Legis Daily

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

USA119th CongressS-722| Senate 
| Updated: 2/25/2025
John Hoeven

John Hoeven

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (3)
Kevin Cramer (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill aims to streamline the oil and gas permitting process by modifying federal requirements for certain drilling operations. It waives the need for a federal permit to drill for oil and gas leases under the Mineral Leasing Act in specific scenarios, such as when the Federal Government owns less than 50 percent of the minerals in a drilling unit and does not own the surface estate, or when a wellbore on non-Federal land enters or traverses a Federal mineral estate. Despite this waiver, the bill mandates that lessees or their designees must notify the Secretary of the Interior upon submitting and receiving approval for a State permit to drill or drilling plan that impacts Federal oil and gas. Lessees must also provide agreements authorizing the Secretary to enter non-Federal land for inspection and enforcement of Federal lease terms before drilling commences. These provisions do not apply to Indian lands and do not affect the amount of royalties due to the Federal Government or other authorities under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982. Additionally, the legislation amends the Mineral Leasing Act to restrict the Secretary of the Interior's authority on non-Federal land within these specific drilling units. The Secretary is prohibited from requiring a bond to protect non-Federal land, entering such land without consent, imposing mitigation requirements, or requiring approval for surface reclamation under the defined circumstances.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-535
Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 25, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 18, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1555
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-535
    Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act


  • February 25, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 25, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • March 18, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1555
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

USA119th CongressS-722| Senate 
| Updated: 2/25/2025
This bill aims to streamline the oil and gas permitting process by modifying federal requirements for certain drilling operations. It waives the need for a federal permit to drill for oil and gas leases under the Mineral Leasing Act in specific scenarios, such as when the Federal Government owns less than 50 percent of the minerals in a drilling unit and does not own the surface estate, or when a wellbore on non-Federal land enters or traverses a Federal mineral estate. Despite this waiver, the bill mandates that lessees or their designees must notify the Secretary of the Interior upon submitting and receiving approval for a State permit to drill or drilling plan that impacts Federal oil and gas. Lessees must also provide agreements authorizing the Secretary to enter non-Federal land for inspection and enforcement of Federal lease terms before drilling commences. These provisions do not apply to Indian lands and do not affect the amount of royalties due to the Federal Government or other authorities under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982. Additionally, the legislation amends the Mineral Leasing Act to restrict the Secretary of the Interior's authority on non-Federal land within these specific drilling units. The Secretary is prohibited from requiring a bond to protect non-Federal land, entering such land without consent, imposing mitigation requirements, or requiring approval for surface reclamation under the defined circumstances.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-535
Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 25, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 18, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1555
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-535
    Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act


  • February 25, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 25, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • March 18, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1555
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
John Hoeven

John Hoeven

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (3)
Kevin Cramer (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Energy

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted