CC4E859E4F1682DF7CB83D743C7F"><enum>(c)</enum><header> Allocation for
permitting after expiration of 15-Year period</header>
<paragraph id="H533113537E6B4271B39DB117141B1951"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Certification by
Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the end of the
15-year period described in subsection (a)(4), the Secretary shall certify
whether the State offices referred to in such subsection have adequately
reduced the renewable energy permitting backlog referred to in such
subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAEF67908605E4365B339660DB74A8A7A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Allocation after
certification</header><text>If the Secretary certifies under paragraph (1)
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC11775E9D35E445886EA894300A3EEFD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the State offices
referred to in such paragraph have not adequately reduced the backlog referred
to in such paragraph—</text>
<clause id="H576C668F63B84E069DC3AE0BBFE79380"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
15-year period described in subsection (a)(4) shall be extended by an
additional 15-year period; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H005E3B89409C4CA6B14A00EED1F74C61"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>payments shall
continue to be made during that period as described in such subsection;
or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26D50CE0186049C6A2B464F94B0D5FB6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the State offices referred to in such
paragraph have adequately reduced such backlog—</text>
<clause id="H91F6145A31C24FA4A724F98803BDD83C"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">two-thirds of the amount otherwise required
to be paid under subsection (a)(4) shall be added to the amount deposited in
the Fund established under subsection (b); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H92BFDFA3B8AB4E0C852A812715751C2F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">one-third of such amount shall be deposited
into the general fund of the Treasury for purposes of reducing the annual
Federal budget deficit.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB597C4A907674067B6BCF31505391221"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Payments to
States and counties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts
paid to States and counties under subsection (a) shall be used in a manner that
is consistent with section 35 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H7A280179B66D4514945BAF1D653FF4CF"><enum>205.</enum><header>Study and
report on mitigation banking</header>
<subsection id="H42E8B18CC6FE44238A05537B84619C51"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header>
<paragraph id="H352C2FAA810E41A58259EE78F55B04A0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall
carry out a study to determine the feasibility of carrying out a mitigation
banking program on Federal land administered by the Secretary of the Interior
or the Secretary of Agriculture for purposes of offsetting the impacts of wind
or solar energy on such Federal land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE3CCE80F77364CD5B1E5EBE8FDD984EA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
study under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0FD0D4A26A7C4267B17A4449C9BA1C21"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify areas in
which—</text>
<clause id="HFBEFE39C646341A0AD93531CA04D38EB"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">privately owned land is not available to
offset the impacts of wind or solar energy development on Federal land
administered by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture;
or</text>
</clause><clause id="HB026B1EBEEC24501A3705CFE31BEBE45"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>mitigation
investments on such Federal land are likely to provide greater conservation
value for the impacts of wind or solar energy development on such Federal land;
and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H23016A8E0E5740F89C3BDCC209F56C77"><enum>(B)</enum><text>examine—</text>
<clause id="H29D29203F3514168ACD6CDCFA4ED53D0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
effectiveness of laws (including regulations) and policies in effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act in facilitating the development of mitigation
banks;</text>
</clause><clause id="H403F43B3FCBA4B72B0C724CAF3944A95"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
advantages and disadvantages of using mitigation banks on such Federal land to
mitigate impacts to natural resources on private land; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H4DB6BBFA881740E587DC9BDADC5B9F9C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any changes in
Federal law (including regulations) or policy necessary to further develop a
Federal mitigation banking program.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H343018A470EB42FCB44B68940A657610"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report to
Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly submit to Congress a
report that includes—</text>
<paragraph id="H65CC5FC74D194EEDB26A260BE56A2EBD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the
recommendations of the Secretaries relating to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H62F714F5DE5249B4999845113BE5E170"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the most effective system for Federal land
administered by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture
to meet the goals of facilitating the development of a mitigation banking
program on such Federal land; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HABBBC24448444422AB7BBDD4D84E277B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any change to
Federal law (including regulations) or policy necessary to address more
effectively the siting, development, and management of mitigation banking
programs on such Federal land to mitigate impacts to natural resources on
private land; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H12B0A6659AEA4845AE4AF574C509D368"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any administrative
action to be taken by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture in response to the recommendations.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3ABB0FBF33DA4C7FA20B35CF100EF128"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Availability to
the public</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30
days after the date on which the report described in subsection (b) is
submitted to Congress, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture shall make the results of the study available to the public.</text>
</subsection></section>