Library / Laws / 113th / hr / H.R. 2231 / Reported in House
IB
Union Calendar No. 90
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2231
[Report No.
113–125]
IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
June 4, 2013
Mr. Hastings of
Washington (for himself, Mr.
Lamborn, Mr. Cramer,
Mr. Flores,
Mr. Duncan of South Carolina,
Mr. LaMalfa, and
Mr. Wittman) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural
Resources
June 24, 2013
Additional sponsors: Mr.
Daines, Mr. Stewart,
Mr. Benishek,
Mr. McClintock, and
Mr. Mullin
June 24, 2013
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 June 4, 2013
A BILL
To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands
Act to increase energy exploration and production on the Outer Continental
Shelf, provide for equitable revenue sharing for all coastal States, implement
the reorganization of the functions of the former Minerals Management Service
into distinct and separate agencies, and for other
purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Offshore Energy and Jobs
Act.
2.
Table of
contents
The table of contents
for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Title I—Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Program
Reforms
Sec. 101. Outer Continental Shelf leasing
program reforms.
Sec. 102. Domestic oil and natural gas
production goal.
Sec. 103. Development and submittal of new
5-year oil and gas leasing program.
Title II—Directing the President To Conduct New
OCS Sales in Virginia, South Carolina, and California
Sec. 201. Requirement to conduct proposed oil
and gas Lease Sale 220 on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore
Virginia.
Sec. 202. South Carolina lease
sale.
Sec. 203. Southern California existing
infrastructure lease sale.
Sec. 204. Environmental impact statement
requirement.
Sec. 205. National defense.
Sec. 206. Eastern Gulf of Mexico not
included.
Title III—Equitable Sharing of Outer
Continental Shelf Revenues
Sec. 301. Disposition of Outer Continental
Shelf revenues to coastal States.
Title IV—Reorganization of Minerals Management
Agencies of the Department of the Interior
Sec. 401. Establishment of Under Secretary for
Energy, Lands, and Minerals and Assistant Secretary of Ocean Energy and
Safety.
Sec. 402. Bureau of Ocean Energy.
Sec. 403. Ocean Energy Safety
Service.
Sec. 404. Office of Natural Resources
revenue.
Sec. 405. Ethics and drug testing.
Sec. 406. Abolishment of Minerals Management
Service.
Sec. 407. Conforming amendments to Executive
Schedule pay rates.
Sec. 408. Outer Continental Shelf Energy Safety
Advisory Board.
Sec. 409. Outer Continental Shelf inspection
fees.
Title V—United States Territories
Sec. 501. Application of Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act with respect to territories of the United States.
I
Outer Continental Shelf
Leasing Program Reforms
101.
Outer Continental
Shelf leasing program reforms
Section 18(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
(5)
(A) In each oil and gas
leasing program under this section, the Secretary shall make available for
leasing and conduct lease sales including at least 50 percent of the available
unleased acreage within each outer Continental Shelf planning area considered
to have the largest undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources
(on a total btu basis) based upon the most recent national geologic assessment
of the outer Continental Shelf, with an emphasis on offering the most
geologically prospective parts of the planning area.
(B) The Secretary shall include in each
proposed oil and gas leasing program under this section any State subdivision
of an outer Continental Shelf planning area that the Governor of the State that
represents that subdivision requests be made available for leasing. The
Secretary may not remove such a subdivision from the program until publication
of the final program.
(C) In this paragraph the term available
unleased acreage means that portion of the outer Continental Shelf that
is not under lease at the time of a proposed lease sale, and that has not
otherwise been made unavailable for leasing by law.
(6)
(A) In the 5-year oil and
gas leasing program, the Secretary shall make available for leasing any outer
Continental Shelf planning areas that—
(i) are estimated to contain
more than 2,500,000,000 barrels of oil; or
(ii) are estimated to contain
more than 7,500,000,000,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
(B) To determine the planning
areas described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use the document
entitled Minerals Management Service Assessment of Undiscovered
Technically Recoverable Oil and Gas Resources of the Nation’s Outer Continental
Shelf,
2006.
.
102.
Domestic oil and
natural gas production goal
Section 18(b) of the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(b)) is amended to read as follows:
(b)
Domestic oil and
natural gas production goal
–
(1)
In
general
In developing a 5-year oil and gas leasing program, and
subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall determine a domestic strategic
production goal for the development of oil and natural gas as a result of that
program. Such goal shall be—
(A) the best estimate of the
possible increase in domestic production of oil and natural gas from the outer
Continental Shelf;
(B) focused on meeting
domestic demand for oil and natural gas and reducing the dependence of the
United States on foreign energy; and
(C) focused on the production
increases achieved by the leasing program at the end of the 15-year period
beginning on the effective date of the program.
(2)
Program
goal
For purposes of the 5-year oil and gas leasing program, the
production goal referred to in paragraph (1) shall be an increase by 2032
of—
(A) no less than 3,000,000
barrels in the amount of oil produced per day; and
(B) no less than
10,000,000,000 cubic feet in the amount of natural gas produced per day.
(3)
Reporting
The
Secretary shall report annually, beginning at the end of the 5-year period for
which the program applies, to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate on the progress of the program in meeting the production goal. The
Secretary shall identify in the report projections for production and any
problems with leasing, permitting, or production that will prevent meeting the
goal.
.
103.
Development and
submittal of new 5-year oil and gas leasing program
(a)
In
general
The Secretary of the
Interior shall—
(1) by not later than July
15, 2014, publish and submit to Congress a new proposed oil and gas leasing
program under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1344) for the 5-year period beginning on such date and ending July 15, 2020;
and
(2) by not later than July
15, 2015, approve a final oil and gas leasing program under such section for
such period.
(b)
Consideration of all
areas
In preparing such program the Secretary shall include
consideration of areas of the Continental Shelf off the coasts of all States
(as such term is defined in section 2 of that Act, as amended by this Act),
that are subject to leasing under this Act.
(c)
Technical
correction
Section 18(d)(3)
of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(d)(3)) is amended by
striking or after eighteen months following the date of enactment of
this section, whichever first occurs,.
II
Directing the President
To Conduct New OCS Sales in Virginia, South Carolina, and California
201.
Requirement to conduct
proposed oil and gas Lease Sale 220 on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore
Virginia
(a)
In
general
Notwithstanding the exclusion of Lease Sale 220 in the
Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program 2012–2017, the
Secretary of the Interior shall conduct offshore oil and gas Lease Sale 220
under section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) as
soon as practicable, but not later than one year after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(b)
Requirement To make
replacement lease blocks available
For each lease block in a proposed lease
sale under this section for which the Secretary of Defense, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Interior, under the Memorandum of Agreement referred
to in section 205(b), issues a statement proposing deferral from a lease
offering due to defense-related activities that are irreconcilable with mineral
exploration and development, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, shall make available in the same lease sale one
other lease block in the Virginia lease sale planning area that is acceptable
for oil and gas exploration and production in order to mitigate
conflict.
(c)
Balancing military and
energy production goals
In
recognition that the Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing program and
the domestic energy resources produced therefrom are integral to national
security, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Defense shall work
jointly in implementing this section in order to ensure achievement of the
following common goals:
(1) Preserving the ability of
the Armed Forces of the United States to maintain an optimum state of readiness
through their continued use of the Outer Continental Shelf.
(2) Allowing effective
exploration, development, and production of our Nation’s oil, gas, and
renewable energy resources.
(d)
Definitions
In
this section:
(1)
Lease sale
220
The term Lease Sale 220 means such lease sale
referred to in the Request for Comments on the Draft Proposed 5-Year Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010–2015 and Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed
5-Year Program published January 21, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 3631).
(2)
Virginia lease sale
planning area
The term Virginia lease sale planning
area means the area of the outer Continental Shelf (as that term is
defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (33 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.)) that
is bounded by—
(A) a northern boundary
consisting of a straight line extending from the northernmost point of
Virginia’s seaward boundary to the point on the seaward boundary of the United
States exclusive economic zone located at 37 degrees 17 minutes 1 second North
latitude, 71 degrees 5 minutes 16 seconds West longitude; and
(B) a southern boundary
consisting of a straight line extending from the southernmost point of
Virginia’s seaward boundary to the point on the seaward boundary of the United
States exclusive economic zone located at 36 degrees 31 minutes 58 seconds
North latitude, 71 degrees 30 minutes 1 second West longitude.
202.
South Carolina lease
sale
Notwithstanding inclusion
of the South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Planning Area in the Final Outer
Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program 2012–2017, the Secretary of the
Interior shall conduct a lease sale not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act for areas off the coast of South Carolina determined
by the Secretary to have the most geologically promising hydrocarbon resources
and constituting not less than 25 percent of the leasable area within the South
Carolina offshore administrative boundaries depicted in the notice entitled
Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Administrative Boundaries
Extending from the Submerged Lands Act Boundary seaward to the Limit of the
United States Outer Continental Shelf, published January 3, 2006 (71
Fed. Reg. 127).
203.
Southern California
existing infrastructure lease sale
(a)
In
general
The Secretary of the Interior shall offer for sale leases
of tracts in the Santa Maria and Santa Barbara/Ventura Basins of the Southern
California OCS Planning Area as soon as practicable, but not later than
December 31, 2014.
