Penalties for Polluters Act

This bill, known as the "Penalties for Polluters Act," aims to significantly strengthen enforcement and accountability for violations related to mineral leasing, oil and gas operations, and offshore activities by substantially increasing both civil and criminal penalties across several key federal statutes. Specifically, the bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act , the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 , the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act , and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to raise maximum penalty amounts, with some increasing from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. For instance, a key penalty under the Mineral Leasing Act increases from $500,000 to $2,700,000. Crucially, the legislation mandates that the Secretary of the Interior annually adjust these maximum penalties to account for inflation, using the Consumer Price Index. Furthermore, the bill establishes a new Penalty Revenue Reinvestment Fund within the U.S. Treasury to receive "excess revenue" from these increased penalties. This revenue, which is the amount collected above previous penalty caps, will be equally divided. Half will be directed to States, Indian Tribes, and local governments harmed by violations, while the other half will fund federal agencies responsible for enforcement and compliance activities under the Mineral Leasing Act, Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act, and Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.