United States · Bill · S
S. 1856 (111th)
A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to clarify policies regarding ownership of pore space.
Introduced
22 October 2009
Last action
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Status
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-652.
Sponsors
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Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
24 March 2026
Summary
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to define "pore space" as a subsurface space of any size that can be used as storage space for carbon dioxide or other substances injected into the space for storage. Vests ownership in the federal government of any subsurface pore space located below a federal surface estate. Requires inclusion within a conveyance of the surface ownership of federal land the conveyance of the federal pore space in all strata below the surface of such land (other than previously reserved mineral rights) unless the ownership interest in the pore space has previously been severed from the surface ownership. Prohibits: (1) any agreement conveying federal interests underlying the surface of the land from also conveying ownership of federal pore space in the stratum unless the agreement explicitly conveys the interest in pore space; and (2) the holder of any pore space right from using the surface estate (except for the uses described in a properly recorded instrument). States that the mineral estate is dominant for purposes of determining the priority of subsurface uses between a mineral estate and pore space.
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Versions
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Documents
3 official files
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 22 October 2009
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 22 October 2009
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 22 October 2009
Sponsors
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Related records
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Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/1856
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/111/s/1856