Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

United States118th CongressS-535Senate
Updated: Jul 11, 2023

Summary

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act This bill expedites the permitting process for oil and gas drilling on federal land. Specifically, the bill bans the Department of the Interior from requiring a permit to drill for an oil and gas lease under the Mineral Leasing Act 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 minerals owned by the federal government, and (2) the federal government does not own or lease the surface estate within the area directly impacted by the action. However, this ban does not apply to certain tribal land. In addition, the bill requires state drilling applicants to notify Interior if their permit or plan would impact or extract federally owned oil or gas. Holders of oil or gas leases must notify Interior when they submit a state permit application to drill.

Bill texts

Available versions
View official text

2 versions available

All available records shown.

Timeline

Latest companion bill action

HR-1205: Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Senate

  3. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. With written report No. 118-53.

    Senate

  4. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 125.

    Senate