§ 15927.
Oil shale, tar sands, and other strategic unconventional fuels
(b)
Declaration of policy
Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States that—
(1)
United States oil shale, tar sands, and other unconventional fuels are strategically important domestic resources that should be developed to reduce the growing dependence of the United States on politically and economically unstable sources of foreign oil imports;
(2)
the development of oil shale, tar sands, and other strategic unconventional fuels, for research and commercial development, should be conducted in an environmentally sound manner, using practices that minimize impacts; and
(3)
development of those strategic unconventional fuels should occur, with an emphasis on sustainability, to benefit the United States while taking into account affected States and communities.
(c)
Leasing program for research and development of oil shale and tar sands
(d)
Programmatic environmental impact statement and commercial leasing program for oil shale and tar sands
(1)
Programmatic environmental impact statement
(e)
Commencement of commercial leasing of oil shale and tar sands
(f)
Diligent development requirements
(g)
Initial report by the Secretary of the Interior
Within 90 days after August 8, 2005, the Secretary of the Interior shall report to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate on—
(1)
the interim actions necessary to—
(A)
develop the program, complete the programmatic environmental impact statement, and promulgate the final regulation as required by subsection (d); and
(B)
conduct the first lease sales under the program as required by subsection (e); and
(2)
a schedule to complete such actions within the time limits mandated by this section.
(h)
Task Force
(2)
Composition
The Task Force shall be composed of—
(A)
the Secretary of Energy (or the designee of the Secretary);
(B)
the Secretary of the Interior (or the designee of the Secretary of the Interior);
(C)
the Secretary of Defense (or the designee of the Secretary of Defense);
(D)
the Governors of affected States; and
(E)
representatives of local governments in affected areas.
(i)
Office of Petroleum Reserves
(1)
In general
The Office of Petroleum Reserves of the Department of Energy shall—
(A)
coordinate the creation and implementation of a commercial strategic fuel development program for the United States;
(B)
evaluate the strategic importance of unconventional sources of strategic fuels to the security of the United States;
(C)
promote and coordinate Federal Government actions that facilitate the development of strategic fuels in order to effectively address the energy supply needs of the United States;
(D)
identify, assess, and recommend appropriate actions of the Federal Government required to assist in the development and manufacturing of strategic fuels; and
(E)
coordinate and facilitate appropriate relationships between private industry and the Federal Government to promote sufficient and timely private investment to commercialize strategic fuels for domestic and military use.
(2)
Consultation and coordination
(k)
Interagency coordination and expeditious review of permitting process
(1)
Department of the Interior as lead agency
(2)
Implementing regulations
(l)
Cost-shared demonstration technologies
(1)
Identification
The Secretary of Energy shall identify technologies for the development of oil shale and tar sands that—
(A)
are ready for demonstration at a commercially-representative scale; and
(B)
have a high probability of leading to commercial production.
(2)
Assistance
For each technology identified under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy may provide—
(A)
technical assistance;
(B)
assistance in meeting environmental and regulatory requirements; and
(C)
cost-sharing assistance.
(m)
National oil shale and tar sands assessment
(1)
Assessment
(B)
Geographic areas
The geographic areas referred to in subparagraph (A), listed in the order in which the Secretary shall assign priority, are—
(i)
the Green River Region of the States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming;
(ii)
the Devonian oil shales and other hydrocarbon-bearing rocks having the nomenclature of “shale” located east of the Mississippi River; and
(iii)
any remaining area in the central and western United States (including the State of Alaska) that contains oil shale and tar sands, as determined by the Secretary.
(2)
Use of State surveys and universities
(n)
Land exchanges
(2)
Identification and priority of public lands
(o)
Royalty rates for leases
The Secretary shall establish royalties, fees, rentals, bonus, or other payments for leases under this section that shall—
(1)
encourage development of the oil shale and tar sands resource; and
(2)
ensure a fair return to the United States.
(p)
Heavy oil technical and economic assessment
(s)
Authorization of appropriations
([Pub. L. 109–58, title III, § 369], Aug. 8, 2005, [119 Stat. 728]; [Pub. L. 113–188, title VI, § 601(b)], Nov. 26, 2014, [128 Stat. 2019].)