,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dgae  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #i1 #bjbf,mr4    
,s*iff 7= himself & ,mr4 ,padilla7      
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy
 & ,natural ,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to   
am5d ! ,out] ,cont95tal ,%elf ,l&s ,act 
to e/abli% fitness to op]ate /&>ds &    
decommission+ escr[ acc\nts = (f%ore oil
 & gas op]ators1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,(f%ore ,leas+ ,/&>ds & ,acc\ntability  
,act ( #bjbf4  #b4 ,fitness to op]ate   
/&>ds = oil & gas op]ators on ! out]    
cont95tal %elf  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,out]   
,cont95tal ,%elf ,l&s ,act 7#dc         
,u4,s4,c4 #acca et seq47 is am5d$ by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #cd4 ,fitness  
to op]ate /&>ds = (f%ore oil & gas      
activities  7a7 ,requirem5t = approvals 
,beg9n+ on ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y    
issues or revises regulations "u        
subsection 7b77#e71 ! ,secret>y may n   
issue1 ext5d ! t]m (1 or approve !      

transf] ( a lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way 
= oil or gas exploration1 developm5t1 or
 production on ! out] ,cont95tal ,%elf )
 respect to a recipi5t responsible p>ty 
unless ! recipi5t responsible p>ty is   
c]tifi$ z fit to op]ate 9 accordance )  
subsection 7b74  7b7 ,c]tification (    
fitness ,to op]ate  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!    
,secret>y %all c]tify a recipi5t        
responsible p>ty z fit to op]ate bas$   
on--  7,a7 ! pa/ compliance ( ! recipi5t
 responsible p>ty1 & any cov]$ entity ( 
! recipi5t responsible p>ty1 ) ,f$]al1  
,/ate1 & local environm5tal & safety    
laws & regulations1 includ+ deadl9es &  
requirem5ts relat$ to environm5tal      
reclamation1 decommission+1 & work]     
safety2  7,b7 ! f9ancial solv5cy &      
capacity ( ! recipi5t responsible p>ty1 
& any cov]$ entity ( ! recipi5t         
responsible p>ty1 to wea!r m>ket %ocks &
 fulfill curr5t & project$ decommission+
 liabilities2 &  7,c7 any o!r crit]ia ) 
respect to ! recipi5t responsible p>ty1 
& any cov]$ entity ( ! recipi5t         

responsible p>ty1 ! ,secret>y may       
e/abli% by regulation4  7#b7  ,m9imum   
qualifications  ,! ,secret>y may n      
c]tify a recipi5t responsible p>ty z fit
 to op]ate unless ! recipi5t responsible
 p>ty--  7,a7 demon/rates1 & ! ,secret>y
 v]ifies1 t-- 7i7 ! recipi5t responsible
 p>ty1 & any cov]$ entity ( ! recipi5t  
responsible p>ty1 did n violate any     
deadl9e or requirem5t ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1  
or local environm5tal or safety laws or 
regulations relat$ to environm5tal      
reclamation1 decommission+1 or work]    
safety dur+ ! p]iod ( #aj ye>s end+ on  
7z applicable7 ! date on :i* ! reque/ = 
c]tification 0 made or ! date on :i* !  
,secret>y makes an assessm5t "u p>agraph
 7#d77;,b72  7ii7 ! recipi5t responsible
 p>ty1 & any cov]$ entity ( ! recipi5t  
responsible p>ty1 are n 9 violation (   
?is ,act or any o!r ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or   
local environm5tal or safety law or     
regulation1 includ+ ) respect to any    
ov]due decommission+ ord]s = oil & gas  
infra/ructure locat$ on ! out]          

