This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from requiring a drilling permit under the Mineral Leasing Act for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit, if (1) less than 50% of the minerals within the unit are federally owned, and (2) the federal government neither owns nor leases the surface estate within the unit's boundaries.
This bill removes the requirement under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 for a drilling permit from the Bureau of Land Management for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit, if (1) less than 50% of the minerals within the unit are federally owned, and (2) the federal government neither owns nor leases the surface estate within the unit's boundaries.