,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bbjb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #b1 #bjad,mr4 ,scott 7for himself and ,mr4 ,graham7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to provide for revenue sharing of qualified revenues from leases in the ,south ,atlantic planning area1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,southern ,energy ,access ,jobs ,act or the ,,sea ,jobs ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management4 7#b7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74 7#c7 ,qualified revenues ,the term qualified revenues means all bonus bids1 rentals and royalties 7and other sums7 due and payable to the ,united ,states from all leases entered into after the date of enactment of this ,act that covers an area in the ,south ,atlantic planning area4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#e7 ,south ,atlantic planning area ,the term ,south ,atlantic planning area means the area of the outer ,continental ,shelf 7as defined in section #b of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca77 that is located between the northern lateral seaward administrative boundary of the ,commonwealth of ,virginia and the southernmost lateral seaward administrative boundary of the ,state of ,georgia4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means any of the following ,states3 7,a7 ,georgia4 7,b7 ,north ,carolina4 7,c7 ,south ,carolina4 7,d7 ,virginia4 7#g7 ,workforce ,investment ,board ,the term workforce investment board means a ,state or local workforce investment board established under subtitle ,b of title ,i of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhaa et seq474 #c4 ,enhancing ,state rights 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations that establish management of the surface occupancy of each portion of the ,south ,atlantic planning area for the applicable coastline of a ,state for any lease sale authorized under this ,act to the effect that-- 7#a7 the applicable ,state shall have sole authority to restrict or allow surface facilities above the waterline for the purpose of production of oil or gas resources in any area that is within #ab nautical miles seaward from the coastline of the ,state2 7#b7 unless permanent surface occupancy is authorized by a ,state1 only sub-surface production facilities may be installed in areas that are located between the point that is #ab nautical miles from seaward from the coastline of the ,state and the point that is #bj nautical miles seaward from the coastline of the ,state2 7#c7 new offshore production facilities are encouraged and the impacts on coastal vistas are minimized1 to the maximum extent practical2 and 7#d7 onshore facilities that facilitate the development and production of the oil and gas resources of the ,south ,atlantic planning area within #ab nautical miles seaward of the coastline of a ,state are allowed4 7b7 ,temporary activities not affected ,nothing in the regulations described in subsection 7a7 shall restrict1 or give the ,states authority to restrict1 temporary surface activities related to operations associated with outer ,continental ,shelf oil and gas leases4 #d4 ,reinstatement of ,virginia lease sale #bbj ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall conduct ,lease ,sale #bbj 7as described in the notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement dated ,november #ac1 #bjjh 7#gc ,fed4 ,reg4 #fgbja774 #e4 ,south ,carolina lease sale 7a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding the exclusion of the ,south ,atlantic planning area in the outer ,continental ,shelf leasing program for fiscal years #bjab-bjag prepared under section #ah of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acdd71 the ,secretary shall conduct a lease sale not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act in areas off the coast of the ,state of ,south ,carolina-- 7#a7 determined by the ,secretary to have the most geologically promising hydrocarbon resources2 and 7#b7 that constitute not less than #be percent of the leasable area located within the offshore administrative boundaries of the ,state of ,south ,carolina depicted in the notice entitled ,federal ,outer ,continental ,shelf 7,,ocs7 ,administrative ,boundaries ,extending from the ,submerged ,lands ,act ,boundary seaward to the ,limit of the ,united ,states ,outer ,continental ,shelf1 published ,january #c1 #bjjf 7#ga ,fed4 ,reg4 #abg74 7b7 ,environmental impact statement ,the ,secretary shall complete a multisale environmental impact statement for the lease sales conducted under subsection 7a7 and section #d4 #f4 ,south ,atlantic planning area lease sales 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct #c lease sales in the ,south ,atlantic planning area before ,june #cj1 #bjag1 in areas-- 7#a7 to be determined by the ,secretary based on-- 7,a7 analysis by the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management2 and 7,b7 industry nomination2 and 7#b7 determined by the ,secretary to contain the most hydrocarbon resource potential4 7b7 #bjag-bjbb leasing program ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 include the ,south ,atlantic planning area in the outer ,continental ,shelf leasing program for fiscal years #bjag-bjbb prepared under section #ah of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acdd72 and 7#b7 conduct #a lease sale in the ,south ,atlantic planning area during each year of the program1 for a total of #e lease sales4 #g4 ,balancing of military and energy production goals 7a7 ,in general ,in recognition that the outer ,continental ,shelf oil and gas leasing program and the domestic energy resources produced under the program are integral to national security1 the ,secretary and the ,secretary of ,defense shall work jointly in implementing lease sales under this ,act-- 7#a7 to preserve 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 ,shelf2 and 7#b7 to allow effective exploration1 development1 and production of the oil1 gas1 and renewable energy resources of the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,prohibition on conflicts with military operations ,no person may engage in any exploration1 development1 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 operation1 as determined in accordance with-- 7#a7 the agreement entitled ,memorandum of ,agreement between the ,department of ,defense and the ,department of the ,interior on ,mutual ,concerns on the ,outer ,continental ,shelf signed ,july #bj1 #aihc2 and 7#b7 any revision or replacement for the agreement described in paragraph 7#a7 that is agreed to by the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,secretary after that date but before the date of issuance of the lease under which the exploration1 development1 or production is conducted4 #h4 ,revenue sharing and deficit reduction ,notwithstanding section #i of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acch71 each fiscal year the ,secretary shall deposit-- 7#a7 #cg4e percent of the qualified revenues in a special account in the ,treasury1 from which the ,secretary shall allocate amounts in accordance with section #i2 7#b7 #b4e percent of the qualified