§6217. Scientific inventory of oil and gas reserves

(a) In general

The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy, shall conduct an inventory of all onshore Federal lands. The inventory shall identify-

(1) the United States Geological Survey estimates of the oil and gas resources underlying these lands;

(2) the extent and nature of any restrictions or impediments to the development of the resources, including-

(A) impediments to the timely granting of leases;

(B) post-lease restrictions, impediments, or delays on development for conditions of approval, applications for permits to drill, or processing of environmental permits; and

(C) permits or restrictions associated with transporting the resources for entry into commerce; and

(3) the quantity of resources not produced or introduced into commerce because of the restrictions.

(b) Regular update

Once completed, the USGS resource estimates and the surface availability data as provided in subsection (a)(2) shall be regularly updated and made publicly available.

(c) Inventory

The inventory shall be provided to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate within 2 years after November 9, 2000.

(d) Assessments

Using the inventory, the Secretary of Energy shall make periodic assessments of economically recoverable resources accounting for a range of parameters such as current costs, commodity prices, technology, and regulations.

( Pub. L. 106–469, title VI, §604, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2041 ; Pub. L. 109–58, title III, §364(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 723 .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Energy Act of 2000, and not as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2005-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–58, §364(a)(1)(A), struck out "reserve" before "estimates" and "and" after the semicolon.

Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 109–58, §364(a)(1)(B), added pars. (2) and (3) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "the extent and nature of any restrictions or impediments to the development of such resources."

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–58, §364(a)(2), substituted "resource" for "reserve" and "publicly" for "publically".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–58, §364(a)(3), added subsec. (d) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (d). Text read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to implement this section."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.