S.Amdt. 5134

1. Adds SEC. ___. OCS JOINT PERMITTING OFFICES at the end of the bill

   Adds a section

   In S. 3268 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (b) Report.--If the Commission decides not to use the procedures described in subsection (a) in a specific instance, not later than 30 days after the date of the decision, the Commission shall submit to Congress a detailed report that describes in each instance the reasons for not using the procedures.

   Inserted: SEC. ___. OCS JOINT PERMITTING OFFICES.

   Inserted: (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the "Secretary") shall establish Federal OCS Joint Regional Permitting Offices (referred to in this section as the "Regional Permitting Offices") in accordance with this section.

   Inserted: (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for purposes of this section with--

   Inserted: (1) the Secretary of Commerce;

   Inserted: (2) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and

   Inserted: (3) the Chief of Engineers.

   Inserted: (c) Designation of Qualified Staff.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding under subsection (b), all Federal signatory parties shall assign to each of the Regional Permitting Offices identified in subsection (d) a sufficient number of employees with expertise to address the full spectrum of agency regulatory issues relating to the Regional Permitting Office in which the employee is employed, including, as applicable, particular expertise in--

   Inserted: (A) the consultations and the preparation of biological opinions under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536);

   Inserted: (B) permits under section 404 of Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344);

   Inserted: (C) regulatory matters under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.);

   Inserted: (D) the consultations and preparation of documents under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.); and

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   Inserted: (E) the preparation of analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

   Inserted: (2) Duties.--Each employee assigned under paragraph (1) shall--

   Inserted: (A) not later than 90 days after the date of assignment, report to the Minerals Management Service Regional Director in the Regional Permitting Office to which the employee is assigned;

   Inserted: (B) be responsible for all issues relating to the jurisdiction of the home office or agency of the employee; and

   Inserted: (C) participate as part of the team of personnel working on proposed energy projects, planning, and environmental analyses.

   Inserted: (d) Regional Permitting Offices.--The following Minerals Management Service Regional Headquarters shall serve as the Regional Permitting Offices:

   Inserted: (1) Anchorage, Alaska.

   Inserted: (2) New Orleans, Louisiana.

   Inserted: (3) MMS Pacific Regional Headquarters.

   Inserted: (4) MMS Atlantic Regional Headquarters.

   Inserted: (e) Reports.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the results of the Regional Permitting Offices.

   Inserted: (f) Transfer of Fund.--For the purposes of coordination and processing of oil and gas use authorizations on the Federal outer Continental Shelf under the administration of the Regional Permitting Offices identified in subsection (d), the Secretary may authorize the expenditure or transfer of such funds as are necessary to--

   Inserted: (1) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;

   Inserted: (2) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;

   Inserted: (3) the Environmental Protection Agency;

   Inserted: (4) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and

   Inserted: (5) the Corps of Engineers.

   Original wording

   At the end, add the following:

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As printed