Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 1.djvu/702

This page needs to be proofread.

PUBLIC LAW 95-000—MMMM. DD, 1978

92 STAT. 648 Regulations.

43 USC 1334.

Regulations.

43 USC 1301.

PUBLIC LAW 95-372—SEPT. 18, 1978

" (4) The Secretary may, by regulation, require that such plan be accompanied by a general statement of development and production intentions which shall be for planning purposes only and which shall not be binding on any party. " (d) The Secretary may, by regulation, require any lessee operating under an approved exploration plan to obtain a permit prior to drilling any well in accordance with such plan. "(e)(1) If a si^ificant revision of an exploration plan approved under this subsection is submitted to the Secretary, the process to be used for the approval of such revision shall be the same as set forth in subsection (c) of this section. "(2) All exploration activities pursuant to any lease shall be conducted in accordance with an approved exploration plan or an approved revision of such plan. "(f)(1) Exploration activities pursuant to any lease for which a drilling permit has been issued or for which an exploration plan has been approved, prior to ninety days after the date of enactment of this subsection, shall be considered in compliance with this section, except that the Secretary may, in accordance with section 5(a)(1)(B) of this Act, order a suspension or temporary prohibition of any exploration activities and require a revised exploration plan. "(2) The Secretary may require the holder of a lease described in paragraph (1) of this subsection to supply a general statement in accordance with subsection (c)(4) of this section, or to submit other information. "(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to amend the terms of any permit or plan to which this subsection applies. "(g) Any permit for geological explorations authorized by this section shall be issued only if the Secretary determines, in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, that— " (1) the applicant for such permit is qualified; "(2) the exploration will not interfere with or endanger operations under any lease issued or maintained pursuant to this Act; and "(3) such exploration will not be unduly harmful to aquatic life in the area, result in pollution, create hazardous or unsafe conditions, unreasonably interfere with other uses of the area, or disturb any site, structure, or object of historical or archeological significance. "(h) The Secretary shall not issue a lease or permit for, or otherwise allow, exploration, development, or production activities within fifteen miles of the boundaries of the Point Reyes Wilderness as depicted on a map entitled 'Wilderness Plan, Point Reyes National Seashore', numbered 612-90.000-B and dated September 1976, unless the State of California issues a lease or permit for, or otherwise allows, exploration, development, or production activities on lands beneath navigable waters (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Submerged Lands Act) of such State which are adjacent to such Wilderness.". ANNUAL REPORT

43 USC 1343.

SEC. 207. (a) Section 15 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 XJ.S.C. 1344) is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 15. ANNUAL REPORT BY SECRETARY TO CONGRESS.—Within

six months after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit