§ 1701. — Congressional statement of findings and purposes.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC1701]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 29--OIL AND GAS ROYALTY MANAGEMENT
Sec. 1701. Congressional statement of findings and purposes
(a) Congress finds that--
(1) the Secretary of the Interior should enforce effectively and
uniformly existing regulations under the mineral leasing laws
providing for the inspection of production activities on lease sites
on Federal and Indian lands;
(2) the system of accounting with respect to royalties and other
payments due and owing on oil and gas produced from such lease sites
is archaic and inadequate;
(3) it is essential that the Secretary initiate procedures to
improve methods of accounting for such royalties and payments and to
provide for routine inspection of activities related to the
production of oil and gas on such lease sites; and
(4) the Secretary should aggressively carry out his trust
responsibility in the administration of Indian oil and gas.
(b) It is the purpose of this chapter--
(1) to clarify, reaffirm, expand, and define the
responsibilities and obligations of lessees, operators, and other
persons involved in transportation or sale of oil and gas from the
Federal and Indian lands and the Outer Continental Shelf;
(2) to clarify, reaffirm, expand and define the authorities and
responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior to implement and
maintain a royalty management system for oil and gas leases on
Federal lands, Indian lands, and the Outer Continental Shelf;
(3) to require the development of enforcement practices that
ensure the prompt and proper collection and disbursement of oil and
gas revenues owed to the United States and Indian lessors and those
inuring to the benefit of States;
(4) to fulfill the trust responsibility of the United States for
the administration of Indian oil and gas resources; and
(5) to effectively utilize the capabilities of the States and
Indian tribes in developing and maintaining an efficient and
effective Federal royalty management system.
(Pub. L. 97-451, Sec. 2, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2448.)
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104-185, Sec. 11, Aug. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1717, provided
that: ``Except as provided by section 115(h) [30 U.S.C. 1724(h)],
section 111(h) [30 U.S.C. 1721(h)], section 111(k)(5) [30 U.S.C.
1721(k)(5)], and section 117 [30 U.S.C. 1726] of the Federal Oil and Gas
Royalty Management Act of 1982 (as added by this Act), this Act [see
Short Title of 1996 Amendment note below], and the amendments made by
this Act, shall apply with respect to the production of oil and gas
after the first day of the month following the date of the enactment of
this Act [Aug. 13, 1996].''
Effective Date
Section 305 of Pub. L. 97-451 provided that: ``The provisions of
this Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 188 and 191 of this
title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and
sections 1714 and 1752 of this title] shall apply to oil and gas leases
issued before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan.
12, 1983], except that in the case of a lease issued before such date,
no provision of this Act or any rule or regulation prescribed under this
Act shall alter the express and specific provisions of such a lease.''
Short Title of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104-185, Sec. 1, Aug. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1700, provided
that: ``This Act [enacting sections 1721a and 1724 to 1726 of this
title, amending sections 1702, 1712, 1721, and 1735 of this title,
repealing section 1339 of Title 43, Public Lands, and enacting
provisions set out as notes under this section, section 1732 of this
title, and section 1339 of Title 43] may be cited as the `Federal Oil
and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996'.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 97-451 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this
chapter, amending sections 188 and 191 of this title, and enacting
provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 1714 and
1752 of this title] may be cited as the `Federal Oil and Gas Royalty
Management Act of 1982'.''
Applicability of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104-185, Sec. 9, Aug. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1717, provided
that: ``The amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1996
Amendment note above] shall not apply with respect to Indian lands, and
the provisions of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982
[30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.] as in effect on the day before the date of
enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 1996] shall continue to apply after such
date with respect to Indian lands.''
Pub. L. 104-185, Sec. 10, Aug. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1717, provided
that: ``This Act [see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note above] shall
not apply to any privately owned minerals.''
Construction of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104-185, Sec. 12, Aug. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1717, provided
that: ``Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note
above] shall be construed to give a State a property right or interest
in any Federal lease or land.''
