Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	1,297	n/a	n/a
Reported in House	1,783	7	34%
Engrossed in House	2,042	10	50%
Placed on Calendar Senate	2,107	8 Show Changes Hide Changes	2%

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HR 1229 EHPCSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 1229CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to facilitate the safe and timely production of American energy resources from the Gulf of Mexico, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain offshore oil and gas lease sales, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ‘Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--AMENDMENT TO THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. AMENDMENT TO OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT.

(a) Amendment- Section 11(d) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1340(d)) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Drilling Permits-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall by regulation require that any lessee operating under an approved exploration plan--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) must obtain a permit before drilling any well in accordance with such plan; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) must obtain a new permit before drilling any well of a design that is significantly different than the design for which an existing permit was issued.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) SAFETY REVIEW REQUIRED- The Secretary shall not issue a permit under paragraph (1) without ensuring that the proposed drilling operations meet all--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) critical safety system requirements, including blowout prevention; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) oil spill response and containment requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) TIMELINE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The Secretary shall decide whether to issue a permit under paragraph (1) within 30 days after receiving an application for the permit. The Secretary may extend such period for up to two periods of 15 days each, if the Secretary has given written notice of the delay to the applicant. The notice shall be in the form of a letter from the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary, and shall include the names and titles of the persons processing the application, the specific reasons for the delay, and a specific date a final decision on the application is expected.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) If the application is denied, the Secretary shall provide the applicant--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) in writing, clear and comprehensive reasons why the application was not accepted and detailed information concerning any deficiencies, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) If the Secretary has not made a decision on the application by the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date the application is received by the Secretary, the application is deemed approved.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Deadline for Certain Permit Applications Under Existing Leases-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding the amendment made by subsection (a), a lease under which a covered application is submitted to the Secretary of the Interior shall be considered to be in directed suspension during the period beginning May 27, 2010, and ending on the date the Secretary issues a final decision on the application, if the Secretary does not issue a final decision on the application--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, in the case of a covered application submitted before such date of enactment; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date the application is received by the Secretary, in the case of a covered application submitted on or after such date of enactment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COVERED APPLICATION- In this subsection the term ‘covered application’ means an application for a permit to drill under an oil and gas lease under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) represents a resubmission of an approved permit to drill (including an application for a permit to sidetrack) that was approved by the Secretary before May 27, 2010; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) is received by the Secretary after October 12, 2010, and before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LEASES.

(a) Definition of Covered Lease- In this section, the term ‘covered lease’ means each oil and gas lease for the Gulf of Mexico outer Continental Shelf region issued under section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1)(A) was not producing as of April 30, 2010; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) was suspended from operations, permit processing, or consideration, in accordance with the moratorium set forth in the Minerals Management Service Notice to Lessees and Operators No. 2010-N04, dated May 30, 2010, or the decision memorandum of the Secretary of the Interior entitled ‘Decision memorandum regarding the suspension of certain offshore permitting and drilling activities on the Outer Continental Shelf’ and dated July 12, 2010; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by its terms would expire on or before December 31, 2011.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Extension of Covered Leases- The Secretary of the Interior shall extend the term of a covered lease by 1 year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effect on Suspensions of Operations or Production- The extension of covered leases under this section is in addition to any suspension of operations or suspension of production granted by the Minerals Management Service or Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement after May 1, 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--JUDICIAL REVIEW OF AGENCY ACTIONS RELATING TO OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES IN THE GULF OF MEXICOCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS FOR TITLE.

In this title--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the term ‘covered civil action’ means a civil action containing a claim under section 702 of title 5, United States Code, regarding agency action (as defined for the purposes of that section) affecting a covered energy project in the Gulf of Mexico; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the term ‘covered energy project’ means the leasing of Federal lands of the Outer Continental Shelf (including submerged lands) for the exploration, development, production, processing, or transmission of oil, natural gas, wind, or any other source of energy in the Gulf of Mexico, and any action under such a lease, except that the term does not include any disputes between the parties to a lease regarding the obligations under such lease, including regarding any alleged breach of the lease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. EXCLUSIVE VENUE FOR CERTAIN CIVIL ACTIONS RELATING TO COVERED ENERGY PROJECTS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

Venue for any covered civil action shall not lie in any district court not within the 5th circuit unless there is no proper venue in any court within that circuit.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. TIME LIMITATION ON FILING.

A covered civil action is barred unless filed no later than the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of the final Federal agency action to which it relates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. EXPEDITION IN HEARING AND DETERMINING THE ACTION.

The court shall endeavor to hear and determine any covered civil action as expeditiously as possible.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 205. STANDARD OF REVIEW.

In any judicial review of a covered civil action, administrative findings and conclusions relating to the challenged Federal action or decision shall be presumed to be correct, and the presumption may be rebutted only by the preponderance of the evidence contained in the administrative record.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 206. LIMITATION ON PROSPECTIVE RELIEF.

In a covered civil action, the court shall not grant or approve any prospective relief unless the court finds that such relief is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary to correct the violation of a legal requirement, and is the least intrusive means necessary to correct that violation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 207. LIMITATION ON ATTORNEYS’ FEES.

Sections 504 of title 5, United States Code, and 2412 of title 28, United States Code (together commonly called the Equal Access to Justice Act) do not apply to a covered civil action, nor shall any party in such a covered civil action receive payment from the Federal Government for their attorneys’ fees, expenses, and other court costs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--RESTARTING AMERICAN OFFSHORE LEASING NOW ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ‘Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 302. REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT PROPOSED OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE 216 IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO.

(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct offshore oil and gas Lease Sale 216 under section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (33 U.S.C. 1337) as soon as practicable, but not later than 4 months after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Environmental Review- For the purposes of that lease sale, the Environmental Impact Statement for the 2007-2012 5-Year OCS Plan and the Multi-Sale Environmental Impact Statement are deemed to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 303. REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT PROPOSED OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE 218 IN THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO.

(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct offshore oil and gas Lease Sale 218 under section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (33 U.S.C. 1337) as soon as practicable, but not later than 8 months after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Environmental Review- For the purposes of that lease sale, the Environmental Impact Statement for the 2007-2012 5-Year OCS Plan and the Multi-Sale Environmental Impact Statement are deemed to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 304. REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT PROPOSED OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE 220 ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OFFSHORE VIRGINIA.

(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct offshore oil and gas Lease Sale 220 under section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (33 U.S.C. 1337) as soon as practicable, but not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Prohibition on Conflicts With Military Operations- The Secretary shall not make any tract available for leasing under this section if the President, through the Secretary of Defense, determines that drilling activity on that tract would create an unreasonable conflict with military operations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 305. REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT PROPOSED OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE 222 IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO.

(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct offshore oil and gas Lease Sale 222 under section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (33 U.S.C. 1337) as soon as practicable, but not later than June 1, 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Environmental Review- For the purposes of that lease sale, the Environmental Impact Statement for the 2007-2012 5-Year OCS Plan and the Multi-Sale Environmental Impact Statement are deemed to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 306. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The term ‘Environmental Impact Statement for the 2007-2012 5 Year OCS Plan’ means the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program: 2007-2012 (April 2007) prepared by the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The term ‘Multi-Sale Environmental Impact Statement’ means the Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Western Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales 204, 207, 210, 215, and 218, and Proposed Central Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales 205, 206, 208, 213, 216, and 222 (September 2008) prepared by the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives May 11, 2011.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.

KAREN L. HAAS, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 1229CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to facilitate the safe and timely production of American energy resources from the Gulf of Mexico, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain offshore oil and gas lease sales, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink