,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dfda  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,septemb] #bb1         
#bjbj,mr4 ,b5net introduc$ ! foll[+     
bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !    
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         
,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,m9]al 
,leas+ ,act to provide = transp>5cy &   
l&[n] protections 9 ! conduct ( lease   
sales "u t ,act1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,public ,engagem5t ,opportunity on      
,public ,l& ,exploration ,act ( #bjbj or
 ! ,,p ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,transp>5cy & 
l&[n] protections  7a7 ,requirem5ts =   
inclusion ( l& id5tifi$ 9 expressions ( 
int]e/ 9 lease sales ,section #ag7;b7 ( 
! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4     
#bbf7;b77 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !   
foll[+3  7#d7 ,requirem5ts = inclusion (
 l& id5tifi$ 9 expressions ( int]e/ 9   
lease sales  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,a memb] ( ! 
public may submit to ! ,secret>y an     
expression ( int]e/ t id5tifies l& =    
consid]ation = inclusion by ! ,secret>y 

9 a lease sale "u ?is section4  7,b7    
,inclusion ( l& 9 lease sale ,subject to
 ! requirem5ts ( ?is section1 !         
,secret>y may include 9 a lease sale "u 
?is section ! l& id5tifi$ "u an         
expression ( int]e/ receiv$ by !        
,secret>y4  7,c7 ,notification ,on      
receipt ( an expression ( int]e/1 !     
,secret>y %all notify by c]tifi$ mail1  
electronic mail1 & electronic po/+ on ! 
website ( ! relevant leas+ or l&        
managem5t ag5cy-- 7i7 any own]s (       
surface rights on l& id5tifi$ "u !      
expression ( int]e/2  7ii7 any hold]s ( 
recreational or special use p]mits on ! 
l&2  7iii7 any hold]s ( graz+ rights on 
! l&2  7iv7 any own] ( a wat] "r ! wat] 
( :i* orig9ates on or fl[s ov] ! l&2    
7v7 any own] ( a wat] conveyance        
/ructure1 su* z a dit*1 on ! l&2 &  7vi7
 ! local gov]nm5t ) jurisdiction ov] !  
area 9 :i* ! l& is locat$4  7,d7        
,transp>5cy  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y  
%all require t ea* bid = a lease        
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b7 include--   

7,i7 ! "n ( ! p]son or entity submitt+ !
 bid1 includ+ ! "n ( all subsidi>ies1   
affiliates1 & entities controll$ by1 or 
"u common control )1 ! p]son or entity2 
7,,ii7 if an ag5t is submitt+ ! bid on  
behalf ( a p]son or entity1 ! "n ( !    
p]son or entity on behalf ( :i* ! ag5t  
is act+1 includ+ all subsidi>ies1       
affiliates1 & entities controll$ by1 or 
"u common control )1 ! p]son or entity2 
&  7,,iii7 if ! p]son or entity submitt+
 ! bid is ! p]son or entity t submitt$ !
 applicable expression ( int]e/1 or if  
an ag5t is submitt+ ! bid on behalf ( ! 
p]son or entity t submitt$ ! applicable 
expression ( int]e/1 a disclosure ( t   
fact4  7ii7 ,publication ,! ,secret>y   
%all publi% on ! website ( ! relevant   
leas+ or l& managem5t ag5cy ea* "n      
disclos$ 9 a bid "u clause 7i74  4  7b7 
,notice requirem5ts ,section #ag7;f7 ( !
 ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4      
#bbf7;f77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 ! six?      
s5t5ce1 by /rik+ ,! requirem5ts & ins]t+
 ! foll[+3  7#e7 ,applicability ( o!r   

notice requirem5ts ,! requirem5ts  2    
7#b7 9 ! fif? s5t5ce1 by /rik+ ,su* maps
 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7,c7 ,location ,a  
map includ$ 9 a notice "u p>agraph 7#a7 
2  7#c7 9 ! f\r? s5t5ce1 by /rik+ ,:]e !
 inclusion ( maps 9 su* notice & ins]t+ 
! foll[+3  7,b7 ,availability ,if !     
inclusion ( maps 9 a notice "u p>agraph 
7#a7  2  7#d7 9 ! ?ird s5t5ce1 by /rik+ 
,su* notice & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#b7    
,requir$ inclusions  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,a   
notice requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7  2  7#e7
 by /rik+ 7f7 ,at lea/ & all t foll[s   
?r\gh l& managem5t ag5cies4 & ins]t+ !  
foll[+3  7f7 ,notice requirem5ts  7#a7  
,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij days be=e (f]+ 
l& = lease "u ?is section1 & n lat] ?an 
#cj days be=e approv+ an application =  
p]mit to drill "u ! provisions ( a lease
 issu$ "u ?is section1 modify+ ! t]ms ( 
any lease issu$ "u ?is section1 or      
grant+ a waiv]1 exception1 or           
modification ( any /ipulation ( a lease 
issu$ "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all--
 7,a7 po/ notice 9 ! appropriate local  

(fices1 & on ! electronic websites1 ( ! 
leas+ & l& managem5t ag5cies (f]+ ! l& =
 lease2  7,b7 notify by c]tifi$ mail &  
electronic mail any-- 7i7 own]s (       
surface rights on ! l& cov]$ by ! lease2
  7ii7 hold]s ( special recreation      
p]mits = comm]cial use1 competitive     
ev5ts1 or o!r organiz$ activities on !  
l& cov]$ by ! lease2  7iii7 hold]s (    
graz+ rights on ! l& cov]$ by ! lease2  
7iv7 own] ( a wat] "r ! wat] ( :i*      
orig9ates on or fl[s ov] ! l&2  7v7 own]
 ( a wat] conveyance /ructure1 su* z a  
dit*1 on ! l&2 &  7vi7 z applicable1    
memb]s ( ! public :o h submitt$ to !    
,secret>y a reque/ to receive notice    
reg>d+ propos$ actions ( ! ,secret>y    
applicable to-- 7,i7 a geographic area2 
or  7,,ii7 a res\rce4  2 &  7#f7 by     
ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#b7 7z s          
designat$7 ! foll[+3  7#c7 ,additional  
requirem5ts  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,be=e det]m9+
 ! p>cels to be includ$ 9 a lease sale  
"u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all provide
 a scop+ p]iod ( n less ?an #cj days    

dur+ :i* ! ,secret>y %all provide public
 notice & an opportunity = comm5t reg>d+
 all p>cels t may be includ$ 9 ! lease  
sale4  7,b7 ,environm5tal analysis  7i7 
,def9ition ( det]m9ation ( ,,nepa       
adequacy ,9 ?is subp>agraph1 ! t]m      
det]m9ation ( ,,nepa adequacy means a   
det]m9ation ( ! ,secret>y t an action-- 
7,i7 is adequately analyz$ 9 an exi/+   
docum5t prep>$ pursuant to ! ,national  
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 &  7,,ii7     
con=ms ) ! applicable l& use plan4  7ii7
 ,public notice & comm5t ,be=e conduct+ 
a lease sale "u ?is section1 !          
,secret>y1 9 comply+ ) ! ,national      
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq471 %all ensure t 
! public has ! p]iod ( "t requir$ "u t  
,act to comm5t on any environm5tal      
analysis1 includ+ any det]m9ation (     
,,nepa adequacy1 c>ri$ out ) respect to 
! lease sale4  7iii7 ,requirem5t ,!     
p]iod = public comm5t "u clause 7ii7    
%all be n less ?an #cj days4  7,c7      

,,nepa analysis requirem5ts  7i7 ,9     
g5]al ,any analysis prep>$ pursuant to !
 ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( 
#aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 = a 
lease sale "u ?is section %all address  
all p>cels be+ consid]$ = sale4  7ii7   
,re/riction ,no p>cel may be includ$ 9 a
 lease sale "u ?is section-- 7,i7 )\t   
compliance )-- 7aa7 ! public notice &   
comm5t requirem5ts ( ?is subsection2 &  
7bb7 ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy  
,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et    
seq472 &  7,,ii7 unless ! p>cel is      
specifically id5tifi$ & consid]$ 9 !    
analysis = t specific lease sale c>ri$  
out 9 compliance ) ! ,national          
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474  7,d7 ,surface
 managem5t by ano!r ,f$]al ag5cy ,)     
respect to a p>cel ! surface ( :i* is   
manag$ by ano!r ,f$]al ag5cy1 ! p>cel   
may n be includ$ 9 a lease sale "u ?is  
section )\t ! cons5t ( t ,f$]al ag5cy = 
t specific lease sale4  7,e7 ,prote/s   
7i7 ,9 g5]al ,any p>ty may file a prote/

