,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #fjg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #d1 #bjba,ms4     
,cortez ,ma/o introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         
,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to disc\rage     
speculative oil & gas leas+ & to promote
 enhanc$ multiple use managem5t ( public
 l& & ,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&1 & = o!r 
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,end ,speculative ,oil &   
,gas ,leas+ ,act ( #bjba4  #b4 ,f9d+s   
,congress f9ds t-- 7#a7 ,f$]al l& %\ld  
be manag$ = multiple uses1 res\rces1 &  
values1 includ+ recreation use1 graz+   
use1 timb] res\rces1 m9]al res\rces1    
wat]%$ managem5t1 wildlife & fi%        
habitat1 & natural1 sc5ic1 sci5tific1 & 
hi/oric values2  7#b7 section #ag7;a7 ( 
! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4     
#bbf7;a77 au?orizes ! ,secret>y ( !     
,int]ior to (f] = lease only l& t is    
kn[n or believ$ to conta9 oil or gas    
deposits2  7#c7 7,a7 9 det]m9+ :e!r a   

p>cel ( ,f$]al l& %\ld be made available
 = oil & gas leas+ & developm5t1 & 9    
(f]+ su* a p>cel = sale1 ! ,secret>y    
does n mean+fully take into consid]ation
 ! oil & gas developm5t pot5tial ( t    
p>cel2 &  7,b7 z a result1 ! ,secret>y  
regul>ly (f]s & leases = oil & gas      
developm5t ,f$]al l& t has no or l[     
pot5tial = ! developm5t ( oil & gas     
res\rces 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z no- 
or l[-pot5tial ,f$]al l&72  7#d7 7,a7   
no- or l[-pot5tial ,f$]al l& is         
frequ5tly leas$ = or ne> ! m9imum lease 
bid1 or noncompetitively1 & r>ely       
produce oil or gas res\rces2 &  7,b7 z a
 result1 taxpay]s 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
receive m9imal rev5ue f ! leas+ ( no- or
 l[-pot5tial ,f$]al l&2  7#e7 mak+ no-  
or l[-pot5tial ,f$]al l& available = oil
 & gas leas+ c result 9 leases be+      
obta9$ = speculative purposes2  7#f7 !  
,secret>y wa/es taxpay] res\rces 9 issu+
 & manag+ leases on no- or l[-pot5tial  
,f$]al l&2  7#g7 no- or l[-pot5tial     
,f$]al l& frequ5tly supports o!r        

economically important uses1 res\rces1 &
 values includ+ ! uses1 res\rces1 &     
values describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a72  7#h7 !
 exi/5ce ( leases on no- & l[-pot5tial  
,f$]al l& c & does limit ! ability ( !  
,secret>y to support & enhance ! uses1  
res\rces1 & values describ$ 9 p>agraph  
7#a72 &  7#i7 mean+ful public           
p>ticipation 9 leas+ decisions is       
ess5tial & c help to ensure t !         
decisions ( ! ,secret>y are well-in=m$ &
 bas$ on curr5t & reliable in=mation &  
data4  #c4 ,policy ,9 accordance )      
,f$]al multiple use l& managem5t goals1 
x is ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t-- 7#a7
 ! ,secret>y-- 7,a7 %all n1 abs5t       
exceptional circum/ances1 (f] = lease   
any ,f$]al l& t has l[ or no pot5tial = 
! developm5t ( oil & gas res\rces2  7,b7
 %all disc\rage speculation 9 ! ,f$]al  
on%ore oil & gas leas+ program2 &  7,c7 
by n (f]+ = lease ,f$]al l& describ$ 9  
subp>agraph 7,a71 %all cons]ve limit$   
,f$]al res\rces t c be bett] appli$     
else:]e2 &  7#b7 ! policies describ$ 9  

