HR1559-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the More Energy More Jobs Act of 2023.

2. Requirement to issue new five-year oil and gas leasing program Section 18(c) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(c)) is amended— by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (5) and (6); and by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: In preparing each leasing program under this section, the Secretary shall— allow the Governor of a coastal State to nominate for leasing under such program areas of the outer Continental Shelf that are adjacent to the waters of that State; include each area nominated under subparagraph (A) in the draft leasing program under this section and consider leasing of such areas as an additional or alternative Federal action; and include the established program resource estimates that are available, and develop resource estimates for the areas for which such data are not available including for the areas nominated under subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall include in the final program issued under this section each area nominated by a State under paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines that development in such area will best meet national energy needs and is consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a). If the Secretary omits any area nominated under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the Governor that nominated the area and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report detailing why oil and gas development in such area do not best meet national energy needs and is not consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a). After submittal of the report required by subparagraph (B), each such Governor shall be provided 60 days within which to offer alternative views on why the Secretary’s findings are not consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a). The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the effectiveness of each oil and gas leasing program issued under this section on the date such program takes effect. (2)Development of programIn preparing each leasing program under this section, the Secretary shall—(A)allow the Governor of a coastal State to nominate for leasing under such program areas of the outer Continental Shelf that are adjacent to the waters of that State;(B)include each area nominated under subparagraph (A) in the draft leasing program under this section and consider leasing of such areas as an additional or alternative Federal action; and(C)include the established program resource estimates that are available, and develop resource estimates for the areas for which such data are not available including for the areas nominated under subparagraph (A).(3)Inclusion of State-Nominated areas(A)In generalThe Secretary shall include in the final program issued under this section each area nominated by a State under paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines that development in such area will best meet national energy needs and is consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a).(B)ReportIf the Secretary omits any area nominated under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the Governor that nominated the area and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report detailing why oil and gas development in such area do not best meet national energy needs and is not consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a).(C)Alternative viewsAfter submittal of the report required by subparagraph (B), each such Governor shall be provided 60 days within which to offer alternative views on why the Secretary’s findings are not consistent with the principles set forth in subsection (a).(4)Notice of effectiveness of planThe Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the effectiveness of each oil and gas leasing program issued under this section on the date such program takes effect..

3. Annual lease sales in Gulf of Mexico region Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this subsection: The term Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area has the meaning given the term Central Planning Area in section 102 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109–432). The term Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area means the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area of the outer Continental Shelf, as designated in the document entitled 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program and dated January 2015. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Secretary shall hold a minimum of 2 region-wide lease sales annually in the Gulf of Mexico pursuant to this Act, each of which shall include areas in— the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area; and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. In carrying out the lease sales under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall issue leases to the highest responsible qualified bidder or bidders. In carrying out the lease sales under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall include in each lease sale all unleased areas that are not subject to restrictions as of the date of the lease sale. With respect to each lease sale required under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall conduct any environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The Secretary shall complete an environmental review conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) not later than— with respect to an environmental assessment, 1 year after the date on which the Secretary issues a notice of intent to prepare such environmental assessment; and with respect to an environmental impact statement, 2 years after the date on which the Secretary issues a notice of intent to prepare such environmental impact statement. An entity that is issued a lease pursuant to a lease sale under paragraph (2) may enter into— 1 or more agreements with the Secretary to extend a deadline described in clause (i) by not more than 6 months for each such agreement; and an agreement with the Secretary to otherwise adjust any deadline under this subparagraph. Pursuant to sovereign contracting rights and obligations, the Secretary shall review and grant or deny in accordance with paragraph (2) any application for a permit or other approval for offshore oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production activities under a lease issued pursuant to this Act by not later than the earlier of— 75 calendar days after the date on which the application is received by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; or any other applicable deadline required by Federal law. Absent clear grounds for denial of an application for a permit or other approval described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall grant the permit or approval. If the Secretary denies an application for a permit or other approval under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide to the applicant written notice explaining the grounds for the denial. (j)Annual lease sales in Gulf of Mexico Region(1)DefinitionsIn this subsection:(A)Central Gulf of Mexico Planning AreaThe term Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area has the meaning given the term Central Planning Area in section 102 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109–432).(B)Western Gulf of Mexico Planning AreaThe term Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area means the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area of the outer Continental Shelf, as designated in the document entitled 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program and dated January 2015.(2)Annual lease salesNotwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Secretary shall hold a minimum of 2 region-wide lease sales annually in the Gulf of Mexico pursuant to this Act, each of which shall include areas in—(A)the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area; and (B)the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.(3)Requirements(A)In generalIn carrying out the lease sales under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall issue leases to the highest responsible qualified bidder or bidders. (B)Areas included in lease salesIn carrying out the lease sales under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall include in each lease sale all unleased areas that are not subject to restrictions as of the date of the lease sale.(4)Environmental review(A)In generalWith respect to each lease sale required under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall conduct any environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).(B)Timeline for environmental review(i)DeadlineThe Secretary shall complete an environmental review conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) not later than—(I)with respect to an environmental assessment, 1 year after the date on which the Secretary issues a notice of intent to prepare such environmental assessment; and(II)with respect to an environmental impact statement, 2 years after the date on which the Secretary issues a notice of intent to prepare such environmental impact statement.(ii)Adjustment of timelineAn entity that is issued a lease pursuant to a lease sale under paragraph (2) may enter into—(I)1 or more agreements with the Secretary to extend a deadline described in clause (i) by not more than 6 months for each such agreement; and(II)an agreement with the Secretary to otherwise adjust any deadline under this subparagraph.(k)Permitting(1)In generalPursuant to sovereign contracting rights and obligations, the Secretary shall review and grant or deny in accordance with paragraph (2) any application for a permit or other approval for offshore oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production activities under a lease issued pursuant to this Act by not later than the earlier of—(A)75 calendar days after the date on which the application is received by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; or(B)any other applicable deadline required by Federal law.(2)Approval or denial(A)In generalAbsent clear grounds for denial of an application for a permit or other approval described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall grant the permit or approval.(B)RequirementIf the Secretary denies an application for a permit or other approval under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide to the applicant written notice explaining the grounds for the denial..