Results for
End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2020
S #3202 | Last Action: 1/16/2020End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2020 This bill specifies requirements for the leasing of oil and gas resources on federal lands. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with respect to certain federal land that is covered by a reasonably foreseeable development scenario (i.e., a long-term projection of oil and gas development) shall not offer the land for lease until such scenario includes an assessment of the land's oil and gas potential that specifically identifies the potential for all acres subject to decisions on availability for leasing. If certain federal land that is otherwise available for leasing of oil and gas resources is not covered by a reasonably foreseeable development scenario, the BLM shall complete such a scenario in accordance with the requirements and factors described in this bill. In general, the BLM shall not offer for lease certain federal land otherwise available for leasing of oil and gas resources if such land is designated in the applicable reasonably foreseeable development scenario as having low or no potential for the development of oil or gas resources. However, the bill provides for a variance process. With respect to each of these requirements, exceptions apply for federal land that is leased for the purpose of preventing oil or gas drainage or that meets specified requirements related to size and proximity to an oil- or gas-producing well.End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2020
HR #8411 | Last Action: 9/29/2020End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2020 This bill limits or repeals certain fossil fuel oil and gas subsidies for oil companies. Specifically, it * increases to seven years the amortization period for geological and geophysical expenditures; * repeals the tax credits for producing oil and gas from marginal wells and for enhanced oil recovery; * repeals the tax deduction for the intangible drilling and development costs of oil and gas wells; * repeals percentage depletion; * repeals the tax deduction for tertiary injectant expenses; * repeals the passive loss exception for working interests in oil and gas property; * denies the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities for oil and gas activities; * prohibits the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method by major integrated oil companies; * limits the foreign tax credit for dual capacity taxpayers (i.e., taxpayers who are subject to a levy of a foreign country or U.S. possession and receive specific economic benefits from such country or possession); and * expands the definition ofcrude oilfor purposes of the excise tax on petroleum and petroleum products to include any oil derived from a bitumen or bituminous mixture (tar sands), and any oil derived from kerogen-bearing sources (oil shale).A bill to streamline the oil and gas permitting process and to recognize fee ownership for certain oil and gas drilling or spacing units, and for other purposes.
S #180 | Last Action: 1/17/2019This bill states that a Bureau of Land Management drilling permit shall not be required under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit, if (1) less than 50% of the minerals within the unit are federally owned, and (2) the federal government neither owns nor leases the surface estate within the unit's boundaries. Drilling and spacing units are one component of a state regulatory framework for oil and gas exploration and production. The bill retains the right of the federal government to receive royalties from the production of federal minerals within the drilling or spacing unit.A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the taxable income limit on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties.
S #1217 | Last Action: 4/11/2019This bill modifies the tax requirements for certain oil and gas companies to eliminate the taxable income limitation on the percentage depletion allowance for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties.BAN Oil Exports Act
S #2527 | Last Action: 9/19/2019Block All New Oil Exports Act or theBAN Oil Exports Act This bill requires the President to ban the exportation of crude oil and natural gas from the United States. The President may provide an exemption to the ban in specified circumstances.Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2020
HR #3225 | Last Action: 6/20/2019Restoring Community Input and Public Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2020 This bill modifies several provisions related to oil and gas leasing on public lands. Among other things, the bill * revises the competitive auction process to a competitive-sealed bidding process and eliminates non-competitive bidding; * increases royalty and rental rates; * requires lease sales to be held in each state no more than three times per year instead of quarterly; * decreases lease term durations from 10 to 5 years, * adds a number of new provisions related to protection of private surface estate owners; * authorizes the Department of the Interior to issue master leasing plans; * requires certain lease information be made available on public websites, including the names of all current and former lessees and operators; and * imposes a new fee to submit an expression of interest for lands that the public is interested in leasing.Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act
S #2906 | Last Action: 11/20/2019Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing new oil or natural gas production leases in the Gulf of Mexico to any person who does not renegotiate certain existing leases to require royalty payments if the price of oil and natural gas is greater than or equal to specified price thresholds. Interior must also, upon request, agree to amend any lease issued for any Central and Western Gulf of Mexico tract during the period of January 1, 1996, through November 28, 2000, to incorporate specified price thresholds.Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act of 2019