,cont95tal ,%elf2  7iii7 ! recipi5t     
responsible p>ty1 & any cov]$ entity ( !
 recipi5t responsible p>ty1 took timely 
& effective corrective actions to       
address any work] safety incid5ts1 oil  
spills1 or o!r unau?oriz$ pollutant     
dis*>ges1 & infra/ructure failures or   
disruptions disclos$ "u p>agraph        
7,b77iv72  7iv7 ! recipi5t responsible  
p>ty1 & any cov]$ entity ( ! recipi5t   
responsible p>ty1 d n owe any r5tals1   
royalties1 or o!r fees = any ,f$]al or  
,/ate lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way2  7v7 
a ,f$]al or ,/ate au?ority did n r$uce !
 rate = royalties on oil or gas produc$ 
"u any ,f$]al or ,/ate lease held by !  
recipi5t responsible p>ty1 or any cov]$ 
entity ( ! recipi5t responsible p>ty1   
dur+ ! p]iod ( #aj ye>s end+ on 7z      
applicable7 ! date on :i* ! reque/ =    
c]tification 0 made or ! date on :i* !  
,secret>y makes an assessm5t "u p>agraph
 7#d77;,b72  7vi7 ! recipi5t responsible
 p>ty1 & any p>5t company ( ! recipi5t  
responsible p>ty1 possess an inve/m5t   

grade cr$it rat+ f a nationally         
recogniz$ /ati/ical rat+ organization1 z
 su* t]m is def9$ 9 section #c7;a77#fb7 
( ! ,securities ,ex*ange ,act ( #aicd2  
7vii7 ! recipi5t responsible p>ty1 & any
 p>5t company ( ! recipi5t responsible  
p>ty1 h n fil$ a petition = bankruptcy  
"u title #aa1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 dur+ 
! p]iod ( #aj ye>s end+ on 7z           
applicable7 ! date on :i* ! reque/ =    
c]tification 0 made or ! date on :i* !  
,secret>y makes an assessm5t "u p>agraph
 7#d77;,b72 &  7viii7 ! recipi5t        
responsible p>ty1 & any cov]$ entity ( !
 recipi5t responsible p>ty1 h suffici5t 
f9ancial capacity to--  7,i7 fulfill all
 curr5t & project$ decommission+        
liabilities1 includ+ demon/ration t !   
liabilities disclos$ "u subp>agraph     
7,b77i77,i7 are fully collat]aliz$ or   
o!rwise f9ancially secur$2  7,,ii7      
implem5t & ma9ta9 up-to-date risk       
mitigation te*nologies1 environm5tal    
protection measures1 & work] safety     
measures1 includ+ ! use ( effective     

bl[-out prev5t] sy/ems & well-control   
processes pursuant to ! requirem5ts     
specifi$ 9 section #bej4gcj ( title #cj1
 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or any    
successor regulations72 &  7,,iii7      
support a suffici5t am\nt ( /aff ne$$ = 
ma9t5ance & ov]sight ( oil & gas        
infra/ructure on ! out] ,cont95tal ,%elf
 9 accordance ) environm5tal1 heal?1 &  
safety requirem5ts2 &  7,b7 provides to 
! ,secret>y a disclosure (--  7i7 curr5t
 & project$ decommission+ liabilities ( 
! recipi5t responsible p>ty1 & any cov]$
 entity ( ! recipi5t responsible p>ty1  
relat$ to all leases1 easem5ts1 &       
rights-(-way adm9i/]$ by a ,f$]al or    
,/ate au?ority1 includ+--  7,i7 dome/ic 
& global oil & gas decommission+        
liabilities2 &  7,,ii7 ! value (        
decommission+ obligations relative to ! 
prov5 value ( oil & gas res]ves ( !     
areas subject to su* leases1 easem5ts1 &
 rights-(-way2  7ii7 pa/ results (      
inspections ( oil & gas infra/ructure   
op]at$ by ! recipi5t responsible p>ty & 