 reg>d+ ! inclusion ( a p>cel 9 a lease 
sale "u ?is section4  7ii7 ,deadl9e2    
me?od ( fil+ ,a prote/ "u clause 7i7--  
7,i7 %all be fil$ by ! date t is n lat] 
?an #de days aft] ! date on :i* !       
,secret>y gives notice ( ! lease sale "u
 p>agraph 7#a72 &  7,,ii7 may be fil$ by
 electronic mail4  7#d7 ,local gov]nm5ts
 ,be=e tak+ any action = :i* notice or  
opportunity = comm5t is requir$ "u ?is  
subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all provide to 
local gov]nm5ts ) jurisdiction ov] !    
area 9 :i* l& cov]$ by a propos$ action 
is locat$ notice & an opportunity =     
comm5t t meets or exce$s ! requirem5ts =
 notice & opportunity = comm5t "u ?is   
subsection4  4  7c7 ,surface e/ate own] 
protection ,section #ag ( ! ,m9]al      
,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #bbf7 is     
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7q7   
,surface e/ate own] protection  7#a7    
,def9ition ( cov]$ l& ,9 ?is subsection1
 ! t]m cov]$ l& means l& subject to a   
lease "u ?is section-- 7,a7 ! title to !
 oil & gas res\rces ( :i* is held by !  

,unit$ ,/ates2 b  7,b7 ! title to !     
surface e/ate ( :i* is n held by !      
,unit$ ,/ates4  7#b7 ,po/-lease surface 
use agreem5t  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z   
provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#c71 ! ,secret>y    
%all n au?orize any op]ator to conduct  
exploration & drill+ op]ations on cov]$ 
l& until ! op]ator files ) ! ,secret>y a
 docum5t1 sign$ by ! op]ator & ! #a or m
 surface e/ate own]s1 demon/rat+ t !    
op]ator has secur$ a writt5 surface use 
agreem5t betwe5 ! op]ator & ! #a or m   
surface e/ate own]s t meets !           
requirem5ts ( subp>agraph 7,b74  7,b7   
,cont5ts ,! surface use agreem5t "u     
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all provide =-- 7i7 ! 
use by ! op]ator ( only su* portion ( ! 
surface e/ate z is reasonably necess>y =
 exploration & drill+ op]ations bas$ on 
site-specific conditions2  7ii7 !       
accommodation ( ! surface e/ate own] to 
! maximum ext5t practicable1 includ+ !  
location1 use1 tim+1 & type (           
exploration & drill+ op]ations1 consi/5t
 ) ! "r ( ! op]ator to develop ! oil &  

gas e/ate2  7iii7 placem5t1             
specifications1 ma9t5ance1 & design (   
well pads1 ga!r+ pipel9es1 & roads to be
 con/ruct$ = oil & gas op]ations1 to !  
ext5t kn[n2  7iv7 t]ms ( +ress & egress 
on ! surface ( ! l& = oil & gas         
op]ations2  7v7 con/ruction1 ma9t5ance1 
& placem5t ( all pits & equipm5t us$ or 
plann$ = oil & gas op]ations1 to ! ext5t
 kn[n2  7vi7 use & imp\ndm5t ( wat] on !
 surface ( ! l&2  7vii7 removal &       
re/oration ( plant life2  7viii7 surface
 wat] dra9age *anges2  7ix7 actions to  
limit & effectively control             
precipitation run(f & erosion2  7x7     
control & managem5t ( noise1 we$s1 du/1 
traffic1 trespass1 litt]1 & int]f]5ce ) 
! use ( ! surface e/ate own]2  7xi7     
op]ator indemnification = injury to     
p]sons caus$ by ! op]ator or a          
subcontractor or ag5t ( ! op]ator2      
7xii7 ! reclamation ( ! site to a       
condition capable ( support+ ! uses t ! 
l& 0 capable ( support+ prior to        
exploration & drill+ op]ations2 &       

