H.R. 681 · 109th Congress
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue separately, for the same area, a lease for tar sand and a lease for oil and gas, and for other purposes.
- Stage
- In committee
- Sponsor
- Chris Cannon
- Introduced
- 2005-02-09
- Latest action
- 2005-02-23 · Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Summary
Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue separately, for the same area, a lease for tar sand and a lease for oil and gas.
Declares that such a lease shall not be further subject to the Combined Hydrocarbon Leasing Act of 1981.
Requires a lease for tar sand to be issued using the same bidding process, annual rental, and posting period as a lease issued for oil and gas. Sets the minimum acceptable bid for a tar sand lease at $2 per acre.
Authorizes the Secretary, in order to promote any resource covered by a combined hydrocarbon lease, to waive, suspend, or alter any requirement that a permittee under a permit authorizing prospecting for tar sand must exercise due diligence.