(b)
Use of Existing
Structures or Onshore-Based Drilling
The Secretary of the
Interior shall include in leases offered for sale under this lease sale such
terms and conditions as are necessary to require that development and
production may occur only from offshore infrastructure in existence on the date
of the enactment of this Act or from onshore-based, extended-reach
drilling.
204.
Environmental impact
statement requirement
(a)
In
General
For the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior shall prepare a multisale environmental impact statement under section
102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332) for all
lease sales required under this title.
(b)
Actions To be
considered
Notwithstanding section 102 of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332), in such statement—
(1) the Secretary is not
required to identify nonleasing alternative courses of action or to analyze the
environmental effects of such alternative courses of action; and
(2) the Secretary shall
only—
(A) identify a preferred
action for leasing and not more than one alternative leasing proposal;
and
(B) analyze the environmental
effects and potential mitigation measures for such preferred action and such
alternative leasing proposal.
205.
National
defense
(a)
National Defense
Areas
This Act does not affect the existing authority of the
Secretary of Defense, with the approval of the President, to designate national
defense areas on the Outer Continental Shelf pursuant to section 12(d) of the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341(d)).
(b)
Prohibition on
Conflicts With Military Operations
No person may engage in any
exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas on the Outer
Continental Shelf under a lease issued under this Act that would conflict with
any military operation, as determined in accordance with the Memorandum of
Agreement between the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior
on Mutual Concerns on the Outer Continental Shelf signed July 20, 1983, and any
revision or replacement for that agreement that is agreed to by the Secretary
of Defense and the Secretary of the Interior after that date but before the
date of issuance of the lease under which such exploration, development, or
production is conducted.
206.
Eastern Gulf of Mexico
not included
Nothing in this
Act affects restrictions on oil and gas leasing under the Gulf of Mexico Energy
Security Act of 2006 (title I of division C of Public Law 109–432; 43 U.S.C.
1331 note).
III
Equitable Sharing of
Outer Continental Shelf Revenues
301.
Disposition of Outer
Continental Shelf revenues to coastal States
(a)
In
general
Section 9 of the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1338) is amended—
(1) in the existing
text—
(A) in the first sentence, by striking
All rentals, and inserting the following:
(c)
Disposition of revenue
under old leases
All
rentals,
;
and
(B) in subsection (c) (as
designated by the amendment made by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph), by
striking for the period from June 5, 1950, to date, and
thereafter and inserting in the period beginning June 5, 1950,
and ending on the date of enactment of the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act;
(2) by adding after
subsection (c) (as so designated) the following:
(d)
Definitions
In this
section:
(1)
Coastal
State
The term coastal
State includes a territory of the United States.
(2)
New leasing
revenues
The term new
leasing revenues—
(A) means amounts received by
the United States as bonuses, rents, and royalties under leases for oil and
gas, wind, tidal, or other energy exploration, development, and production on
new areas of the outer Continental Shelf that are authorized to be made
available for leasing as a result of enactment of the
Offshore Energy and Jobs Act
and leasing under that Act; and
(B) does not include amounts received by the
United States under any lease of an area located in the boundaries of the
Central Gulf of Mexico and Western Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf
Planning Areas on the date of enactment of the
Offshore Energy and Jobs Act,
including a lease issued before, on, or after such date of
enactment.
;
and
(3) by inserting before
subsection (c) (as so designated) the following:
(a)
Payment of new leasing
revenues to coastal States
(1)
In
general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), of the amount of new
leasing revenues received by the United States each fiscal year, 37.5 percent
shall be allocated and paid in accordance with subsection (b) to coastal States
that are affected States with respect to the leases under which those revenues
are received by the United States.
(2)
Phase-in
(A)
In
general
Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), paragraph (1) shall be applied—
(i) with respect to new
leasing revenues under leases awarded under the first leasing program under
section 18(a) that takes effect after the date of enactment of the
Offshore Energy and Jobs Act,
by substituting 12.5 percent for 37.5 percent;
and
(ii) with respect to new
leasing revenues under leases awarded under the second leasing program under
section 18(a) that takes effect after the date of enactment of the
Offshore Energy and Jobs Act,
by substituting 25 percent for 37.5
percent.
(B)
Exempted lease
sales
This paragraph shall not apply with respect to any lease
issued under title II of the Offshore Energy
and Jobs Act.
(b)
Allocation of
payments
(1)
In
general
The amount of new
leasing revenues received by the United States with respect to a leased tract
that are required to be paid to coastal States in accordance with this
subsection each fiscal year shall be allocated among and paid to coastal States
that are within 200 miles of the leased tract, in amounts that are inversely
proportional to the respective distances between the point on the coastline of
each such State that is closest to the geographic center of the lease tract, as
determined by the Secretary.
(2)
Minimum and maximum
allocation
The amount allocated to a coastal State under
paragraph (1) each fiscal year with respect to a leased tract shall be—
(A) in the case of a coastal State that is the
nearest State to the geographic center of the leased tract, not less than 25
percent of the total amounts allocated with respect to the leased tract;
(B) in the case of any other coastal State, not
less than 10 percent, and not more than 15 percent, of the total amounts
allocated with respect to the leased tract; and
(C) in the case of a coastal
State that is the only coastal State within 200 miles of a least tract, 100
percent of the total amounts allocated with respect to the leased tract.
(3)
Administration
Amounts
allocated to a coastal State under this subsection—
(A) shall be available to the
coastal State without further appropriation;
(B) shall remain available
until expended;
(C) shall be in addition to
any other amounts available to the coastal State under this Act; and
(D) shall be distributed in
the fiscal year following receipt.
(4)
Use of funds
(A)
In
general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a coastal State
may use funds allocated and paid to it under this subsection for any purpose as
determined by the laws of that State.
(B)
Restriction on use for
matching
Funds allocated and paid to a coastal State under this
subsection may not be used as matching funds for any other Federal
program.
.
(b)
Limitation on
application
This section and
the amendment made by this section shall not affect the application of section
105 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (title I of division C of
Public Law 109–432; (43 U.S.C. 1331 note)), as in effect before the enactment
of this Act, with respect to revenues received by the United States under oil
and gas leases issued for tracts located in the Western and Central Gulf of
Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Planning Areas, including such leases issued on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
IV
Reorganization of
Minerals Management Agencies of the Department of the Interior
401.
Establishment of
Under Secretary for Energy, Lands, and Minerals and Assistant Secretary of
Ocean Energy and Safety
There
shall be in the Department of the Interior—
(1) an Under Secretary for
Energy, Lands, and Minerals, who shall—
(A) be appointed by the
President, by and with the advise and consent of the Senate;
(B) report to the Secretary of the Interior or,
if directed by the Secretary, to the Deputy Secretary of the Interior;
(C) be paid at the rate
payable for level III of the Executive Schedule; and
(D) be responsible for—
(i) the safe and responsible
development of our energy and mineral resources on Federal lands in appropriate
accordance with United States energy demands; and
(ii) ensuring multiple-use
missions of the Department of the Interior that promote the safe and sustained
development of energy and minerals resources on public lands (as that term is
defined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.));
(2) an Assistant Secretary of
Ocean Energy and Safety, who shall—
(A) be appointed by the
President, by and with the advise and consent of the Senate;
(B) report to the Under
Secretary for Energy, Lands, and Minerals;
(C) be paid at the rate
payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule; and
(D) be responsible for ensuring safe and
efficient development of energy and minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf of
the United States; and
(3) an Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals
Management, who shall—
(A) be appointed by the
President, by and with the advise and consent of the Senate;
(B) report to the Under
Secretary for Energy, Lands, and Minerals;
(C) be paid at the rate
payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule; and
(D) be responsible for ensuring safe and
efficient development of energy and minerals on public lands and other Federal
onshore lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior,
including implementation of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and
the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.) and
administration of the Office of Surface Mining.
402.
Bureau of Ocean
Energy
(a)
Establishment
There
is established in the Department of the Interior a Bureau of Ocean Energy
(referred to in this section as the Bureau), which shall—
(1) be headed by a Director
of Ocean Energy (referred to in this section as the Director);
and
(2) be administered under the
direction of the Assistant Secretary of Ocean Energy and Safety.
(b)
Director
(1)
Appointment
The
Director shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.
(2)
Compensation
The
Director shall be compensated at the rate provided for level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(c)
Duties
(1)
In
general
The Secretary of the Interior shall carry out through the
Bureau all functions, powers, and duties vested in the Secretary relating to
the administration of a comprehensive program of offshore mineral and renewable
energy resources management.
(2)
Specific
authorities
The Director shall promulgate and implement
regulations—
(A) for the proper issuance
of leases for the exploration, development, and production of nonrenewable and
renewable energy and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf;
(B) relating to resource
identification, access, evaluation, and utilization;
(C) for development of
leasing plans, lease sales, and issuance of leases for such resources;
and
(D) regarding issuance of environmental impact
statements related to leasing and post leasing activities including
exploration, development, and production, and the use of third party
contracting for necessary environmental analysis for the development of such
resources.
(3)
Limitation
The
Secretary shall not carry out through the Bureau any function, power, or duty
that is—
(A) required by section 403
to be carried out through the Ocean Energy Safety Service; or
(B) required by section 404
to be carried out through the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
(d)
Responsibilities of
land management agencies
Nothing in this section shall affect the
authorities of the Bureau of Land Management under the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or of the Forest Service under
the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–588).
403.
