Sponsors (4)
The bill shifts permitting authority for many oil and gas activities to states to speed development and reduce duplicative federal permitting while keeping royalty collection and some DOI oversight — a trade-off that accelerates projects and reduces federal red tape but removes key federal environmental and cultural reviews, increasing risks to species, public health, tribal interests, and regulatory consistency.
Operators and state regulators can start approved oil and gas activity much faster (state permits trigger within 30 days), reducing federal permitting delays and lowering regulatory burden for many projects.
Federal royalty collection, audit authority, and civil-penalty power remain in place, preserving federal revenue streams from production and accountability for payments.
Department of the Interior inspectors retain authority to perform onsite reviews to verify production and royalty reporting, supporting oversight and compliance.
Projects subject only to state review are exempted from NEPA, removing federal environmental analysis and public federal review for these projects.
Exemption from ESA section 7 consultation increases the risk that listed species and critical habitats will not receive federal protections, raising chances of environmental harm.
Exemption from NHPA section 106 removes federal review of effects on historic and cultural sites, risking damage to Indigenous and local heritage without federal safeguards.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars DOI from requiring federal drilling permits or NEPA/NHPA/ESA reviews for certain oil/gas operations on non‑Federal surface when the U.S. owns <50% subsurface and a state permit is filed; royalties and audits remain.
Official title: To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to streamline the oil and gas permitting process and to recognize fee ownership for certain oil and gas drilling or spacing units, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 25, 2025 by Stephanie I. Bice · Last progress February 25, 2025
Prohibits the Department of the Interior from requiring a federal drilling permit for oil and gas exploration and production that occurs on non‑Federal surface when the United States owns less than 50% of the subsurface mineral estate and the operator has submitted a State permit. Those operations would not be treated as a major Federal action under NEPA, may begin 30 days after a state permit is filed, and are exempted from National Historic Preservation Act section 106 review and Endangered Species Act section 7 consultation, while federal royalty collection and audit/penalty authority remain in place and the Secretary may still inspect sites. The rule explicitly does not apply to Indian lands.