Energy Supply Act

Summary

Energy Supply Act - Title I: Findings and Purposes - Declares that the purposes of this Act include making oil and natural gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf available as rapidly as possible consistent with the need for orderly resource development and protection of the environment, and providing States which are directly impacted by Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration and development with comprehensive impact assistance. Title II: Increased Production of Outer Continental Shelf Energy Resources - Provides, under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, that Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States that Outer Continental Shelf lands determined to be both geologically favorable for the accumulation of oil and gas and capable of supporting oil and gas development without undue environmental hazard or damage should be made available for leasing as soon as practicable in accordance with this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a survey program regarding oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf. Directs the Secretary to prepare and publish a series of bathymetric, geological, and geophysical maps and reports on the Outer Continental Shelf. Makes appropriations for such surveys, reports, and maps for fiscal 1975-1976. Directs the Secretary to carry out a research and development program designed to improve technology related to development of the oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf where such programs are not currently being conducted. Directs the Secretary to establish equipment and performance standards for oil spill cleanup plans and operations. Requires the Secretary to regularly inspect all operations authorized pursuant to this Act and strictly enforce safety and environmental regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act and other applicable laws and regulations relating to public health, safety, and environmental protection. Makes lease holders strictly liable to all parties, public or private, damaged from oil discharges, without regard to fault for such damages, and without regard to ownership of any affected lands, structures, fish, wildlife, or biotic or other natural resources relied upon by any damaged party for subsistence or economic purposes. Establishes the Offshore Oil Pollution Settlements Fund. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States the Coastal State Fund and authorizes the Secretary to make grants from the fund to the coastal States to assist them to ameliorate adverse environmental effects and control secondary social and economic impacts associated with the development of Federal energy resources in, or on the Outer Continental Shelf. Allows citizen suits by any person whose interests are adversely affected by violations of this Act. Requires the Secretary to promote competition in the leasing of Outer Continental Shelf lands. Establishes a $5,000 civil penalty and $100,000 fine for violations of this Act. Provides that no oil or gas lease may be issued pursuant to this Act unless the lease requires that development be carried out in accordance with a development plan which has been approved by the Secretary, and provides that failure to comply with such development plan will terminate the lease. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes and directs the Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, to report to Congress within 60 days after enactment of this Act on appropriations and staffing needed to monitor pipelines on Federal lands and the Outer Continental Shelf so as to assure that they meet all applicable standards for construction, operation, and maintenance. Provides that if any provision of this Act shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Act shall be affected thereby.

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Documents

2 official files

• Conference report filed in House

  summary · EN · 20 September 1976

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 3 February 1975

  Open at official source

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