any cov]$ entity ( ! recipi5t           
responsible p>ty2  7iii7 ! numb]1 l5g? (
 own]%ip1 & decommission+ /atus ( ea*   
non-produc+ oil & gas well locat$ on an 
area subject to a ,/ate or ,f$]al oil & 
gas lease held by ! recipi5t responsible
 p>ty or any cov]$ entity ( ! recipi5t  
responsible p>ty2 &  7iv7 ! numb] (     
work] safety incid5ts1 oil spills or o!r
 unau?oriz$ pollutant dis*>ges1 &       
infra/ructure failures or disruptions t 
h occurr$ on areas subject to ,/ate &   
,f$]al oil & gas leases held by !       
recipi5t responsible p>ty1 or any cov]$ 
entity ( ! recipi5t responsible p>ty1   
dur+ ! p]iod ( #ae ye>s end+ on 7z      
applicable7 ! date on :i* ! reque/ =    
c]tification 0 made or ! date on :i* !  
,secret>y makes an assessm5t "u p>agraph
 7#d77;,b74  7#c7  ,initial reque/ =    
c]tification  ,a recipi5t responsible   
p>ty may reque/ to be c]tifi$ z fit to  
op]ate pursuant to ! process e/abli%$ by
 regulation "u p>agraph 7#e74  7#d7     
,ma9t5ance ( c]tification  7,a7         

,requirem5t  ,a c]tification t ! hold] (
 a lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way = oil or 
gas exploration1 developm5t1 or         
production on ! out] ,cont95tal ,%elf   
issu$1 ext5d$1 or transf]r$ aft] ! date 
on :i* ! ,secret>y issues or revises    
regulations "u p>agraph 7#e7 is fit to  
op]ate %all be ma9ta9$ 9 accordance )   
subp>agraph 7,b74  7,b7  ,annual        
compliance v]ification  7i7  ,9 g5]al   
,! ,secret>y %all annually assess :e!r  
ea* hold] ( a lease1 easem5t1 or        
"r-(-way describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7    
rema9s 9 compliance ) /&>ds e/abli%$    
pursuant to p>agraph 7#e74  7ii7        
,susp5sion ( c]tification  ,if !        
,secret>y det]m9es "u subp>agraph 7,a7 t
 a hold] ( a lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way
 describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 is n 9     
compliance ) ! /&>ds e/abli%$ pursuant  
to p>agraph 7#e71 ! ,secret>y %all      
susp5d ! c]tification & impose "o or m (
 ! foll[+ p5alties until su* hold]      
complies ) su* /&>ds3  7,i7 ,susp5d !   
applicable lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way  

pursuant to section #e7;a77#a74  7,,ii7 
,issue f9es or o!r civil p5alties4      
7,,iii7 ,require supplem5tal f9ancial   
assurance 9 an am\nt equal to ! total   
expect$ co/ ( decommission+4  7,,iv7    
,issue an ord] to ! hold] ( ! lease1    
easem5t1 or "r-(-way to comm5ce         
decommission+1 includ+ a requirem5t t   
su* entity develop & submit a           
decommission+ plan pursuant to section  
#bej4agjd ( title #cj1 ,code ( ,f$]al   
,regulations 7or successor regulations71
 = approval by ! ,secret>y1 & issue a   
notice to any previ\s hold]s ( ! lease1 
easem5t1 or "r-(-way to comm5ce jo9t &  
sev]al liability proce$+s4  7#e7        
,regulations  ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! 
date ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 !        
,secret>y %all issue or revise          
regulations to--  7,a7 e/abli% /&>ds :i*
 ! ,secret>y %all use to det]m9e :e!r to
 c]tify a recipi5t responsible p>ty z   
fit to op]ate2  7,b7 e/abli% a process =
 recipi5t responsible p>ties to reque/  
su* c]tification2 &  7,c7 c>ry out any  

o!r requirem5ts ( ?is section4  7c7     
,report to ,congress ,n lat] ?an #a ye> 
aft] ! ,secret>y issues or revises      
regulations "u subsection 7b77#e71 &    
annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all      
submit to ,congress a report t          
includes-- 7#a7 a summ>y ( ! mo/ rec5t  
assessm5ts made "u subsection           
7b77#d77;,b71 includ+ a li/ (-- 7,a7 ea*
 p]son t holds an active or inactive    
lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way = oil or gas
 exploration1 developm5t1 or production 
on ! out] ,cont95tal ,%elf t fail$ to   
meet any ( ! /&>ds e/abli%$ pursuant to 
subsection 7b77#e72  7,b7 ! specific    
/&>ds = :i* ! p]son is or 0             
non-compliant1 disaggregat$ by-- 7i7    
p]son2 &  7ii7 lease1 easem5t1 &        
"r-(-way2 &  7,c7 en=cem5t actions tak5 
by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior aga9/ ea*   
p]son id5tifi$ "u subp>agraph 7,a72     
7#b7 decommission+ co/ e/imates = ea*   
lease1 easem5t1 & "r-(-way = oil or gas 
exploration1 developm5t1 or production  
on ! out] ,cont95tal ,%elf1 z calculat$ 