HR #2984 | Last Action: 5/23/2019Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act of 2019 This bill prohibits an employer from discharging or discriminating against employees working in waters above the Outer Continental Shelf who report or testify about violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including about unsafe conditions or the adequacy of any oil spill response plan required by law. The bill sets forth procedures for the filing, investigation, and adjudication of a whistle-blower complaint. Employers are required to * post a notice approved by the Department of Labor explaining employee rights and remedies in a conspicuous workplace location; * provide training to employees about their rights within 30 days of employment, and at least once every 12 months thereafter; and * provide employees with a card containing a toll-free telephone number for obtaining information or for filing a complaint.Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act of 2019
HR #5186 | Last Action: 11/20/2019Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing new oil or natural gas production leases in the Gulf of Mexico to any person who does not renegotiate certain existing leases to require royalty payments if the price of oil and natural gas is greater than or equal to specified price thresholds. Interior must also, upon request, agree to amend any lease issued for any Central and Western Gulf of Mexico tract during the period of January 1, 1996, through November 28, 2000, to incorporate specified price thresholds.Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the production of oil and natural gas is essential to the economy and well-being of the United States, and that addressing energy needs requires cooperation instead of coercion.
HRES #522 | Last Action: 7/26/2019This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) the production of oil and natural gas is critical to the continued prosperity of the U.S economy, its national security, and its people; (2) the federal government and public leaders should promote policies that encourage greater energy production and independence; and (3) addressing energy needs requires cooperation instead of coercion.A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Department of the Interior has broken a commitment to the Blackfeet Tribe to defend the cancellation of all leases in the Badger-Two Medicine area and urging the Department of the Interior to work closely with the Blackfeet Tribe to defend the Badger-Two Medicine area from oil and gas development.
SRES #250 | Last Action: 6/13/2019This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the Department of the Interior broke a commitment to the Blackfeet Tribe and must pursue and defend the cancellation of all oil and gas leases in the Badger-Two Medicine area. The resolution also urges Interior to work closely with the tribe to protect the Badger-Two Medicine area from oil and gas leases and to remedy the mistakes that led to leases being issued without consultation with the tribe.Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act
HR #2352 | Last Action: 4/22/2019Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act This bill address issues related to preventing and responding to oil spills. Among other things, the bill * requires the Department of the Interior to consult with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) before approving an oil and gas lease program; * authorizes the Department of Commerce to make grants to states to ensure sufficient oil spill planning and response capabilities; * prohibits oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area, the South Atlantic Planning area, and the Straits of Florida Planning Area; * sets forth provisions concerning Coast Guard responsibilities, including designating areas that are at heightened risk of oil spills and implementing measures to ameliorate that risk; * establishes a Gulf Coast Regional Citizens' Advisory Council to advise on facilities and tank vessels; * permits the U.S. Coast Guard or Commerce to request a National Transportation Safety Board investigation of certain accidents occurring in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); * establishes inspection fees for OCS facilities; * requires a comprehensive review of NOAA's capacity to respond to oil spills; * directs the Coast Guard to evaluate and validate oil pollution containment and removal methods and technologies; * requires NOAA to carry out a long-term marine environment monitoring and research program for the Gulf of Mexico; and * directs the Coast Guard to publish within 12 hours an Incident Action Plan in response to an oil spill.Methane Rule Relief Act of 2019
HR #1391 | Last Action: 3/1/2019Methane Rule Relief Act of 2019 This bill exempts certain marginally-producing oil and natural gas wells, including emission sources associated with such wells, from the Environmental Protection Agency's rule titled "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources" and the document titled "Control Techniques Guidelines for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry."Affirming that States should maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on State and private lands and that the President should not declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on Federal lands (including the Outer Continental Shelf), State lands, private lands, or lands held in trust for an Indian Tribe unless such moratorium is authorized by an Act of Congress.