p>agraph 7#a7 are 9 keep+ )1 & are n    
detrim5tal to1 ! en]gy security ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates4  #d4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is  
,act3 7#a7 ,dra9age ,! t]m dra9age means
 ! migration ( hydroc>bons1 in]t gases  
7o!r ?an helium71 or associat$ res\rces 
f a well caus$ by production f ano!r    
well4  7#b7 ,f$]al l& ,! t]m ,f$]al l&  
means-- 7,a7 public l&2 &  7,b7         
,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&4  7#c7 ,l& use 
plan ,! t]m l& use plan means-- 7,a7 a  
l& use plan requir$ "u sections #bja &  
#bjb ( ! ,f$]al ,l& ,policy & ,managem5t
 ,act ( #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agaa1     
#agab71 includ+ any res\rce managem5t   
plan 7z def9$ 9 section #afja4j-e (     
title #dc1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations  
7or successor regulations772 &  7,b7 a  
l& & res\rce managem5t plan develop$ by 
! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture pursuant to  
section #f ( ! ,=e/ & ,rangel& ,r5ewable
 ,res\rces ,plann+ ,act ( #aigd 7#af    
,u4,s4,c4 #afjd74  7#d7 ,public l& ,!   
t]m public l& has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m    
public l&s 9 section #ajc ( ! ,f$]al ,l&

 ,policy & ,managem5t ,act ( #aigf 7#dc 
,u4,s4,c4 #agjb74  7#e7 ,reasonably     
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io ,! t]m      
reasonably =eseeable developm5t sc5>io  
has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 ! h&book ( !   
,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t entitl$        
,h--#afbd-a--,plann+ = ,fluid ,m9]al    
,res\rces 7z 9 effect on ! date (       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act7 & issu$ pursuant to
 ! ,f$]al ,l& ,policy & ,managem5t ,act 
( #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq474  
7#f7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means ! 
,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior1 act+ ?r\gh !    
,director ( ! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t4 
#e4 ,f$]al l& cov]$ by reasonably       
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io issu$ be=e  
date ( enactm5t  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,) respect
 to ,f$]al l& o!rwise available = leas+ 
( oil & gas res\rces pursuant to !      
,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha  
et seq47 or ! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act =      
,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #cea et    
seq47 t is cov]$ by a reasonably        
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io issu$ be=e !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 except z   

provid$ 9 subsection 7b71 ! ,secret>y   
%all n (f] ! ,f$]al l& = lease unless ! 
reasonably =eseeable developm5t sc5>io =
 t l& includes an assessm5t ( ! oil &   
gas developm5t pot5tial ( t l& t        
specifically id5tifies ! pot5tial = all 
acres subject to decisions on           
availability = leas+4  7b7 ,exception = 
dra9age  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may 
(f] = lease any ,f$]al l& describ$ 9    
subsection 7a7 )\t meet+ ! requirem5ts (
 t subsection if-- 7,a7 7i7 ! ,f$]al l& 
is adjac5t to l& curr5tly produc+ oil or
 gas2 &  7ii7 ! lease is issu$ = !      
purpose ( prev5t+ dra9age f ! adjac5t   
l&2 or  7,b7 ! ,f$]al l&-- 7i7 does n   
exce$ #fdj acres2 &  7ii7 is locat$ )9  
#a mile ( a well produc+ oil or gas 9   
pay+ quantities on ! date on :i* !      
,f$]al l& is (f]$ = leas+4  7#b7        
,requirem5t ,a lease issu$ "u p>agraph  
7#a7 %all be consi/5t ) ! applicable l& 
use plan & all o!r applicable law4  #f4 
,f$]al l& n cov]$ by curr5t reasonably  
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io  7a7 ,9     

g5]al  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z provid$ 9
 subsection 7c71 if ! ,secret>y det]m9es
 t ,f$]al l& o!rwise available = leas+ (
 oil & gas res\rces pursuant to ! ,m9]al
 ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha et     
seq47 or ! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act = ,acquir$
 ,l&s 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #cea et seq47 is n 
cov]$ by a reasonably =eseeable         
developm5t sc5>io issu$ 9 accordance )  
?is subsection or section #e7;a71 !     
,secret>y1 9 coop]ation ) ! ,secret>y ( 
,agriculture ) respect to ,national ,=e/
 ,sy/em l&1 %all complete su* a         
reasonably =eseeable developm5t sc5>io4 
7#b7 ,requirem5ts ,any reasonably       
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io issu$ on or 
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act %all1 
at a m9imum-- 7,a7 assess & designate   
all ,f$]al l& cov]$ by ! reasonably     
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io z hav+ high1
 mod]ate1 l[1 or no pot5tial =          
developm5t ( oil & gas res\rces2 &  7,b7
 publi% a map depict+ ! cov]$ ,f$]al l& 
& ! developm5t pot5tial = t ,f$]al l&   
designat$ "u subp>agraph 7,a74  7#c7    

