To provide for the continuation of oil and gas operations in the Wayne National Forest in the State of Ohio pursuant to certain existing leases.

Summary

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into noncompetitive oil and gas production and reclamation contracts with well operators in the Wayne National Forest (Ohio) who meet specified statutory criteria pursuant to private land mineral leases, subject to the same laws and regulations that applied to such leases. Proscribes contractual arrangements authorizing deeper completions or additional drilling. Requires contracts to require contractors to provide a Federal oil and gas bond to ensure complete and timely reclamation of the former lease tract in accordance with regulations of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service, unless the Secretary accepts in lieu thereof assurances from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas, that: (1) the contractor is in compliance with specified Ohio bonding requirements; (2) the United States is entitled to receive funding under Ohio law to properly plug and restore oil and gas sites and lease tracts; and (3) at least 20 percent of Ohio State severance tax revenues have been allocated to the State of Ohio Orphan Well Fund. Declares that, in entering into any contract under this Act, the Secretary shall reserve the right to require contractor compliance with BLM and Forest Service oil and gas lease bonding requirements whenever the Secretary finds that less than 20 percent of State severance tax revenues has been allocated to such Fund.

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Timeline

1. 6 January 1999

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 6 January 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 6 January 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 20 January 1999

   Committee

   Executive Comment Requested from Interior.

   Source: Committee

5. 20 January 1999

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 6 January 1999 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 6 January 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 6 January 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 6 January 1999

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Ney, Robert W. [R-OH-18] · R · Sponsor
• · hsii00 · Standing

Related records

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