Arctic Coastal Plain Competitive Oil and Gas Leasing Act

Summary

Arctic Coastal Plain Competitive Oil and Gas Leasing Act - Title I: Statement of Purpose and Definitions - Declares that it is the congressional purpose to: (1) authorize competitive oil and gas leasing development on the Arctic Coastal Plain in a manner consistent with environmental and wildlife protection; and (2) provide a new funding source for the acquisition of critical wildlife habitat. Title II: Coastal Plain Competitive Leasing Program - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in an environmentally sound program for Coastal Plain resources exploration, development, and production. Declares that this Act is the sole authority for leasing on the Coastal Plain. Directs the Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act. Sets forth the administrative parameters for: (1) lease sales and terms; (2) exploration, development, and production plans; (3) plan approval; (4) bonding requirements; and (5) lease suspension and cancellation. Allows the Secretary to exclude from leasing any areas of particular environmental sensitivity. Requires the Secretary's consent for lease assignments or subletting. Mandates that lessees unite to the greatest extent practicable in collectively adopting and operating under a cooperative or unit plan for oil pools and gas fields. Provides for the confidentiality of privileged or proprietary information regarding development activities which must be furnished to the Secretary. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Provides for adjudication of lease controversies. Sets forth joint, several, and strict liability for environmental damages and removal costs resulting from oil pollution or the discharge of hazardous substances. Provides for expedited judicial review of complaints regarding regulations issued by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress regarding the leasing program under this Act. Repeals certain limitations applicable to subsurface interests owned by the Inupiat Eskimo people. Prohibits any surface disturbance prior to the publication of final environmental regulations for Coastal Plain oil or gas leasing. Applies such regulations to subsurface property interests owned by the Inupiat Eskimo. Title III: Coastal Plain Development Requirements - Directs the Secretary to promulgate environmental protection regulations which ensure that Coastal Plain activities will result in no significant adverse effect on fish and wildlife, their habitat, and the environment. Designates the Sadlerochit Spring area as a special area for wildlife conservation and environmental protection. Authorizes the Secretary to exclude such area from leasing and to designate other Coastal Plain areas as special areas requiring protection. Directs the Secretary to prepare and periodically update a facilities construction and siting plan for oil and gas development and transportation. Authorizes the Secretary to grant rights-of-way and easements across the Coastal Plain in a manner that does not adversely affect fish, wildlife, and the environment. Requires the Secretary to conduct additional studies to monitor the human, marine, and coastal environments. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations providing for biannual facility inspections for compliance with environmental and safety regulations. Title IV: Land Reclamation and Reclamation Liability Fund - Makes leaseholders fully responsible and liable for land reclamation within the Coastal Plain and other Federal lands adversely affected by lease activities. Requires establishment of the Coastal Plain Liability and Reclamation Fund within six months of a commercial discovery within the Coastal Plain, to be administered by the holder of the trans-Alaska pipeline right-of-way, who shall collect fees based upon the crude oil volume entering such pipeline. Title V: Disposition of Oil and Gas Revenues - Sets forth an allocation schedule for revenue distribution related to oil and gas leasing within the Arctic National Refuge, Alaska. Mandates that moneys deposited into the Land and Water Conservation Fund be credited to a special account within the Fund.

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

Timeline

1. 9 February 1989

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 9 February 1989

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 1 March 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from the Department of Interior and Office of Management and Budget.

   Source: Committee

4. 6 March 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-15.

   Source: Committee

5. 8 March 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

   Source: Committee

6. 15 March 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

   Source: Committee

7. 16 March 1989

   Reported

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered favorably reported an original bill (S. 684) in lieu of this measure.

   Source: Committee

8. 21 July 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-381.

   Source: Committee

9. 24 July 1989

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-385.

   Source: Committee

10. 31 August 1989

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held at Baton Rouge, La. Field hearing. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-342.

    Source: Committee

11. 9 November 1989

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

12. 16 November 1989

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 101-538.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · undated · Official file

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 9 February 1989

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Johnston, J. Bennett [D-LA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. McClure, James A. [R-ID] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT] · R · Cosponsor
• · sseg00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.