HRES #659 | Last Action: 10/30/2019This resolution affirms that (1) states maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands; and (2) the President should not declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on federal lands, state lands, private lands, or lands held in trust for an Indian tribe unless such moratorium is authorized by Congress.Fracking Ban Act
S #3247 | Last Action: 1/28/2020Fracking Ban Act This bill phases out hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation. The bill prohibits federal agencies from issuing permits for the expansion of fracking or fracked oil and natural gas infrastructure, including infrastructure intended to extract, transport, or burn natural gas or oil. In addition, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to complete a survey of all oil and natural gas wells to identify the wells where fracking is, or has been, used. The survey must include a variety of data, including data on the proximity of fracking operations to inhabited structures (e.g., homes or schools). Beginning on February 1, 2021, the bill revokes permits for wells where fracking is, or has been, used within 2,500 feet of inhabited structures. The bill bans all fracking on onshore and offshore land by 2025. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a Just Transition Committee to make recommendations on ensuring the health and safety of individuals residing in, and the prosperity of, natural gas- and oil-producing regions during the phaseout of fracking.Fracking Ban Act
HR #5857 | Last Action: 2/21/2020Fracking Ban Act This bill phases out hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation. The bill prohibits federal agencies from issuing permits for the expansion of fracking or fracked oil and natural gas infrastructure, including infrastructure intended to extract, transport, or burn natural gas or oil. In addition, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to complete a survey of all oil and natural gas wells to identify the wells where fracking is, or has been, used. The survey must include a variety of data, including data on the proximity of fracking operations to inhabited structures (e.g., homes or schools). Beginning on February 1, 2021, the bill revokes permits for wells where fracking is, or has been, used within 2,500 feet of inhabited structures. The bill bans all fracking on onshore and offshore land by 2025. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a Just Transition Committee to make recommendations on ensuring the health and safety of individuals residing in, and the prosperity of, natural gas- and oil-producing regions during the phaseout of fracking.Taxpayer Fairness for Resource Development Act of 2019
HR #4364 | Last Action: 9/24/2019Taxpayer Fairness for Resource Development Act of 2019 This bill addresses royalties related to the development of federal energy resources. Among other things, the bill * increases the onshore royalty rates for new oil, gas, and coal leases; * increases onshore rental rates for oil and gas leasing; * modifies the current onshore oil and gas minimum bid from $2 to $5 and requires it to be adjusted every four years for inflation; and * makes revisions to the charter of the Royalty Policy Committee, including to increase to six the number of members who are representatives of academia or the public.American Energy First Act
HR #4294 | Last Action: 9/16/2019American Energy First Act This bill addresses offshore and onshore oil and gas resources, and the use of renewable energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and other federal lands. Among other things, the bill * allows states with an established permitting and regulatory program to manage certain federal permitting and regulatory responsibilities for oil and gas development on federal lands within their borders; * limits the President's authority to prohibit oil and gas leasing on the OCS; * establishes a revenue sharing framework to distribute revenues collected from oil and gas leasing on the OCS to certain states (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alaska); * provides a mechanism for states to receive their entitled percentage of sales, bonuses, royalties, and rentals for all public land or deposits located in the state; * requires the Department of the Interior to establish certain federal land as geothermal and wind energy leasing priority areas; and * limits the authority of Interior to declare a moratorium on the leasing of federal lands for oil and gas activities unless such moratorium is authorized by Congress.Methane Waste Prevention Act of 2019
HR #2711 | Last Action: 5/15/2019Methane Waste Prevention Act of 2019 This bill addresses methane emissions from oil and gas operations. (Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil.) The bill provides statutory authority for the Environmental Protection Agency rule titledOil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources, published on June 3, 2016. The bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish specified requirements for * reducing and preventing the waste of natural gas, including by venting, flaring, and fugitive releases, from all oil and gas operations; and * measuring and reporting the production and disposition of all gas subject to the mineral leasing laws, all such gas produced, consumed on site, or lost through venting, flaring, or fugitive releases. All such requirements shall include consistent enforcement mechanisms for any operations not in compliance with them.Fracking Disclosure and Safety Act
