National Oil Shale Leasing Act of 1981

Summary

National Oil Shale Leasing Act of 1981 - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to revise the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to lease lands containing oil shale deposits. Permits such leases to exceed 5120 acres of land if necessary to permit long-term commercial operations. Increases the number of such leases which may be held to two in any State and four nationwide. Permits the acquisition of one additional lease in a State by a lessee who has achieved commercial production in both existing leases and is within ten years of exhausting the reserves on one of the leases. Authorizes the unlimited issuance of leases to avoid bypassing small acreages of oil shale resources which otherwise could not be mined economically. Authorizes the Secretary to issue leases to allow the extraction of minerals in addition to oil shale. Authorizes lessees of oil shale lands to lease additional lands for support operations. Prohibits mining on such additional lands. Authorizes the Secretary to issue such additional leases after considering the need for such lands, the environmental impact, and the public interest. Requires the lease to include provisions for protection of the environment and other resource values and the payment of rent. Provides for the judicial review of a decision of the Secretary to lease lands containing oil shale. Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to transfer from the Secretary of Energy to the Secretary of the Interior functions relating to fostering competition for Federal leases, the establishment of diligence requirements for operations conducted on Federal leases, setting rates of production for Federal leases, and specifying the procedures, terms, and conditions for the acquisition and disposition of Federal royalty interests taken in kind. Terminates the Leasing Liaison Committee established under such Act.

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Documents

2 official files

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 11 December 1981

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 15 July 1981

  Open at official source

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