S.Amdt. 4927

1. Adds Subtitle H--Identification of Most Prospective Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Natural Gas Areas Under Moratoria SEC. 1771. DEFINITIONS at the end of title XVII

   Adds a section

   Inserted: Subtitle H--Identification of Most Prospective Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Natural Gas Areas Under Moratoria SEC. 1771. DEFINITIONS.

   Inserted: In this subtitle:

   Inserted: (1) Moratorium area.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--The term "moratorium area" means any area on the Outer Continental Shelf covered by--

   Inserted: (i) sections 104 through 106 of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-54; 119 Stat. 521);

   Inserted: (ii) section 104 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109-432); or

   Inserted: (iii) any area withdrawn from disposition by leasing by the memorandum entitled "Memorandum on Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition" (34 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1111), and dated June 12, 1998, as modified by the President on January 9, 2007.

   Inserted: (B) Exclusions.--The term "moratorium area" does not include an area of the outer Continental Shelf designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a national marine sanctuary.

   Inserted: (2) Prospective area.--The term "prospective area" means a portion of any moratorium area that may contain recoverable oil or gas.

   Inserted: (3) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.

   Inserted: SEC. 1772. IDENTIFICATION OF MOST PROSPECTIVE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OIL AND NATURAL GAS AREAS UNDER MORATORIA.

   Inserted: (a) Inventory.--

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   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary shall identify the 10 most prospective areas for recoverable oil and gas accumulations, including if appropriate the 5 most prospective areas for oil and the 5 most prospective areas for natural gas in the prospective areas that industry would likely explore if allowed.

   Inserted: (2) Information.--In identifying the prospective areas, the Secretary shall take into account any existing information on the geological potential for oil and gas or acquire new data as appropriate to assist in narrowing down prospective areas.

   Inserted: (3) Technology.--The Secretary may use any available geological, geophysical, economic, engineering, and other scientific technology to obtain accurate estimates of resource potential.

   Inserted: (b) Acquisition of Geological and Geophysical Data.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire and process new geological and geophysical data or use existing geological and geophysical data for any moratorium area if the Secretary determines that additional information is needed to identify and assess potential prospective areas.

   Inserted: (2) Technology.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall use any available technology (other than drilling), including 3-D seismic technology, to obtain an accurate estimate of resource potential.

   Inserted: (3) Availability of data.--The Secretary may make available newly acquired geological and geophysical data under this subsection on a cost recovery basis to recover the full costs expended for acquisition and processing of new geological and geophysical data.

   Inserted: (c) Administration.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after the date of enactment of this Act, to expedite collection of geological and geophysical data under this section, each Federal agency shall conduct and complete any analyses or consultations that are required to carry out this section.

   Inserted: (2) Protected species.--Before conducting any geological and geophysical survey required under this subtitle in any prospective area, the Secretary shall, at a minimum, implement the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures that are used for protected species in the Gulf of Mexico region.

   Inserted: (d) Environmental and Socioeconomic Studies.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct, directly or by contract, environmental or socioeconomic studies for any prospective area identified under subsection (a).

   Inserted: (2) Interagency action.--The Secretary, acting through the Minerals Management Service, may work jointly with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or other relevant agencies--

   Inserted: (A) to compile existing environmental and socioeconomic information on prospective areas; or

   Inserted: (B) obtain new environmental or socioeconomic studies for identified prospective areas.

   Inserted: SEC. 1773. SHARING INFORMATION WITH STATES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a process--

   Inserted: (1) to share information identified by actions taken under section 1772 to identify 10 most prospective areas; and

   Inserted: (2) to obtain input from States or other stakeholders on the prospective areas.

   Inserted: (b) Process.--The process shall include workshops or meetings with--

   Inserted: (1) the public;

   Inserted: (2) Governors or designated officials from appropriate States; and

   Inserted: (3) other relevant user groups.

   Inserted: SEC. 1774. REPORTS.

   Inserted: (a) Identification of Prospective Areas.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes--

   Inserted: (1) an identification of the 10 most prospective oil and gas areas within the moratorium areas using existing information;

   Inserted: (2) a summary of environmental and socioeconomic information relating to the 10 prospective areas; and

   Inserted: (3) a schedule for completion of any environmental or socioeconomic impact studies or consultations planned for those prospective areas.

   Inserted: (b) Potential of Prospective Areas.--Not later than 42 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes--

   Inserted: (1) a summary of the potential oil and gas resources in the 10 most prospective areas based on all available and newly acquired information;

   Inserted: (2) a description of the consultation process under section 1773 that will be used to share information and obtain input from stakeholders concerning the 10 most prospective areas; and

   Inserted: (3) recommendations on approaches for recovery of costs expended for acquisition and processing of new geological and geophysical data or conducting other studies for the report.

   Inserted: (c) Input.--Not later than 180 days after submission of the report required under subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a summary of the input from the process required under section 1773.

   Inserted: SEC. 1775. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

   Inserted: There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subtitle $450,000,000, to remain available until expended.

   Original wording

   At the end of title XVII, add the following:

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As printed