Exempts oil and gas drilling on non-federal surface land from federal drilling permits and federal environmental review when the U.S. holds less than half the underlying minerals and the operator files a state permit.

• The Secretary may not require a federal drilling permit for oil and gas work on non-federal surface land if the U.S. owns less than 50 percent of the subsurface minerals and the operator submits a state permit.
• Such work may begin 30 days after the state permit is submitted, is not a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act, and requires no additional federal action.
• Such work is exempt from National Historic Preservation Act review and Endangered Species Act section 7 consultation.
• Royalty obligations and the Interior Department's audit, inspection, and civil penalty authority are unchanged, and the exemption does not apply to Indian lands.

• Natural Resources Committee (House)
• Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

Energy