revenues in the fund established by section #aj7;b77#a71 from which the ,secretary shall allocate amounts in accordance with that section2 7#c7 #aj percent of the qualified revenues dedicated towards deficit reduction2 and 7#d7 #ej percent of the qualified revenues in the general fund of the ,treasury4 #i4 ,allocation to ,states 7a7 ,in general ,of the qualified revenues deposited in the account under section #h7a71 #cg4e percent shall be distributed to each ,state-- 7#a7 using the formula established under subsection 7b72 and 7#b7 in amounts that are inversely proportional to the respective distances between the point on the coastline of each ,state that is closest to the geographic center of the applicable leased tract and the geographic center of the leased tract4 7b7 ,formula ,the formula used to make the calculation under subsection 7a7 shall be-- 7#a7 established by the ,secretary by regulation2 and 7#b7 modeled after the final rule entitled ,allocation and ,disbursement of ,royalties1 ,rentals1 and ,bonuses--,oil and ,gas1 ,offshore1 dated ,december #bc1 #bjjh 7#gc ,fed4 ,reg4 #ghfbb74 7c7 ,minimum allocation ,each ,state shall be entitled to an amount equal to not less than #aj percent of the qualified revenues allocated under subsection 7a74 7d7 ,use of funds ,a ,state receiving amounts under this section may use the amounts in accordance with ,state law4 #aj4 ,veterans jobs grant program authorized 7a7 ,establishment of fund 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states a fund1 to be known as the ,oil and ,gas ,production ,veterans ,workforce ,training ,fund 7referred to in this section as the ,fund71 consisting of such amounts as are transferred to the ,fund under section #h7b74 7#b7 ,administration ,the ,fund shall be administered by the ,secretary to fund the grants authorized by subsection 7b74 7b7 ,grants authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director1 shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible institutions of higher education and workforce investment boards to establish and fund oil and gas exploration1 development1 and production workforce training programs4 7#b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an institution of higher education or workforce investment board shall-- 7,a7 establish or expand and administer an oil and gas exploration1 development1 and production workforce training program2 and 7,b7 in granting admission to applicants to the program1 give priority to veterans of the ,armed ,forces of the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,application ,each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7#d7 ,limitation on administrative expenses ,not more than #j4e percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section may be used to pay for the administrative expenses of the programs described in paragraph 7#a74 #aa4 ,enhancing geological and geophysical education for ,america's energy future 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director1 shall partner with institutions of higher education selected under subsection 7c7 to facilitate the practical study of geological and geophysical sciences of areas on the ,atlantic ,outer ,continental ,shelf and elsewhere on the ,continental ,shelf of the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,focus ,activities conducted by institutions of higher education under this section shall focus all geological and geophysical scientific research on obtaining a better understanding of hydrocarbon potential in the ,south ,atlantic ,planning ,area while fostering the study of the geological and geophysical sciences at institutions of higher education in the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,selection of institutions 7#a7 ,nomination ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,governor of each ,state may nominate for participation in a partnership-- 7,a7 #a institution of higher education located in the ,state2 and 7,b7 #a institution of higher education that is a historically ,black college or university1 as defined in section #fca7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aacb7;a77 located in the ,state4 7#b7 ,preference ,in making nominations under paragraph 7#a71 each ,governor shall give preference to those institutions of higher education that demonstrate a vigorous rate of admissions of veterans of the ,armed ,forces of the ,united ,states and meet the criteria described in paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,selection ,the ,director shall select as a partner any institution of higher education nominated under paragraph 7#a7 that the ,director determines demonstrates excellence in #a or more of the following criteria3 7,a7 ,geophysical sciences curriculum4 7,b7 ,engineering curriculum4 7,c7 ,information technology or other technical studies related to seismic research1 including data processing4 7d7 ,research authority 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 an institution of higher education selected under subsection 7c77#c7 may conduct research under this section upon the expiration of the #cj-;day period beginning on the date the institution of higher education submits notice of the research to the ,south ,atlantic ,regional ,director of the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management4 7#b7 ,permit required ,an institution of higher education may not under this section conduct research that uses solid or liquid explosives except as authorized by a permit issued by the ,director4 7e7 ,data 7#a7 ,in general ,geological and geophysical activities conducted under this section-- 7,a7 shall be considered scientific research and data produced by the activities2 7,b7 shall not be used or shared for commercial purposes2 7,c7 shall not be produced for proprietary use or sale2 and 7,d7 shall be made available by the ,director to the public4 7#b7 ,submission of data to ,,boem ,not later than #fj days after completion of initial analysis of data collected under this section by an institution of higher education selected under subsection 7c77#c71 the institution of higher education shall share with the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management any data collected that is requested by the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management4 7#c7 ,fees ,the ,director may not charge any fee for the provision of data produced in research under this section1 other than a data reprocessing fee to pay the cost of duplicating the data4 7f7 ,report ,not less frequently than once every #ahj days1 the ,director 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 data derived from partnerships under this section4 #ab4 ,atlantic regional office ,not later than the last day of the outer ,continental ,shelf leasing program for fiscal years #bjab-bjag prepared under section #ah of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acdd71 the ,director shall establish an ,atlantic regional office in an area that is-- 7#a7 included in the outer ,continental ,shelf leasing program for fiscal years #bjag-bjbb prepared under section #ah of that ,act2 and 7#b7 determined by the ,director to have the most potential resource development4