7xiii7 comp5sation = damages result+ f  
exploration & drill+ op]ations1         
includ+-- 7,i7 loss ( income & increas$ 
co/s incurr$2  7,,ii7 damage to1 or     
de/ruction (1 p]sonal prop]ty1 includ+  
crops1 =age1 & live/ock2 &  7,,iii7     
failure to reclaim ! site 9 accordance )
 clause 7xii74  7,c7 ,proc$ure  7i7     
,notice ( int5t to ent] into agreem5t   
,an op]ator %all notify ! #a or m       
surface e/ate own]s ( ! desire ( !      
op]ator to conclude an agreem5t "u ?is  
p>agraph by c]tifi$ mail or electronic  
mail4  7ii7 ,arbitration  7,i7 ,9 g5]al 
,if ! surface e/ate own] & ! op]ator d n
 rea* an agreem5t "u clause 7i7 by !    
date t is #ij days aft] ! date on :i* ! 
op]ator provides notice "u t clause1 !  
op]ator may submit ! matt] to ?ird-p>ty 
arbitration4  7,,ii7 ,deadl9e =         
arbitration ,an arbitration "u subclause
 7,i7 %all be conclud$ )9 a p]iod ( #ij 
days4  7,,iii7 ,co/ ,! co/ ( an         
arbitration "u subclause 7,i7 %all be ! 
responsibility ( ! op]ator4  7,,iv7 ,li/

 ( arbitrators ,! ,secret>y %all make   
publicly available a li/ ( p]sons :o are
 qualifi$ to arbitrate disputes "u ?is  
clause4  7,v7 ,qualifications (         
arbitrators ,9 ord] to arbitrate a      
dispute "u ?is clause1 an arbitrator    
%all meet ! m9imum qualification crit]ia
 ( ! ,am]ican ,arbitration ,association1
 includ+-- 7aa7 a m9imum ( #aj ye>s (   
s5ior-level bus9ess or pr(essional      
exp]i5ce or legal practice2  7bb7 an    
educational degree or pr(essional       
lic5ses appropriate to ! oil & gas      
indu/ry2  7cc7 tra9+ or exp]i5ce 9      
arbitration or o!r =ms ( dispute        
resolution2 &  7dd7 memb]%ip 9 relevant 
pr(essional associations4  7,,vi7       
,ref]ral ,ref]ral ( a matt] =           
arbitration by an op]ator to an         
arbitrator id5tifi$ by ! ,secret>y      
pursuant to subclause 7,,iv7 %all be    
suffici5t to con/itute compliance )     
subclause 7,v74  7#c7 ,au?oriz$         
exploration & drill+ op]ations  7,a7    
,au?orization )\t surface use agreem5t  

7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may au?orize  
an op]ator to conduct exploration &     
drill+ op]ations on cov]$ l& )\t fir/   
secur+ a surface use agreem5t 9         
accordance ) p>agraph 7#b71 if-- 7,i7 ! 
,secret>y makes a det]m9ation 9 writ+   
t-- 7aa7 ! op]ator made a good fai?     
attempt to conclude su* an agreem5t1    
includ+ by submitt+ ! matt] to          
arbitration 9 accordance ) subclause    
7,i7 ( p>agraph 7#b77;,c77ii72 b  7bb7  
an agreem5t 0 n conclud$ by ! deadl9e "u
 subclause 7,i7 or 7,,ii71 z applicable1
 ( t p>agraph2  7,,ii7 ! op]ator submits
 a plan ( op]ations t provides = -- 7aa7
 ! matt]s describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b77;,b72
 &  7bb7 compliance ) all o!r applicable
 requirem5ts ( ,f$]al & ,/ate law2 &    
7,,iii7 ! op]ator po/s a bond or o!r    
f9ancial assurance 9 ! =m ( a surety    
bond1 tru/ fund1 lett] ( cr$it1 gov]nm5t
 security1 c]tificate ( deposit1 ca%1 or
 equival5t 9 an am\nt ! ,secret>y       
det]m9es to be adequate to ensure       
comp5sation to ! #a or m surface e/ate  

own]s = any damages to1 or reclamation  
(1 ! site4  7ii7 ,limitation ,self-bond+
 %all n be an acceptable =m ( f9ancial  
assurance "u clause 7i77,,iii74  7,b7   
,surface e/ate own] p>ticipation ,9     
addition to any p>ticipation            
opportunities provid$ to memb]s ( !     
public "u ?is section1 ) respect to a   
lease issu$ "u ?is section = cov]$ l&1 !
 ,secret>y %all provide surface e/ate   
own]s )-- 7i7 be=e au?oriz+ an op]ator  
to conduct exploration & drill+         
op]ations on ! cov]$ l&1 a p]iod ( n    
less ?an #cj days to comm5t on ! plans (
 op]ations ( ! op]ator2  7ii7 an        
opportunity to p>ticipate 9 bond level  
det]m9ations & bond release proce$+s "u 
subsection 7g72  7iii7 an opportunity to
 att5d any onsite inspection c>ri$ out =
 ! purpose ( a det]m9ation or proce$+ "u
 clause 7ii72  7iv7 an opportunity to   
file writt5 objections to a propos$ bond
 release2 &  7v7 an opportunity to      
reque/ & p>ticipate 9 an onsite         
inspection if ! surface e/ate own] has  

reason to believe !re is a violation ( !
 t]ms & conditions ( ! plan ( op]ations 
( ! op]ator4  7,c7 ,paym5t ( f9ancial   
gu>antee  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! own] ( !      
surface e/ate ( cov]$ l& subject to a   
lease issu$ "u ?is section may petition 
! ,secret>y = paym5t ( all or any       
portion ( a bond or o!r f9ancial        
assurance requir$ "u subsection 7g7 z   
comp5sation = any damages result+ f     
exploration & drill+ op]ations pursuant 
to ! lease4  7ii7 ,=m ( comp5sation ,if 
! ,secret>y approves ! petition "u      
clause 7i71 ! ,secret>y may use ! bond  
or o!r f9ancial assurance ref]r$ to 9 t 
clause to provide comp5sation to !      
surface e/ate own] = ! damages describ$ 
9 ! petition4  7#d7 ,surface e/ate own] 
notification ,9 addition to any notice  
provid$ to memb]s ( ! public "u ?is     
section1 ) respect to a lease ( cov]$ l&
 "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all notify
 ! #a or m surface e/ate own]s by       
c]tifi$ mail1 electronic mail1 &        
electronic po/+ on ! website ( !        

relevant leas+ or l& managem5t ag5cy--  
7,a7 ( ! lease sale by n lat] ?an #ij   
days be=e conduct+ ! lease sale2  7,b7 (
 ! id5tity & address ( ! lessee by n    
lat] ?an #aj bus9ess days aft] ! lease  
is issu$2  7,c7 ( any subsequ5t reque/  
or decision reg>d+ ! lease1 includ+ any 
reque/ or decision to modify ! lease1   
waive a /ipulation1 or approve a "r (   
way1 by n lat] ?an #e bus9ess days aft] 
! ,secret>y receives ! reque/ or makes !
 decision2 &  7,d7 ( any issuance ( a   
p]mit to drill "u ! lease1 by n lat] ?an
 #e bus9ess days aft] issuance ( !      
p]mit4  7#e7 ,bonds or f9ancial         
assurances  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,) respect to 
a lease ( cov]$ l& "u ?is section1 !    
,secret>y %all notify ! #a or m surface 
e/ate own]s by c]tifi$ mail1 electronic 
mail1 & electronic po/+ on ! website ( !
 relevant leas+ or l& managem5t ag5cy by
 n lat] ?an #cj days be=e e/abli%+ or   
releas+ a bond or o!r f9ancial assurance
 "u subsection 7g74  7,b7 ,objections   
,if a surface e/ate own] objects to !   

am\nt ( ! bond or o!r f9ancial assurance
 to be requir$ = a lease ( cov]$ l&1 !  
,secret>y %all respond 9 writ+ to !     
objections ( ! surface e/ate own]1      
includ+ a description ( ! rationale = ! 
am\nt4  7,c7 ,release ( bond ( o!r      
f9ancial assurance ,! ,secret>y may     
release ! bond or o!r f9ancial assurance
 requir$ = a lease ( cov]$ l& only if-- 
7i7 ! ,secret>y det]m9es t comp5sation =
 damages has be5 paid 9 accordance )1 z 
applicable-- 7,i7 ! t]ms ( ! surface use
 agreem5t "u p>agraph 7#b77;,b77xiii72  
or  7,,ii7 ! det]m9ation ( ! ,secret>y  
"u p>agraph 7#c77;,a77iii72  7ii7 !     
surface e/ate own] & ! op]ator h        
execut$1 & submitt$ to ! ,secret>y1 a   
surface use & comp5sation agreem5t      
provid+ t ! bond or o!r f9ancial        
assurance %\ld be releas$2  7iii7 !     
,secret>y det]m9es t-- 7,i7 !re has be5 
a f9al resolution ( any action =        
damages2 &  7,,ii7 any damages aw>d$    
pursuant to t action h be5 paid2 or     
7iv7 ! ,secret>y det]m9es t-- 7,i7 all  

wells on ! cov]$ l& h be5 plugg$ &      
ab&on$2 &  7,,ii7 ! op]ator has n       
conduct$ oil & gas op]ations on ! cov]$ 
l& = a p]iod ( n less ?an #f ye>s4  4