,factors  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 complet+ a   
reasonably =eseeable developm5t sc5>io =
 ,f$]al l&1 ! ,secret>y %all take into  
consid]ation-- 7i7 pa/ & pres5t         
exploration & developm5t activity 9 !   
vic9ity1 includ+ hi/oric tr5ds2  7ii7 = 
ea* lease 9 ! vic9ity1 ! numb]1         
location1 & types ( wells drill$1 !     
repres5tative dep? ( wells drill$1 !    
numb] & location ( dry holes1 ! success 
ratio = wells drill$1 & ! location1     
production hi/ory1 & life expectancy (  
produc+ fields2  7iii7 geological1      
geophysical1 & geo*emical in=mation = ! 
,f$]al l&1 includ+ data & in=mation f ! 
,unit$ ,/ates ,geological ,survey1 !    
,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy1 ,/ate ag5cies1      
indu/ry1 pr(essional societies1 academic
 s\rces1 & ! public2  7iv7 /ructural &  
/ratigraphic data & in=mation relat+ to 
bas9s1 fields1 & plays on ! ,f$]al l&2 &
  7v7 data & in=mation on ! likelihood t
 economically recov]able oil & gas      
res\rces are pres5t 9 a giv5 area1      
includ+ in=mation submitt$ by exp]ts & !

 public4  7,b7 ,explanation ( factors ,!
 ,secret>y %all docum5t h[ ea* factor   
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 & any o!r   
factors consid]$ by ! ,secret>y support 
! designation ( ! pot5tial = developm5t 
( oil & gas res\rces on ! ,f$]al l&4    
7#d7 ,opportunity = public p>ticipation 
,9 c>ry+ out a reasonably =eseeable     
developm5t sc5>io "u ?is subsection1 !  
,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 notify ! public t 
! reasonably =eseeable developm5t sc5>io
 is be+ initiat$2  7,b7 publi% a reque/ 
= in=mation = ! reasonably =eseeable    
developm5t sc5>io2  7,c7 release a draft
 v]sion ( ! reasonably =eseeable        
developm5t sc5>io = a public review &   
comm5t = a p]iod ( n less ?an #fj days2 
&  7,d7 consid] & respond to public     
comm5ts 9 ! f9al v]sion ( ! reasonably  
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io4  7b7       
,regul> update  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]   
?an #ae ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 & n less frequ5tly ?an e #ae  
ye>s !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y1 consi/5t )   
subsection 7a7 & 9 coop]ation ) !       

,secret>y ( ,agriculture ) respect to   
,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&1 %all review & 
update all reasonably =eseeable         
developm5t sc5>ios cov]+ ,f$]al l&4     
7#b7 ,prohibition ,except z provid$ 9   
subsection 7c71 ! ,secret>y %all n (f] =
 lease any ,f$]al l& o!rwise available =
 leas+ ( oil & gas res\rces pursuant to 
! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha
 et seq47 or ! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act =     
,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #cea et    
seq47 unless ! ,secret>y has updat$ !   
reasonably =eseeable developm5t sc5>io  
cov]+ t ,f$]al l& 9 accordance )        
p>agraph 7#a74  7c7 ,exception = dra9age
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may (f] =  
lease any ,f$]al l& o!rwise available = 
leas+ ( oil & gas res\rces pursuant to !
 ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha 
et seq47 or ! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act =      
,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #cea et    
seq47 )\t complet+ or updat+ a          
reasonably =eseeable developm5t sc5>io =
 t l& "u subsection 7a7 or 7b71 z       
applicable1 if-- 7,a7 7i7 ! ,f$]al l& is

 adjac5t to l& curr5tly produc+ oil or  
gas2 &  7ii7 ! lease is issu$ = !       
purpose ( prev5t+ dra9age f ! adjac5t   
l&2 or  7,b7 ! ,f$]al l&-- 7i7 does n   
exce$ #fdj acres2 &  7ii7 is locat$ )9  
#a mile ( a well produc+ oil or gas 9   
pay+ quantities on ! date on :i* !      
,f$]al l& is (f]$ = leas+4  7#b7        
,requirem5t ,a lease issu$ "u p>agraph  
7#a7 %all be consi/5t ) ! applicable l& 
use plan & all o!r applicable law4  #g4 
,l& hav+ no or l[ developm5t pot5tial "u
 a reasonably =eseeable developm5t      
sc5>io  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z provid$ 9
 subsections 7b7 & 7c71 ! ,secret>y %all
 n (f] = lease any ,f$]al l& o!rwise    
available = leas+ ( oil & gas res\rces  
pursuant to ! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj   
,u4,s4,c4 #aha et seq47 or ! ,m9]al     
,leas+ ,act = ,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj        
,u4,s4,c4 #cea et seq47 if ! ,f$]al l&  
is designat$ 9 ! applicable reasonably  
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io z hav+ l[ or
 no pot5tial = developm5t ( oil or gas  
res\rces4  7b7 ,exception = dra9age     

7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may (f] =    
lease any ,f$]al l& describ$ 9          
subsection 7a7 if-- 7,a7 7i7 ! ,f$]al l&
 is adjac5t to l& curr5tly produc+ oil  
or gas2 &  7ii7 ! lease is issu$ = !    
purpose ( prev5t+ dra9age f ! adjac5t   
l&2 or  7,b7 ! ,f$]al l&-- 7i7 does n   
exce$ #fdj acres2 &  7ii7 is locat$ )9  
#a mile ( a well produc+ oil or gas 9   
pay+ quantities on ! date on :i* !      
,f$]al l& is (f]$ = leas+4  7#b7        
,requirem5t ,a lease issu$ "u p>agraph  
7#a7 %all be consi/5t ) ! applicable l& 
use plan & all o!r applicable law4  7c7 
,v>iance process  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an     
entity seek+ to lease ,f$]al l& describ$
 9 subsection 7a7 = purposes o!r ?an !  
purpose describ$ 9 subsection           
7b77#a77;,a77ii7 may submit to !        
,secret>y an application = a v>iance "u 
:i* ! applicant %all be> ! full burd5 ( 
e/abli%+ & docum5t+ t provid+ a v>iance 
= ! ,f$]al l& w\ld-- 7,a7 be consi/5t ) 
decisions conta9$ 9 ! l& use plan 9     
effect = ! ,f$]al l&2  7,b7 affect only 

areas-- 7i7 ) l[ wildlife1 recreation1  
live/ock1 & o!r multiple-use res\rce    
values2 &  7ii7 :]e impacts to ^? values
 aris+ f ! v>iance c be resolv$2  7,c7  
optimize ! use ( exi/+ infra/ructure &  
avoid duplication ( infra/ructure &     
disruption ( public l&2  7,d7 m9imize   
adv]se impacts on fi% & wildlife        
habitats & migration & movem5t corridors
 9 ne>by areas2  7,e7 cause no          
significant effects on species li/$ z   
endang]$ species or ?reat5$ species "u !
 ,endang]$ ,species ,act ( #aigc 7#af   
,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 or ! habitats (
 ^? species2  7,f7 cause no cumulative  
impacts on air or wat] res\rces ( conc]n
 t _c be avoid$ or m9imiz$2  7,g7 cause 
no adv]se impacts on-- 7i7 units ( !    
,national ,p>k ,sy/em2  7ii7 units ( !  
,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2     
7iii7 areas ( critical environm5tal     
conc]n2  7iv7 compon5ts ( ! ,national   
,wild]ness ,pres]vation ,sy/em2 or  7v7 
o!r special /atus areas1 includ+ ,/ate &
 local p>ks & wildlife & recreation     

