Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

30 June 1987

Last action

22 December 1987 · Committee

Status

For Further Action See H.R.3545.

Summary

Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 - Amends Federal law regarding competitive leashing of oil and gas for onshore Federal lands to increase from 640 acres to 2,560 acres the units of land open to competitive leasing. Restricts the maximum units in Alaska to 5,120 acres. Provides for lease sales to be: (1) conducted by oral bidding; and (2) held at least quarterly in each State (or more frequently at the Secretary's discretion). Conditions such lease sales upon the payment of specified royalties. Sets forth a $75 bidding fee. Requires the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to accept the highest bid from a responsible bidder. Makes lands available for leasing without competitive bidding for a maximum one-year period if no bids have been received. Increases the minimum annual lease rental from 50 cents to $1.00 per acre for the first five years, and $3.00 per acre per year for each year thereafter. Increases the minimum royalty upon discovery of oil or gas in paying quantities from $1.000 per acre to $3.00 per acre. Requires the Secretary to make maps and narrative descriptions available to the public at least ten days before: (1) offering lands for lease; or (2) approving an oil or gas drilling permit on lease lands. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary (or the Secretary of Agriculture for national public domain forest lands) must regulate surface-disturbing activities conducted upon lease lands. Prohibits the issuance of a competitive coal lease to any person engaged in the production and importation of foreign coal into the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to disapprove specified lease assignments at his discretion. Amends lease cancellation conditions to provide that leases will not be cancelled due to the lessee's non-compliance with lease terms if: (1) the leasehold contains a well capable of oil or gas production in paying quantities; or (2) the lease is committed to an approved cooperative, unit plan, or communitization agreement which contains a well capable of unitized substances production in paying quantities. Permits the issuance of oil or gas leases on public lands (or public domain national forest lands) only if such leasing has been evaluated and approved in a land use plan meeting certain statutory requirements. Prescribes guidelines for such land use plans. Prohibits the issuance of oil or gas leases upon certain lands allocated or designated as wilderness areas. Sets forth guidelines for the promulgation of regulations regarding lease sales. Imposes civil and criminal penalties upon persons who willfully and knowingly misrepresent the value of lands and leases under this Act. Grants to the States concurrent civil and criminal jurisdiction for violations of this Act. States that Federal law regarding competitive leasing of oil and gas for onshore Federal lands may be cited as the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

30 June 1987
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Source: IntroReferral
30 June 1987
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
30 June 1987
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
28 July 1987
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
28 July 1987
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources.
Source: Committee
15 September 1987
Committee
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Source: Committee
15 September 1987
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
23 September 1987
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Source: Committee
23 September 1987
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
15 October 1987
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than Nov 6, 87.
Source: IntroReferral
15 October 1987
Reported
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Report No: 100-378 (Part I).
Source: Committee
15 October 1987
Reported
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Report No: 100-378 (Part I).
Source: Committee
4 November 1987
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Justice.
Source: Committee
6 November 1987
Introduced
House Committee on The Judiciary Granted an Extension for Further Consideration Ending not Later Than November 20, 1987.
Source: IntroReferral
6 November 1987
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than Nov 20, 87.
Source: IntroReferral
17 November 1987
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Forest, Family Farms, and Energy.
Source: Committee
20 November 1987
Calendars
Placed on Union Calendar No: 285.
Source: Calendars
20 November 1987
Discharge
House Committee on The Judiciary Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
20 November 1987
Committee
House Committee on The Judiciary Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
1 December 1987
Committee
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From Interior.
Source: Committee
8 December 1987
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
22 December 1987
Committee
For Further Action See H.R.3545.
Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

Reported to House amended, Part I
summary · EN · 15 October 1987
Open at official source
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 30 June 1987
Open at official source

Related records

related to ← Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/house-bill/2851
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/100/hr/2851
us · 100-hr-2851 · source updated 7 February 2024