,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cghj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #af1 #bjac,mr4 ,holt 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 and ,mr4 ,lowenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act to authorize the ,secretary of the ,interior to establish an ,ocean ,energy ,safety ,institute1 to promote the use of best available and safest offshore drilling technologies1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,ocean ,energy ,safety and ,technology ,improvement ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,priority in permitting for new safety-enhancing technologies 7a7 ,exploration plans and permits ,section #aa of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acdj7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7g7 ,in considering exploration plans and applications for permits and other authorizations required under this section1 the ,secretary may give priority to reviewing and processing plans and applications that use1 develop1 or demonstrate new safety-enhancing technologies4 4 7b7 ,development and production plans and permits ,section #be of such ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acea7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7m7 ,in considering exploration plans and applications for permits and other authorizations required under this section1 the ,secretary may give priority to reviewing and processing plans and applications that use1 develop1 or demonstrate new safety-enhancing technologies4 4 #c4 ,establishment of a small business program ,the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ca4 ,establishment of small business program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a small business innovation research program or small business technology transfer program1 or both1 in accordance with this section to broaden participation by smaller industry participants in the development of safer technologies for offshore oil and gas exploration and development4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section each of the terms small business innovation research program and small business technology transfer program has the meaning given such term in section #i7;e7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fch7;e771 as in effect on the date of the enactment of the ,ocean ,energy ,safety and ,technology ,improvement ,act of #bjac4 4 #d4 ,ocean ,energy ,safety ,institute 7a7 ,in general ,the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca et seq47 is further amended by adding at the end the following3 #cb4 ,ocean energy safety institute 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish an independent ,ocean ,energy ,safety ,institute 7in this section referred to as the ,institute7 to enhance safe and responsible operations across the offshore oil and gas industry4 7#b7 ,form ,the ,secretary may establish the ,institute as-- 7,a7 a federally funded research and development center through an agreement in accordance with ,federal ,acquisition ,regulation #ce4jag-a2 or 7,b7 a university-affiliated research center managed by an institution of higher education4 7#c7 ,collaboration ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the ,institute is a collaborative initiative involving government1 academia1 and scientific experts4 7b7 ,functions ,the ,institute shall-- 7#a7 develop a program of research1 technical assistance1 and education that serves as a center of expertise in oil and gas exploration1 development1 and production technology2 7#b7 provide a forum for dialogue1 shared learning1 and cooperative research among academia1 government1 industry1 and other nongovernmental organizations1 in offshore energy-related technologies and activities that ensure safe and environmentally responsible offshore oil and gas exploration1 development1 and production operations2 7#c7 serve as a technical center that captures and preserves knowledge and experience to improve such operations2 7#d7 provide recommendations and technical assistance to the ,secretary related to the determination of best available and safest technology and environmentally sound offshore oil and gas development practices2 7#e7 evaluate design1 test protocols1 and test results on behalf of the ,secretary to certify new best available and safest technologies for such operations that have health1 safety1 or environment ramifications2 7#f7 facilitate training of ,federal workers on identification and verification of best available and safest technology1 and implementation of operational improvements1 in the areas of offshore drilling safety and environmental protection1 blowout containment1 and oil spill response2 7#g7 develop and maintain a domestic and international equipment failure reporting system and database of critical offshore oil and gas operations equipment failures related to well control2 7#h7 provide recommendations and technical assistance related to geological and geophysical sciences relevant to understanding the technical challenges of offshore oil and gas operations2 and 7#i7 provide knowledgeable independent assessments concerning technology maturity1 suitability1 and cost4 7c7 ,funding 7#a7 ,fee ,the ,secretary shall issue regulations to establish an annual nonproducing lease fee with respect to areas of the outer ,continental ,shelf that are subject to a lease under this ,act for production of oil or natural gas under which production is not occurring4 7#b7 ,application ,such fee shall apply with respect to land that is subject to such a lease that is in effect on the date final regulations are promulgated under this subsection or that is issued thereafter4 7#c7 ,amount ,the amount of the fee shall be #a for each acre of such land from which oil or natural gas is produced for less than #ij days in a calendar year4 7#d7 ,assessment and collection ,the ,secretary shall assess and collect the fee established under this subsection4 7#e7 ,use ,amounts received by the ,united ,states as the fee under this subsection may be used by the ,secretary for operations of the ,institute4 7#f7 ,preventing evasion ,the ,secretary may include in the regulations provisions to prevent evasion of the fee4 7d7 ,reporting and meetings ,the ,institute shall provide a report to the ,secretary on all ,institute activities on a quarterly basis1 and conduct an in-person meeting with the ,secretary or the ,secretary's designees at least once each year4 4 7b7 ,deadline for fee regulations ,the ,secretary of the ,interior shall issue regulations establishing the fee under the amendment made by subsection 7a7 within #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4