by ! ,secret>y pursuant to section      
#e7k77#b71 & any modifications to su*   
e/imates s9ce ! previ\s report2 &  7#c7 
! am\nt ( funds curr5tly held 9 ea*     
decommission+ escr[ acc\nts e/abli%$    
pursuant to section #e7k74  7d7         
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is  
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         
,secret>y #cj1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal    
ye>s #bjbg ?r\gh #bjca to c>ry out !    
requirem5ts ( ?is section4  7e7         
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,cov]$ 
entity ,! t]m cov]$ entity1 ) respect to
 a recipi5t responsible p>ty1 means--   
7,a7 any p>5t company ( ! recipi5t      
responsible p>ty2  7,b7 any subsidi>y   
company ( ! recipi5t responsible p>ty2  
7,c7 any entity t ! recipi5t responsible
 p>ty ent]s into a contract ) to        
con/ruct1 develop1 or op]ate a facility 
on ! out] ,cont95tal ,%elf2 &  7,d7 any 
entity t-- 7i7 %>es (fic]s1 directors1  
or key manag]ial p]sonnel ) any entity  
specifi$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 or 7,b72 or 
7ii7 is a pr$ecessor to any entity      

specifi$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 or 7,b74    
7#b7 ,decommission+ ,! t]m              
decommission+1 ) respect to oil & gas   
infra/ructure on ! out] ,cont95tal      
,%elf1 means-- 7,a7 end+ oil & gas      
op]ations2  7,b7 p]man5tly plugg+ all   
wells2  7,c7 monitor+ ! efficacy (      
activities to end su* op]ations1 includ+
 monitor+ ! safety & s\ndness ( plugg$  
wells2 &  7,d7 return+ ! area subject to
 ! lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way to a     
condition t meets ! environm5tal        
reclamation requirem5ts ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
! ,int]ior & any o!r ,f$]al ag5cy t has 
jurisdiction ov] su* op]ations4  7#c7   
,p>5t company ,! t]m p>5t company means 
a company t directly or indirectly      
controls ano!r company4  7#d7 ,recipi5t 
responsible p>ty ,! t]m recipi5t        
responsible p>ty means a p]son seek+ !  
issuance1 ext5sion1 or transf] ( a      
lease1 easem5t1 or "r-(-way = oil or gas
 exploration1 developm5t1 or production 
on ! out] ,cont95tal ,%elf4  7#e7       
,subsidi>y company ,! t]m subsidi>y     

company-- 7,a7 means any company t is   
own$ or controll$ directly or indirectly
 by ano!r company2 &  7,b7 includes any 
subsidi>y ( ! company t is s own$ or    
controll$4  4  7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t      
,section #e7;b7 ( ! ,out] ,cont95tal    
,%elf ,l&s ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4          
#accd7;b77 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 1 includ+ 
! regulations issu$ or revis$ "u section
 #cd relat+ to fitness to op]ate aft]   
regulations issu$ "u ?is ,act4  #c4     
,decommission+ escr[ acc\nts ,section #e
 ( ! ,out] ,cont95tal ,%elf ,l&s ,act   
7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #accd7 is am5d$ by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+3  7k7 ,escr[ acc\nt = 
decommission+ liability  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  
,! hold] ( an oil & gas lease %all1 9   
accordance ) ?is subsection1 make       
paym5ts to an int]e/-be>+ escr[ acc\nt1 
e/abli%$ & adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 9   
ord] to fully meet ! total co/ (        
decommission+ ! oil & gas infra/ructure 
locat$ on ! area subject to ! lease4    
7#b7 ,decommission+ co/ e/imate  7,a7 ,9
 g5]al ,= ea* oil & gas lease1 !        

,secret>y1 or an indep5d5t ?ird-p>ty    
entity designat$ by ! ,secret>y1 %all   
calculate & p]iodically update a        
probabili/ic e/imate ( ! total co/ (    
decommission+ exi/+ & propos$ oil & gas 
infra/ructure1 includ+ plat=ms1 wells1 &
 pipel9es1 locat$ on ! area subject to  
su* lease4  7,b7 ,initial e/imate ,!    
,secret>y1 or ! indep5d5t ?ird-p>ty1    
%all calculate an initial e/imate ( !   
total co/s describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7  
prior to ! issuance ( a new lease4  7,c7
 ,reevaluation & updates ,! ,secret>y1  
or ! indep5d5t ?ird-p>ty1 %all          
reevaluate &1 if necess>y1 update !     
e/imate ( ! total co/s describ$ 9       
subp>agraph 7,a7 at a m9imum-- 7i7 n    
less frequ5tly ?an once e #b ye>s1 to   
reflect any *anges 9 su* total co/s2    
7ii7 prior to ! approval ( a developm5t 
& production plan pursuant to section   
#be2  7iii7 prior to ! end ( ! s*$ule = 
paym5ts e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#c72 &    
7iv7 foll[+ ! disbursal ( funds f !     
escr[ acc\nts = a use approv$ "u        

p>agraph 7#d74  7#c7 ,paym5t s*$ule     
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% 
a m&atory s*$ule = paym5ts requir$ by   
p>agraph 7#a74  7,b7 ,deadl9es to       
e/abli% s*$ules  7i7 ,new leases ,)     
respect to ! issuance1 ext5sion1 or     
transf] ( an oil & gas lease aft] ! date
 ( enactm5t ( ?is subsection1 !         
,secret>y %all e/abli% ! s*$ule =       
paym5ts prior to su* issuance1 ext5sion1
 or transf]4  7ii7 ,exi/+ leases ,)     
respect to any lease 9 effect z ( ! date
 ( enactm5t ( ?is subsection1 !         
,secret>y %all e/abli% ! s*$ule =       
paym5ts by n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] su*   
date ( enactm5t4  7,c7 ,m9imum paym5ts  
by #e ye>s ,ea* s*$ule ( paym5ts        
e/abli%$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all       
provide t ! total am\nt ( paym5ts made  
to ! escr[ acc\nt by ! date t is #e ye>s
 aft] ! s*$ule is e/abli%$ be n less ?an
 ! total decommission+ co/s = all oil & 
gas infra/ructure locat$ on ! area ( !  
applicable lease4  7,d7 ,initial paym5ts
 ,no lease may be issu$1 & no developm5t

 & production plan may be approv$ "u    
section #be1 unless ! recipi5t          
responsible p>ty or leasehold] makes a  
paym5t to ! escr[ acc\nt 9 an am\nt     
equal to ! great] (-- 7i7 #be p]c5t ( ! 
av]age co/ to decommission oil & gas    
infra/ructure locat$ on a typical lease 
at simil> dep?s2 &  7ii7 #be p]c5t ( !  
total decommission+ co/s = all oil & gas
 infra/ructure propos$ to be in/all$ on 
! area subject to ! lease pursuant to ! 
plan4  7,e7 ,lease ext5sions & transf]s 
7i7 ,miss$ paym5ts ,! ,secret>y may n   
ext5d ! t]m (1 or approve ! transf] (1 a
 lease if ! hold] ( ! lease owes any    
out/&+ paym5ts to ! escr[ acc\nt4  7ii7 
,adoption ( paym5t s*$ule ,! ,secret>y  
may n approve ! transf] ( a lease unless
 ! recipi5t responsible p>ty agrees to  
adopt ! s*$ule = paym5ts e/abli%$ = !   
lease4  7,f7 ,adju/m5ts ,! ,secret>y    
%all adju/ a s*$ule = paym5ts e/abli%$  
"u subp>agraph 7,a7 to reflect any      
update to ! applicable co/ e/imate "u   
p>agraph 7#b77;,c74  7,g7 ,supplem5tal  