areas2 &  7,h7 all[ ! ,f$]al l& to be   
develop$ 9 ! public int]e/4  7#b7       
,opportunity = public p>ticipation  7,a7
 ,9 g5]al ,on receipt ( an application =
 a v>iance "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y
 %all-- 7i7 promptly notify ! public t !
 application has be5 receiv$2 &  7ii7   
provide ! public ) an opportunity to    
review & comm5t on ! application1       
includ+ any support+ docum5ts1 = a p]iod
 ( n less ?an #fj days4  7,b7 ,response 
,! ,secret>y %all consid] & respond 9   
writ+ to any public comm5ts receiv$ "u  
subp>agraph 7,a77ii7 be=e mak+ a        
det]m9ation "u p>agraph 7#c77;,a74  7#c7
 ,grant+ ( v>iance ,! ,secret>y may     
grant a v>iance = ,f$]al l& describ$ 9  
subsection 7a7 pursuant to an           
application submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 &
 (f] t ,f$]al l& = lease1 if-- 7,a7 !   
,secret>y publi%es 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] a 
det]m9ation t-- 7i7 ! applicant met !   
burd5 ( e/abli%+ & docum5t+ t ! v>iance 
w\ld meet ! requirem5ts describ$ 9      
p>agraph 7#a72  7ii7 (f]+ ! ,f$]al l& = 

lease-- 7,i7 w\ld n preclude ! use ( !  
,f$]al l& = o!r uses1 includ+ graz+1 fi%
 & wildlife1 & recreation uses2 &       
7,,ii7 w\ld be manag$ 9 accordance ) !  
pr9ciples ( multiple use 7z def9$ 9     
section #ajc ( ! ,f$]al ,l& ,policy &   
,managem5t ,act ( #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4  
#agjb772 &  7iii7 ! v>iance is 9 !      
public int]e/2 &  7,b7 ! ,f$]al l&-- 7i7
 is adjac5t to l& curr5tly produc+ oil  
or gas 9 comm]cial quantities on ! date 
on :i* ! v>iance is grant$2 &  7ii7 does
 n exce$ #fdj acres4  7#d7 ,requirem5t  
,a lease issu$ "u p>agraph 7#c7 %all be 
consi/5t ) ! applicable l& use plan &   
all o!r applicable law4  7#e7           
,limitation ,! ,secret>y %all n grant m 
?an #a v>iance "u ?is subsection p]     
#e-ye> p]iod to an applicant or to an   
entity "u common own]%ip or control ) ! 
applicant4  #h4 ,effect  7a7 ,multiple  
use consid]ations ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act1     
includ+ a det]m9ation "u a reasonably   
=eseeable developm5t sc5>io issu$       
pursuant to ?is ,act t ,f$]al l& has    

high or mod]ate pot5tial = developm5t ( 
oil & gas res\rces1 alt]s-- 7#a7 !      
requirem5ts "u section #bjb7;c7 ( !     
,f$]al ,l& ,policy & ,managem5t ,act (  
#aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agab7;c77 t prior 
to (f]+ = lease any public l& o!rwise   
available = leas+ ( oil & gas res\rces  
pursuant to ! ,m9]al ,leas+ ,act 7#cj   
,u4,s4,c4 #aha et seq47 or ! ,m9]al     
,leas+ ,act = ,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj        
,u4,s4,c4 #cea et seq471 ! ,secret>y    
%all consid] & weigh ! multiple use &   
su/a9$ yield values ( ! public l&2  7#b7
 ! requirem5ts ( subsections 7b7 & 7e7 (
 section #f ( ! ,=e/ & ,rangel&         
,r5ewable ,res\rces ,plann+ ,act ( #aigd
 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afjd7 t prior to (f]+ =
 lease any ,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&     
o!rwise available = leas+ ( oil & gas   
res\rces pursuant to ! ,m9]al ,leas+    
,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha et seq47 or !  
,m9]al ,leas+ ,act = ,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj 
,u4,s4,c4 #cea et seq471 ! ,secret>y (  
,agriculture %all consid] & weigh !     
multiple use & su/a9$ yield values ( !  

,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&2 or  7#c7 any  
o!r applicable requirem5ts ( law4  7b7  
,,nepa ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act modifies1 alt]s1
 or impacts ! applicability ( !         
,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act (  
#aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 to !
 leas+ ( ,f$]al l& by ! ,secret>y4