---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1713"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1713"
heading: "Required recordkeeping"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1713"
units:
  - "Chapter 29 — Oil and Gas Royalty Management"
  - "Subchapter I — Federal Royalty Management and Enforcement"
---

# §1713. Required recordkeeping

- (a) **Maintenance and availability of records, reports, and information for inspection and duplication—** A [lessee](/usc/30/1702.md?p=7), [operator](/usc/30/1702.md?p=11), or other [person](/usc/30/1702.md?p=12) directly involved in developing, producing, transporting, purchasing, or selling [oil or gas](/usc/30/1702.md?p=9) subject to this chapter through the point of first sale or the point of [royalty](/usc/30/1702.md?p=14) computation, whichever is later, shall establish and maintain any records, make any reports, and provide any information that the [Secretary](/usc/30/1702.md?p=15) may, by rule, reasonably require for the purposes of implementing this chapter or determining compliance with rules or orders under this chapter. Upon the request of any officer or employee duly designated by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1702.md?p=15) or any [State](/usc/30/1702.md?p=16) or [Indian tribe](/usc/30/1702.md?p=4) conducting an audit or investigation pursuant to this chapter, the appropriate records, reports, or information which may be required by this section shall be made available for inspection and duplication by such officer or employee, [State](/usc/30/1702.md?p=16), or [Indian tribe](/usc/30/1702.md?p=4).
- (b) **Length of time maintenance required—** Records required by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1702.md?p=15) with respect to oil and gas [leases](/usc/30/1702.md?p=5) from Federal or [Indian lands](/usc/30/1702.md?p=3) or the Outer Continental Shelf shall be maintained for 6 years after the records are generated unless the [Secretary](/usc/30/1702.md?p=15) notifies the record holder that he has initiated an audit or investigation involving such records and that such records must be maintained for a longer period. In any case when an audit or investigation is underway, records shall be maintained until the [Secretary](/usc/30/1702.md?p=15) releases the record holder of the [obligation](/usc/30/1702.md?p=25) to maintain such records.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–451, title I, § 103, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2451.)