30 USC 1003 - Leasing procedures

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 26, 2024

§ 1003.

Leasing procedures

(a)

Nominations

(b)

Competitive lease sale required

(1)

In general

(2)

Competitive lease sales

(3)

Lands subject to mining claims

(4)

Land subject to oil and gas lease

Land under an oil and gas lease issued pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) that is subject to an approved application for permit to drill and from which oil and gas production is occurring may be available for noncompetitive leasing under subsection (c) by the holder of the oil and gas lease—

(A)

on a determination that geothermal energy will be produced from a well producing or capable of producing oil and gas; and

(B)

to provide for the coproduction of geothermal energy with oil and gas.

(c)

Noncompetitive leasing

(d)

Pending lease applications

(1)

In general

(2)

Administration

An application described in paragraph (1) and any lease issued pursuant to the application—

(A)

except as provided in subparagraph (B), shall be subject to this section as in effect on the day before August 8, 2005; or

(B)

at the election of the applicant, shall be subject to this section as in effect on August 8, 2005.

(e)

Leases sold as a block

(f)

Leasing for direct use of geothermal resources

Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Secretary may identify areas in which the land to be leased under this chapter exclusively for direct use of geothermal resources, without sale for purposes other than commercial generation of electricity, may be leased to any qualified applicant that first applies for such a lease under regulations issued by the Secretary, if the Secretary—

(1)

publishes a notice of the land proposed for leasing not later than 90 days before the date of the issuance of the lease;

(2)

does not receive during the 90-day period beginning on the date of the publication any nomination to include the land concerned in the next competitive lease sale; and

(3)

determines there is no competitive interest in the geothermal resources in the land to be leased.

(g)

Area subject to lease for direct use

(1)

In general

(2)

Limitations

(Pub. L. 91–581, § 4, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1566; Pub. L. 109–58, title II, §§ 222, 223(b), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 660, 662; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3105, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2516.)

cite as: 30 USC 1003