HR #436 | Last Action: 1/10/2019Fracking Disclosure and Safety Act This bill establishes requirements governing oil or gas operations, such as hydraulic fracturing operations. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation. Specifically, the bill eliminates certain exemptions for oil or gas operations from environmental requirements, including requirements concerning stormwater runoff, hazardous air pollutants, solid waste disposal, and drinking water sources. The bill also revises drinking water requirements to require hydraulic fracturing operations to disclose the chemicals they use in underground injections. In addition, the bill requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to issue regulations governing the use of hydraulic fracturing under oil and gas leases for federal lands. Until the BLM issues those regulations, the bill reestablishes the requirements of the repealed rule titled “Oil and Gas; Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Land." The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must issue a rule that adds hydrogen sulfide to the list of hazardous air pollutants. The EPA must also publish a list of categories and subcategories of major sources and area sources of hydrogen sulfide, including oil and gas wells. Finally, the bill requires the EPA to issue regulations for solid waste associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil, natural gas, or geothermal energy if the EPA determines that the wastes are hazardous.FLARE Act
S #2818 | Last Action: 11/7/2019Fuel Loss Abatement and Royalty Enhancement Act or theFLARE Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to (1) ban the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on federal land onshore and offshore in the United States, with specified exceptions; and (2) promote the capture and beneficial use or reinjection of gas in such operations. The bill also requires oil and gas companies to pay royalties on gas that is vented or flared pursuant to this bill. The Government Accountability Office must assess such venting and flaring and estimate the volume of gas vented or flared in such operations each year.California's Land Preservation and Protection Act
HR #5936 | Last Action: 2/21/2020California's Land Preservation and Protection Act This bill delays hydraulic fracturing of oil or gas resources on certain federal lands in California. On December 12, 2019, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a record of decision for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the BLM Bakersfield Field Office. This bill nullifies the EIS until the BLM completes and circulates for public comment a new EIS. The new EIS must consider the environmental effects of all oil or gas development in the planning area. After the new EIS is published, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must review and publish comments regarding the EIS. If the EPA identifies significant environmental impacts or determines that there is insufficient information to assess the environmental impacts of all oil or gas development in the planning area, then the BLM must consult with the EPA before proceeding with federal oil or gas leasing in the planning area.Bolstering Economies, Anglers, Coastal Habitats, Ecosystems and Security in Florida Act
HR #3585 | Last Action: 7/16/2019Bolstering Economies, Anglers, Coastal Habitats, Ecosystems and Security in Florida Act or the BEACHES in Florida Act This bill prohibits oil and gas exploration and leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida. Specifically, the bill establishes a moratorium through June 30, 2029, on oil and gas exploration and leasing in the (1) Straits of Florida Planning Area, and (2) South Atlantic Planning Area that is south of the northernmost lateral seaward administrative boundary of Florida. The bill also extends to June 30, 2029, the moratorium on oil and gas exploration and leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.ONSHORE Act
S #218 | Last Action: 1/24/2019Opportunities for the Nation and States to Harness Onshore Resources for Energy Act or the ONSHORE Act This bill addresses onshore oil and gas resources on federal land and non-federal surface estates. The bill allows the Department of the Interior to delegate to states the authority to manage certain federal permitting and regulatory responsibilities for oil and gas development on federal lands within their borders. The bill provides a mechanism for states to receive an increased percentage of sales, bonuses, royalties, and rentals for all public land or deposits located in the state by collecting royalties directly without paying the existing administrative fees to Interior. Certain oil and gas activities conducted on non-federal surface estates do not require a permit and are exempt from certain environmental review requirements. Interior must defer to state regulations, guidance, and permit requirements for all activities regarding hydraulic fracturing relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on federal land. Interior must conduct a review of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska to determine what land in the reserve should be made available for oil and gas leasing.A resolution affirming that States maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on State and private lands, that the President has no authority to declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on State and private lands, and that the President should not attempt to declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on Federal lands (including the Outer Continental Shelf) or lands held in trust for an Indian Tribe, unless the moratorium is authorized by an Act of Congress.
SRES #411 | Last Action: 11/7/2019This resolution affirms that (1) states maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands, (2) the President has no authority to declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on state and private lands, and (3) the President should not declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on federal lands or lands held in trust for an Indian tribe unless such moratorium is authorized by Congress.