f9ancial assurances ,if ! comb9$ am\nt (
 ! funds 9 an escr[ acc\nt = a lease &  
any supplem5tal f9ancial assurances     
provid$ by ! hold] ( ! lease exce$s !   
total decommission+ co/ e/imate         
calculat$ by ! ,secret>y pursuant to    
p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,secret>y %all         
correspond+ly r$uce ! supplem5tal       
f9ancial assurances requir$ until !     
comb9$ figure is equival5t to !         
decommission+ co/ e/imate4  7,h7 ,int]e/
 ,any int]e/ paid on funds 9 an escr[   
acc\nt e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all   
become "p ( ! pr9cipal funds 9 ! acc\nt4
  7,i7 ,am\nts f jo9t & sev]al liability
 ,all funds accru$ f previ\s hold]s ( an
 oil & gas lease z a result ( jo9t &    
sev]al liability = ! purposes (         
decommission+ %all be deposit$ into !   
correspond+ escr[ acc\nt4  7,j7 ,return 
( rema9+ funds aft] decommission+ ,aft] 
decommission+ is complete1 any funds    
rema9+ 9 an escr[ acc\nt = a lease      
e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be       
return$ to any p>ties t made paym5ts to 

! escr[ acc\nt1 exclud+ any am\nts      
deposit$ pursuant to subp>agraph 7,i71  
bas$ on ! proportion ( ! paym5ts made by
 ! respective p>ty4  7#d7 ,use ( funds  
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! hold] ( a lease may    
only use funds 9 an escr[ acc\nt        
e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7-- 7i7 = !     
purposes ( decommission+ ! oil & gas    
infra/ructure locat$ on ! area subject  
to ! lease2 &  7ii7 if ! use is approv$ 
by ! ,secret>y4  7,b7 ,no use z         
collat]al ,no p]son may commit funds    
held 9 an escr[ acc\nt e/abli%$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a7 z collat]al4  7#e7        
,p5alties ,if ! requir$ paym5ts into an 
escr[ acc\nt e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7  
are del9qu5t by m ?an #fj days1 !       
,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 raise ! royalty   
rate = ! applicable lease at a rate     
suffici5t to recov] ! del9qu5t am\nt )9 
#f mon?s & deposit ! recov]$ am\nt into 
! applicable escr[ acc\nt e/abli%$ "u   
p>agraph 7#a72 or  7,b7 susp5d ! lease1 
pursuant to section #e7;a77#b71 until ! 
hold] ( ! lease provides ! del9qu5t     

am\nt4  7#f7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is         
subsection1 ! t]ms decommission+1 p>5t  
company1 & recipi5t responsible p>ty h !
 mean+s giv5 su* t]ms1 respectively1 9  
section #cd4  4  #d4 ,re/riction on     
tempor>y ab&onm5t ( wells ,section #e ( 
! ,out] ,cont95tal ,%elf ,l&s ,act 7#dc 
,u4,s4,c4 #accd7 is am5d$ by add+ at !  
end ! foll[+3  7l7 ,re/riction on       
tempor>y ab&onm5t ( wells  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,! ,secret>y-- 7,a7 may n approve !    
placem5t ( an oil well 9 tempor>y       
ab&onm5t /atus = a p]iod long] ?an #c   
ye>s2 &  7,b7 may only approve su*      
placem5t aft] submission & validation ( 
an accompany+ economic analysis v]ify+ !
 pot5tial = tempor>y ab&onm5t to improve
 op]ational /ability ( ! oil well or    
mitigate environm5tal impacts ( op]at+ !
 oil well4  7#b7 ,ext5sion ,not)/&+     
p>agraph 7#a77;,a71 ! ,secret>y may1 on 
a "o-"t basis = an oil well1 ext5d !    
maximum p]iod ! oil well may be plac$ 9 
tempor>y ab&onm5t /atus to #e ye>s if ! 
,secret>y det]m9es su* ext5sion is      

necess>y to ensure op]ational /ability  
or environm5tal safety4  4