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Streamlining Oil and Gas Permitting on Private Lands

New rules aim to simplify procedures for oil and gas companies when drilling on private lands where the federal government owns less than half of the subsurface mineral rights. This means fewer federal permits and faster project starts, potentially impacting energy availability and local economies. Importantly, these changes do not apply to Indian lands.
Key points
Fewer Federal Permits: Companies will not need a federal drilling permit for oil and gas activities on non-federal surface estates if the U.S. holds less than 50% of subsurface mineral rights and the operator has a state permit.
Faster Project Start: Activities can commence 30 days after submitting a state permit, without additional federal actions or environmental/historic preservation reviews.
Royalties and Oversight Unchanged: The federal government will continue to collect royalties from oil and gas production and retains authority for audits and inspections to ensure proper accountability.
Exclusion of Indian Lands: These new provisions do not apply to Indian lands, which remain subject to existing protections.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_1205
Sponsor: Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Process start date: 2023-02-27
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_HR_1205.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-02-27.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Fewer Federal Permits: Companies will not need a federal drilling permit for oil and gas activities on non-federal surface estates if the U.S. holds less than 50% of subsurface mineral rights and the operator has a state permit.
  • Faster Project Start: Activities can commence 30 days after submitting a state permit, without additional federal actions or environmental/historic preservation reviews.
  • Royalties and Oversight Unchanged: The federal government will continue to collect royalties from oil and gas production and retains authority for audits and inspections to ensure proper accountability.
  • Exclusion of Indian Lands: These new provisions do not apply to Indian lands, which remain subject to existing protections.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-24.

CATEGORIES

Environment Economy