Ocean Energy Safety
Service
(a)
Establishment
There
is established in the Department of the Interior an Ocean Energy Safety Service
(referred to in this section as the Service), which
shall—
(1) be headed by a Director
of Energy Safety (referred to in this section as the Director);
and
(2) be administered under the
direction of the Assistant Secretary of Ocean Energy and Safety.
(b)
Director
(1)
Appointment
The
Director shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.
(2)
Compensation
The
Director shall be compensated at the rate provided for level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(c)
Duties
(1)
In
general
The Secretary of the
Interior shall carry out through the Service all functions, powers, and duties
vested in the Secretary relating to the administration of safety and
environmental enforcement activities related to offshore mineral and renewable
energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf pursuant to the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) including the authority to
develop, promulgate, and enforce regulations to ensure the safe and sound
exploration, development, and production of mineral and renewable energy
resources on the Outer Continental Shelf in a timely fashion.
(2)
Specific
authorities
The Director shall be responsible for all safety
activities related to exploration and development of renewable and mineral
resources on the Outer Continental Shelf, including—
(A) exploration, development,
production, and ongoing inspections of infrastructure;
(B) the suspending or
prohibiting, on a temporary basis, any operation or activity, including
production under leases held on the Outer Continental Shelf, in accordance with
section 5(a)(1) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1334(a)(1));
(C) cancelling any lease,
permit, or right-of-way on the Outer Continental Shelf, in accordance with
section 5(a)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1334(a)(2));
(D) compelling compliance
with applicable Federal laws and regulations relating to worker safety and
other matters;
(E) requiring comprehensive
safety and environmental management programs for persons engaged in activities
connected with the exploration, development, and production of mineral or
renewable energy resources;
(F) developing and
implementing regulations for Federal employees to carry out any inspection or
investigation to ascertain compliance with applicable regulations, including
health, safety, or environmental regulations;
(G) implementing the Offshore
Technology Research and Risk Assessment Program under section 21 of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1347);
(H) summoning witnesses and
directing the production of evidence;
(I) levying fines and
penalties and disqualifying operators;
(J) carrying out any safety,
response, and removal preparedness functions; and
(K) the processing of permits, exploration
plans, development plans.
(d)
Employees
(1)
In
general
The Secretary shall ensure that the inspection force of
the Bureau consists of qualified, trained employees who meet qualification
requirements and adhere to the highest professional and ethical
standards.
(2)
Qualifications
The
qualification requirements referred to in paragraph (1)—
(A) shall be determined by
the Secretary, subject to subparagraph (B); and
(B) shall include—
(i) three years of practical
experience in oil and gas exploration, development, or production; or
(ii) a degree in an
appropriate field of engineering from an accredited institution of higher
learning.
(3)
Assignment
In
assigning oil and gas inspectors to the inspection and investigation of
individual operations, the Secretary shall give due consideration to the extent
possible to their previous experience in the particular type of oil and gas
operation in which such inspections are to be made.
(4)
Background
checks
The Director shall require that an individual to be hired
as an inspection officer undergo an employment investigation (including a
criminal history record check).
(5)
Language
requirements
Individuals hired as inspectors must be able to
read, speak, and write English well enough to—
(A) carry out written and
oral instructions regarding the proper performance of inspection duties;
and
(B) write inspection reports
and statements and log entries in the English language.
(6)
Veterans
preference
The Director shall provide a preference for the hiring
of an individual as a inspection officer if the individual is a member or
former member of the Armed Forces and is entitled, under statute, to retired,
retirement, or retainer pay on account of service as a member of the Armed
Forces.
(7)
Annual proficiency
review
(A)
Annual proficiency
review
The Director shall provide that an annual evaluation of
each individual assigned inspection duties is conducted and documented.
(B)
Continuation of
employment
An individual employed as an inspector may not
continue to be employed in that capacity unless the evaluation demonstrates
that the individual—
(i) continues to meet all
qualifications and standards;
(ii) has a satisfactory
record of performance and attention to duty based on the standards and
requirements in the inspection program; and
(iii) demonstrates the
current knowledge and skills necessary to courteously, vigilantly, and
effectively perform inspection functions.
(8)
Limitation on right to
strike
Any individual that conducts permitting or inspections
under this section may not participate in a strike, or assert the right to
strike.
(9)
Personnel
authority
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Director may employ, appoint, discipline and terminate for cause, and fix the
compensation, terms, and conditions of employment of Federal service for
individuals as the employees of the Service in order to restore and maintain
the trust of the people of the United States in the accountability of the
management of our Nation’s energy safety program.
(10)
Training
Academy
(A)
In
general
The Secretary shall
establish and maintain a National Offshore Energy Safety Academy (referred to
in this paragraph as the Academy) as an agency of the Ocean
Energy Safety Service.
(B)
Functions of
Academy
The Secretary, through the Academy, shall be responsible
for—
(i) the initial and continued
training of both newly hired and experienced offshore oil and gas inspectors in
all aspects of health, safety, environmental, and operational
inspections;
(ii) the training of
technical support personnel of the Bureau;
(iii) any other training
programs for offshore oil and gas inspectors, Bureau personnel, Department
personnel, or other persons as the Secretary shall designate; and
(iv) certification of the
successful completion of training programs for newly hired and experienced
offshore oil and gas inspectors.
(C)
Cooperative
agreements
(i)
In
general
In performing functions under this paragraph, and subject
to clause (ii), the Secretary may enter into cooperative educational and
training agreements with educational institutions, related Federal academies,
other Federal agencies, State governments, safety training firms, and oil and
gas operators and related industries.
(ii)
Training
requirement
Such training shall be conducted by the Academy in
accordance with curriculum needs and assignment of instructional personnel
established by the Secretary.
(11)
Use of Department
personnel
In performing functions under this subsection, the
Secretary shall use, to the extent practicable, the facilities and personnel of
the Department of the Interior. The Secretary may appoint or assign to the
Academy such officers and employees as the Secretary considers necessary for
the performance of the duties and functions of the Academy.
(12)
Additional training
programs
(A)
In
general
The Secretary shall work with appropriate educational
institutions, operators, and representatives of oil and gas workers to develop
and maintain adequate programs with educational institutions and oil and gas
operators that are designed—
(i) to enable persons to
qualify for positions in the administration of this Act; and
(ii) to provide for the
continuing education of inspectors or other appropriate Department of the
Interior personnel.
(B)
Financial and technical
assistance
The Secretary may provide financial and technical
assistance to educational institutions in carrying out this paragraph.
(e)
Limitation
The
Secretary shall not carry out through the Service any function, power, or duty
that is—
(1) required by section 402
to be carried out through Bureau of Ocean Energy; or
(2) required by section 404
to be carried out through the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
404.
Office of Natural
Resources revenue
(a)
Establishment
There
is established in the Department of the Interior an Office of Natural Resources
Revenue (referred to in this section as the Office) to be headed
by a Director of Natural Resources Revenue (referred to in this section as the
Director).
(b)
Appointment and
compensation
(1)
In
general
The Director shall be
appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.
(2)
Compensation
The
Director shall be compensated at the rate provided for Level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(c)
Duties
(1)
In
general
The Secretary of the Interior shall carry out, through
the Office, all functions, powers, and duties vested in the Secretary and
relating to the administration of offshore royalty and revenue management
functions.
(2)
Specific
authorities
The Secretary shall carry out, through the Office,
all functions, powers, and duties previously assigned to the Minerals
Management Service (including the authority to develop, promulgate, and enforce
regulations) regarding offshore royalty and revenue collection; royalty and
revenue distribution; auditing and compliance; investigation and enforcement of
royalty and revenue regulations; and asset management for onshore and offshore
activities.
(d)
Limitation
The
Secretary shall not carry out through the Office any function, power, or duty
that is—
(1) required by section 402
to be carried out through Bureau of Ocean Energy; or
(2) required by section 403
to be carried out through the Ocean Energy Safety Service.
405.
Ethics and drug
testing
(a)
Certification
The Secretary of the Interior shall certify
annually that all Department of the Interior officers and employees having
regular, direct contact with lessees, contractors, concessionaires, and other
businesses interested before the Government as a function of their official
duties, or conducting investigations, issuing permits, or responsible for
oversight of energy programs, are in full compliance with all Federal employee
ethics laws and regulations under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5
U.S.C. App.) and part 2635 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, and all
guidance issued under subsection (c).
(b)
Drug
Testing
The Secretary shall conduct a random drug testing program
of all Department of the Interior personnel referred to in subsection
(a).
(c)
Guidance
Not
later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
issue supplementary ethics and drug testing guidance for the employees for
which certification is required under subsection (a). The Secretary shall
update the supplementary ethics guidance not less than once every 3 years
thereafter.
406.
Abolishment of
Minerals Management Service
(a)
Abolishment
The
Minerals Management Service is abolished.
(b)
Completed
administrative actions
(1)
In
general
Completed
administrative actions of the Minerals Management Service shall not be affected
by the enactment of this Act, but shall continue in effect according to their
terms until amended, modified, superseded, terminated, set aside, or revoked in
accordance with law by an officer of the United States or a court of competent
jurisdiction, or by operation of law.
(2)
Completed
administrative action defined
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term
completed administrative action includes orders, determinations,
memoranda of understanding, memoranda of agreements, rules, regulations,
personnel actions, permits, agreements, grants, contracts, certificates,
licenses, registrations, and privileges.
