Records
Bill· HRH.R. 1037 (95th)failed
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 1977
Energy Transportation Security Act - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to direct the Secretary of Commerce to assure that 20 percent of the gross tonnage of oil transported in bulk on ocean vessels for import into the United States shall be carried on privately owned United States-flag commercial vessels, provided that the Secretary finds that such United States vessels as are available will be adequate to carry such quantity. Raises the requirement to 25 percent after June 30, 1978, and to 30 percent after June 30, 1980. Requires the Secretary to make annual reports to the Congress and the President on the implementation of this Act. Exempts from the provisions of this Act refineries whose capacity is less than 30,000 barrels per day.
Bill· HRH.R. 1614 (95th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1977
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments - Title I: Findings and Purposes with Respect to Managing the Resources of the Outer Continental Shelf - Declares that the national interest will be served by a policy of increased domestic production of the oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf. Declares it the purpose of this Act to establish policies and procedures for management of the oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, while minimizing or eliminating adverse impacts of such development. Title II: Amendments to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to revise bidding and leasing procedures under the Act. Requires that the Secretary of the Interior provide Governors of affected coastal States with the opportunity to jointly lease lands. Establishes procedures for geological and geophysical exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf. Requires submission of exploration plans to the Secretary of the Interior for approval. Directs the Secretary to prepare and periodically revise an oil and gas leasing program consistent with the purpose of this Act. Stipulates that the Secretary shall be responsible for preparing any environmental impact statements as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Establishes procedures for review of the leasing program by affected States, localities, and regions. Authorizes the establishment of Regional Outer Continental Shelf Advisory Boards. Stipulates that Board recommendations on proposed leasing activities for such region shall be binding upon the Secretary unless inconsistent with national security or the national interest. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to study areas included in lease sales in order to develop baseline information concerning the potential impact of the proposed oil and gas development on the coastal environment. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate safety regulations for oil and gas development operations on the Outer Continental Shelf. Directs the National Academy of Engineering to study the adequacy of existing safety regulations and submit its findings to Congress and the Secretary. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to enforce applicable safety, environmental, and occupational safety and health regulations relating to development of the Outer Continental Shelf. Allows citizen suits by persons adversely affected by actions under this Act. Imposes civil penalties of not more than $10,000 per day for failure to comply with the provisions of this Act. Imposes criminal penalties in fines of not more than $100,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than ten years for knowing and willful violations of this Act. Reserves the right of the United States to purchase a specified percentage of the oil and gas produced by leases or permits issued pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to establish procedures for equitable distribution of oil from such leases to small refiners. Imposes restrictions on employment of certain former Interior Department officials by entities subject to regulation under this Act for a period of two years after termination of employment with the Interior Department. Title III: Offshore Oil Spill Pollution Fund - Establishes an Offshore Oil Pollution Compensation Fund within the Department of Transportation. Prohibits discharges of oil from offshore facilities or vessels in harmful quantities. Imposes criminal penalties for failure to immediately notify the Secretary of Transportation of such discharges. Imposes strict liability upon owners and operators of offshore facilities up to specified limits for damages form from discharges of oil from such facilities. Stipulates that no liability shall be imposed for discharges caused by acts of war or third parties. Imposes a fee not to exceed three cents per barrel on oil produced from the Outer Continental Shelf in order to maintain the Fund at a level of not less than $100,000,000 nor more than $200,000,000. Requires that owners and operators of offshore facilities maintain evidence of financial responsibility. Establishes procedures for settlement of claims for compensation for damages caused by discharges of oil. Authorizes the appropriation of the following sums for the administration of this title: $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1977; $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1978; and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1979. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to review use of shut-in oil and gas wells or flaring natural gas on leases issued under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Directs the Federal Power Commission to allow natural gas companies engaged in development activities on the Outer Continental Shelf to transport such natural gas to its service areas for distribution. Requires disclosure of known financial interests in those persons subject to regulation under the Act by officers or employees of the Interior Department.
Bill· HRH.R. 3350 (95th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1977
Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Act - Prohibits the development of hard mineral resources of the deep seabed by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States except: (1) as authorized pursuant to this Act: (2) as authorized under a license issued by a reciprocating foreign state: or (3) as authorized by international agreement. Authorizes the issuance of licenses by the Secretary of Commerce to develop deep seabed mineral resources, in accordance with prescribed conditions. Stipulates that licenses shall remain in force for ten years or as long as commercial recovery from the block of land mineral resources continues. Authorizes the Secretary to establish procedures for the issuance of licenses. Requires the establishment of objective environmental standards for operations licensed under this Act. Sets forth a table of minimum annual expenditures per licensed block until commercial recovery from such block is initiated. Requires notification by each licensee to the Secretary after completion of exploration activities prior to the granting of an authorization to the licensee to begin commercial recovery. Requires that such request be made no earlier than six months, and no later that three months, prior to the projected commencement of such activity. Withdraws the following areas from licensing: (1) areas relinquished by the applicant under a license issued under this Act within the prior three years; (2) areas subject to a prior application or outstanding license; and (3) areas which would increase the licensees' holding to more than 30 percent of the deep seabed in a 250-kilometer circular area. Requires that licensees relinquish 75 percent of any block within ten years of the license date. Requires compliance with subsequent international agreements which may supersede the requirements of this Act. Stipulates that licensees suffering a measurable economic loss as a result of any international agreement shall be entitled to compensation from the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to establish reasonable licensing fees, not to exceed $100,000. Stipulates that United States district courts shall have original jurisdiction of cases arising under this Act, without regard to diversity of citizenship or amounts involved. Imposes a civil penalty of $10,000 per day for violations of this Act. Imposes a criminal penalty of $25,000 per day for willful and knowing violation of this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for the administration of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 6218 (94th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1975
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments - Title I: Purposes, Definitions, and National Policy for Managing the Resources of the Outer Continental shelf - States that the purposes of this Act are to: (1) establish policies and procedures for managing the oil and natural gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf in order to achieve national economic goals; (2) preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf; (3) eliminate or reduce risk of environmental damage; and (4) assure that coastal States which are directly impacted by oil and natural gas exploration and development are provided with an opportunity to take part in policy and planning decisions. Defines the terms used in this Act. Title II: Amendments to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act - Revises bidding and lease administration under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Provides for the orderly development of oil and gas leases and requires that no geological and geophysical exploration shall take place in the Outer Continental Shelf without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior. Directs the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive exploratory program designated to obtain sufficient data to evaluate the extent, location, and potential for developing the oil and gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf. Requires the Secretary to transmit the results of his study within one year to Congress, together with his recommendations prepared in cooperation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Directs the Secretary to coordinate the oil and gas exploratory program with coastal management programs being developed by coastal States. Requires the Secretary to transmit a exploration, leasing, and development plan to Congress at least 90 calendar days prior to announcing the invitation to bid on each tract in which oil or gas is found in commercial quantities. Authorizes appropriations of sums necessary to carry out the purposes of this title during fiscal years 1976 and 1977. Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in consultation with the Secretary, to conduct a study of the area or region involved to establish baseline information concerning the status of marine and coastal environment of the Outer Continental Shelf and the coastal zone which may be affected by oil and gas development. Requires that such impact statements prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act include such information as: (1) the probable impact of the proposed exploration or development on the marine and coastal environments; and (2) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the proposed exploration or development. Makes provisions for the development, promulgation, and enforcement of safety regulations for operations in the Outer Continental Shelf. Requires that the Coast Guard make regular inspections and strictly enforce the safety regulations. States that any person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $100,000, or by imprisonment for more than one year, or both. Allows citizen suits by persons having an interest which is, or may be adversely affected. Permits civil actions against any person, including the United States, and against the Secretary of the interior where there is alleged a failure of the Secretary to perform any act or duty under this Act which is not discretionary. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires that within 6 months after enactment the Secretary of the Interior shall submit a report to the Comptroller General and the Congress listing all shut-in oil and gas wells and wells flaring natural gas on leases issued under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Requires that the Secretary, in consultation with the Comptroller General, prepare and publish a report with recommendations for achieving an equitable system of lease sales while maximizing production and revenues from the leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands.