PUBLIC LAW 109–58—AUG. 8, 2005
119 STAT. 721
(B) administrative appeals of decisions or orders of officers or employees of the Bureau of Land Management with respect to a Federal oil or gas lease; (C) considering surface use plans of operation, including the timeframes in which the plans are considered, and any recommendations for improving and expediting the process; and (D) identifying stipulations to address site-specific concerns and conditions, including those stipulations relating to the environment and resource use conflicts. (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall transmit a report to Congress that describes— (1) actions taken under section 3 of Executive Order No. 13212 (42 U.S.C. 13201 note); and (2) actions taken or any plans to improve the Federal onshore oil and gas leasing program. SEC. 362. MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASING PROGRAMS.
(a) TIMELY ACTION ON LEASES AND PERMITS.— (1) SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.—To ensure timely action on oil and gas leases and applications for permits to drill on land otherwise available for leasing, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall— (A) ensure expeditious compliance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) and any other applicable environmental and cultural resources laws; (B) improve consultation and coordination with the States and the public; and (C) improve the collection, storage, and retrieval of information relating to the oil and gas leasing activities. (2) SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.—To ensure timely action on oil and gas lease applications for permits to drill on land otherwise available for leasing, the Secretary of Agriculture shall— (A) ensure expeditious compliance with all applicable environmental and cultural resources laws; and (B) improve the collection, storage, and retrieval of information relating to the oil and gas leasing activities. (b) BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and implement best management practices to— (A) improve the administration of the onshore oil and gas leasing program under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.); and (B) ensure timely action on oil and gas leases and applications for permits to drill on land otherwise available for leasing. (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the best management practices under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider any recommendations from the review under section 361. (3) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the development of the best management practices under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish, for public comment,
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42 USC 15921.
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