(c)
Pending
Proceedings
Subject to the authority of the Secretary of the
Interior and the officers of the Department of the Interior under this
Act—
(1) pending proceedings in the Minerals
Management Service, including notices of proposed rulemaking, and applications
for licenses, permits, certificates, grants, and financial assistance, shall
continue, notwithstanding the enactment of this Act or the vesting of functions
of the Service in another agency, unless discontinued or modified under the
same terms and conditions and to the same extent that such discontinuance or
modification could have occurred if this Act had not been enacted; and
(2) orders issued in such
proceedings, and appeals therefrom, and payments made pursuant to such orders,
shall issue in the same manner and on the same terms as if this Act had not
been enacted, and any such orders shall continue in effect until amended,
modified, superseded, terminated, set aside, or revoked by an officer of the
United States or a court of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of
law.
(d)
Pending Civil
Actions
Subject to the authority of the Secretary of the Interior
or any officer of the Department of the Interior under this Act, pending civil
actions shall continue notwithstanding the enactment of this Act, and in such
civil actions, proceedings shall be had, appeals taken, and judgments rendered
and enforced in the same manner and with the same effect as if such enactment
had not occurred.
(e)
References
References relating to the Minerals
Management Service in statutes, Executive orders, rules, regulations,
directives, or delegations of authority that precede the effective date of this
Act are deemed to refer, as appropriate, to the Department, to its officers,
employees, or agents, or to its corresponding organizational units or
functions. Statutory reporting requirements that applied in relation to the
Minerals Management Service immediately before the effective date of this Act
shall continue to apply.
407.
Conforming amendments
to Executive Schedule pay rates
(a)
Under Secretary for
Energy, Lands, and Minerals
Section 5314 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to Under
Secretaries of the Treasury (3). the following:
Under Secretary for Energy, Lands, and
Minerals, Department of the
Interior.
.
(b)
Assistant
Secretaries
Section 5315 of
title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking Assistant
Secretaries of the Interior (6). and inserting the following:
Assistant Secretaries, Department of the
Interior
(7).
.
(c)
Directors
Section 5316 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by striking Director, Bureau of Mines, Department of
the Interior. and inserting the following new items:
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy,
Department of the Interior.
Director, Ocean Energy Safety Service,
Department of the Interior.
Director, Office of Natural Resources
Revenue, Department of the
Interior.
.
408.
Outer Continental
Shelf Energy Safety Advisory Board
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary of the Interior shall
establish, under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, an Outer Continental Shelf
Energy Safety Advisory Board (referred to in this section as the
Board)—
(1) to provide the Secretary
and the Directors established by this Act with independent scientific and
technical advice on safe, responsible, and timely mineral and renewable energy
exploration, development, and production activities; and
(2) to review operations of the National
Offshore Energy Health and Safety Academy established under section 403(d),
including submitting to the Secretary recommendations of curriculum to ensure
training scientific and technical advancements.
(b)
Membership
(1)
Size
The
Board shall consist of not more than 11 members, who—
(A) shall be appointed by the
Secretary based on their expertise in oil and gas drilling, well design,
operations, well containment and oil spill response; and
(B) must have significant
scientific, engineering, management, and other credentials and a history of
working in the field related to safe energy exploration, development, and
production activities.
(2)
Consultation and
nominations
The Secretary shall consult with the National Academy
of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering to identify potential
candidates for the Board and shall take nominations from the public.
(3)
Term
The
Secretary shall appoint Board members to staggered terms of not more than 4
years, and shall not appoint a member for more than 2 consecutive terms.
(4)
Balance
In
appointing members to the Board, the Secretary shall ensure a balanced
representation of industry and research interests.
(c)
Chair
The
Secretary shall appoint the Chair for the Board from among its members.
(d)
Meetings
The
Board shall meet not less than 3 times per year and shall host, at least once
per year, a public forum to review and assess the overall energy safety
performance of Outer Continental Shelf mineral and renewable energy resource
activities.
(e)
Offshore drilling
safety assessments and recommendations
As part of its duties
under this section, the Board shall, by not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this section and every 5 years thereafter, submit to the
Secretary a report that—
(1) assesses offshore oil and
gas well control technologies, practices, voluntary standards, and regulations
in the United States and elsewhere; and
(2) as appropriate, recommends modifications to
the regulations issued under this Act to ensure adequate protection of safety
and the environment, including recommendations on how to reduce regulations and
administrative actions that are duplicative or unnecessary.
(f)
Reports
Reports
of the Board shall be submitted by the Board to the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House or Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate and made available to the public in
electronically accessible form.
(g)
Travel
expenses
Members of the Board, other than full-time employees of
the Federal Government, while attending meeting of the Board or while otherwise
serving at the request of the Secretary or the Director while serving away from
their homes or regular places of business, may be allowed travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code, for individuals in the Government serving without
pay.
409.
Outer Continental
Shelf inspection fees
Section
22 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1348) is amended by
adding at the end of the section the following:
(g)
Inspection
fees
(1)
Establishment
The
Secretary of the Interior shall collect from the operators of facilities
subject to inspection under subsection (c) non-refundable fees for such
inspections—
(A) at an aggregate level
equal to the amount necessary to offset the annual expenses of inspections of
outer Continental Shelf facilities (including mobile offshore drilling units)
by the Department of the Interior; and
(B) using a schedule that
reflects the differences in complexity among the classes of facilities to be
inspected.
(2)
Ocean energy safety
fund
There is established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as
the Ocean Energy Enforcement Fund (referred to in this
subsection as the Fund), into which shall be deposited all
amounts collected as fees under paragraph (1) and which shall be available as
provided under paragraph (3).
(3)
Availability of
fees
(A)
In
general
Notwithstanding
section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, all amounts deposited in the
Fund—
(i) shall be credited as
offsetting collections;
(ii) shall be available for
expenditure for purposes of carrying out inspections of outer Continental Shelf
facilities (including mobile offshore drilling units) and the administration of
the inspection program under this section;
(iii) shall be available only
to the extent provided for in advance in an appropriations Act; and
(iv) shall remain available
until expended.
(B)
Use for field
offices
Not less than 75 percent of amounts in the Fund may be
appropriated for use only for the respective Department of the Interior field
offices where the amounts were originally assessed as fees.
(4)
Initial
fees
Fees shall be
established under this subsection for the fiscal year in which this subsection
takes effect and the subsequent 10 years, and shall not be raised without
advise and consent of the Congress, except as determined by the Secretary to be
appropriate as an adjustment equal to the percentage by which the Consumer
Price Index for the month of June of the calendar year preceding the adjustment
exceeds the Consumer Price Index for the month of June of the calendar year in
which the claim was determined or last adjusted.
(5)
Annual
fees
Annual fees shall be collected under this subsection for
facilities that are above the waterline, excluding drilling rigs, and are in
place at the start of the fiscal year. Fees for fiscal year 2013 shall
be—
(A) $10,500 for facilities
with no wells, but with processing equipment or gathering lines;
(B) $17,000 for facilities
with 1 to 10 wells, with any combination of active or inactive wells;
and
(C) $31,500 for facilities
with more than 10 wells, with any combination of active or inactive
wells.
(6)
Fees for drilling
rigs
Fees for drilling rigs shall be assessed under this
subsection for all inspections completed in fiscal years 2013 through 2022.
Fees for fiscal year 2013 shall be—
(A) $30,500 per inspection
for rigs operating in water depths of 1,000 feet or more; and
(B) $16,700 per inspection
for rigs operating in water depths of less than 1,000 feet.
(7)
Billing
The
Secretary shall bill designated operators under paragraph (5) within 60 days
after the date of the inspection, with payment required within 30 days of
billing. The Secretary shall bill designated operators under paragraph (6)
within 30 days of the end of the month in which the inspection occurred, with
payment required within 30 days after billing.
(8)
Sunset
No
fee may be collected under this subsection for any fiscal year after fiscal
year 2022.
(9)
Annual reports
(A)
In
general
Not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year
beginning with fiscal year 2013, 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 operation of the Fund
during the fiscal year.
(B)
Contents
Each
report shall include, for the fiscal year covered by the report, the
following:
(i) A statement of the
amounts deposited into the Fund.
(ii) A description of the
expenditures made from the Fund for the fiscal year, including the purpose of
the expenditures and the additional hiring of personnel.
(iii) A statement of the
balance remaining in the Fund at the end of the fiscal year.
(iv) An accounting of pace of
permit approvals.
(v) If fee increases are
proposed after the initial 10-year period referred to in paragraph (5), a
proper accounting of the potential adverse economic impacts such fee increases
will have on offshore economic activity and overall production, conducted by
the Secretary.
(vi) Recommendations to
increase the efficacy and efficiency of offshore inspections.
(vii) Any corrective actions
levied upon offshore inspectors as a result of any form of
misconduct.
.
V
United States
Territories
501.
Application of Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act with respect to territories of the United
States
Section 2 of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (a), by
inserting after control the following: or lying within
the United States exclusive economic zone and the Continental Shelf adjacent to
any territory of the United States;
(2) in paragraph (p), by
striking and after the semicolon at the end;
(3) in paragraph (q), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
(4) by adding at the end the
following:
(r) The term
State includes each territory of the United
States.
.
June 24, 2013
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of
the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be
printed