Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act”.
Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act
A BILL
To improve the management of the Federal coal leasing program.
Sec. 2 Sense of the Senate relating to a review of the Federal coal leasing program
It is the sense of the Senate that—
the Federal coal leasing program should be reviewed—
to ensure that taxpayers receive a fair rate of return for Federal minerals;
to provide appropriate transparency; and
to ensure that management of Federal land and minerals is in the public interest;
the responsible development of coal resources on Federal land provides an important source of jobs and revenue for States and local economies; and
the review under paragraph (1) should be completed as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 3 Deadline for Completion of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
Not later than January 15, 2021, the Secretary of the Interior shall complete the programmatic review of coal leasing on Federal land described in section 4 of Secretarial Order 3338, issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016.
Sec. 4 Royalty Policy Committee
In general— To ensure consultation with key State, tribal, environmental, energy, and Federal stakeholders, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee (referred to in this section as the “Committee”) in accordance with the charter of the Secretary, dated March 26, 2010, as modified by this section.
Duties— The Committee shall—
provide advice to the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Natural Resource Revenue, on the management of Federal and Indian mineral leases and revenues under the law governing the Department of the Interior;
review and comment on revenue management and other mineral and energy-related policies; and
provide a forum to convey views representative of mineral lessees, operators, revenue payers, revenue recipients, governmental agencies, and public interest groups.
Advisory— The duties of the Committee shall be solely advisory.
Meetings— The Committee shall meet at least once a year at the request of the Secretary.
Duration— The charter of the Committee may be renewed in 2-year increments by the Secretary.
Membership—
In general— Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall appoint non-Federal members and alternates to the Committee for a term of up to 3 years.
Terms—
In general— The terms of non-Federal Committee members and alternates shall be staggered to preserve the integrity of the Committee.
Terms— Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the terms of new or reappointed non-Federal members of the Committee shall be 3 years.
Shorter terms— If a term of 3 years would result in more than 1/3 of the terms of the non-Federal members expiring in any year, appointments of non-Federal members may be extended for 1 year or 2 terms to provide continuity of the Committee.
Maximum number of years—
In general— Subject to clause (ii), non-Federal members may not serve more than 6 consecutive years as a member of the Committee.
Reappointment— After a 2-year break in service, any non-Federal member who has served 6 consecutive years shall be eligible for reappointment to the Committee.
Meetings— The Secretary may revoke the appointment of a member of the Committee and the alternate if the appointed member or alternate fails to attend 2 or more consecutive meetings of the Committee.
Balanced representation— Committee members shall be comprised of non-Federal and Federal members in order to ensure fair and balanced representation with consideration for the efficiency and fiscal economy of the Committee.
Discretionary service— All members of the Committee shall serve at the discretion of the Secretary.
Non-Federal members— In appointing non-Federal members of the Committee, the Secretary shall appoint up to—
5 members who represent States that receive over $10,000,000 annually in royalty revenues from Federal leases;
5 members who represent Indian tribes;
5 members who represent various mineral or energy interests, including at least 1 member who represents labor interests; and
5 members who represent public interest groups, including groups representing taxpayers and groups with academic expertise.
Federal members— The following officials, or their designees, shall be nonvoting, ex-officio members of the Committee:
The Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.
The Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
The Director of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
Subcommittees—
In general— Subject to the approval of the Secretary and paragraph (2), subcommittees or workgroups of the Committee may be formed for the purposes of compiling information or conducting research.
Administration— Subcommittees or workgroups of the Committee shall—
act only under the direction of the Committee; and
report their recommendations to the full Committee for consideration.
Appointment— The Committee Chair, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, shall appoint subcommittee or workgroup members.
Meetings— Subcommittees and workgroups of the Committee shall meet as necessary to accomplish assignments, subject to the approval of the Secretary and the availability of resources.
Sec. 5 Emergency leasing
In general— As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall amend section 3425.1–4 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, and Secretarial Order 3338, issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016, to authorize earlier emergency leasing than is authorized under section 3425.1–4 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as of the date of enactment of this Act).
Administration— In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall substitute “4 years” for “3 years” each place it appears in section 3425.1–4 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, for the duration of the programmatic review of the Federal coal program and the limitations on the issuance of Federal coal leases described in Secretarial Order 3338 issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016.