Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Competitive Onshore Mineral Policy via Eliminating Taxpayer-Enabled Speculation Act” or the “COMPETES Act”.
Competitive Onshore Mineral Policy via Eliminating Taxpayer-Enabled Speculation Act
A BILL
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to ensure market competition in onshore oil and gas leasing, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Statement of policy
It is the policy of the United States that the Secretary of the Interior shall not issue onshore oil and gas leases except through a competitive bidding process.
Sec. 3 Elimination of noncompetitive leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act
by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
“(a) Leasing authority
“(1) In general—All land subject to disposition under this Act that is known or believed to contain oil or gas deposits may be leased by the Secretary.
“(2) Receipt of fair market value—In conducting leasing activities under this Act, the Secretary shall ensure the receipt by the United States of fair market value for—
“(A) any land or resources leased by the United States; and
“(B) any rights conveyed by the United States.”
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (1)(A)—
in the first sentence, by striking “paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection” and inserting “paragraph (2)”; and
by striking the last sentence; and
by striking paragraph (3);
by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
“(c) Additional rounds of competitive bidding—Land made available for leasing under subsection (b)(1) for which no bid is accepted or received, or the land for which a lease terminates, expires, is cancelled, or is relinquished, may be made available by the Secretary of the Interior for a new round of competitive bidding under that subsection.”
by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
“(e) Term of lease
“(1) In general—Any lease issued under this section, including a lease for tar sand areas, shall be for a primary term of 10 years.
“(2) Continuation of lease—A lease described in paragraph (1) shall continue after the primary term of the lease for any period during which oil or gas is produced in paying quantities.
“(3) Additional extensions—Any lease issued under this section for land on which, or for which under an approved cooperative or unit plan of development or operation, actual drilling operations were commenced prior to the end of the primary term of the lease and are being diligently prosecuted at the time the primary term of the lease ends shall be extended for 2 years and for any period thereafter during which oil or gas is produced in paying quantities.”
in subsection (d)(1), in the first sentence, by striking “or section 17(c) of this Act”;
in subsection (e)—
in paragraph (2)—
by striking “either”; and
by striking “or the inclusion” and all that follows through “, all”; and
in paragraph (3)—
in subparagraph (A), by adding “and” after the semicolon;
by striking subparagraph (B); and
by striking “(3)(A) payment” and inserting the following:
“(3) payment”
in subsection (g)—
in paragraph (1), by striking “as a competitive” and all that follows through “of this Act” and inserting “in the same manner as the original lease issued pursuant to section 17”;
by striking paragraph (2);
by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking “applicable to leases issued under subsection 17(c) of this Act (30 U.S.C. 226(c)) except,” and inserting “except”;
in subsection (h), by striking “subsections (d) and (f) of this section” and inserting “subsection (d)”;
in subsection (i), by striking “(i)(1) In acting” and all that follows through “of this section” in paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
“(i) Royalty reduction in reinstated leases—In acting on a petition for reinstatement pursuant to subsection (d)”
by striking subsection (f); and
by redesignating subsections (g) through (j) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively.