§ 209. Suspension, waiver, or reduction of rents or royalties to promote development or operation; extension of lease on suspension of operations and production

Failure to comply with provisions of lease

To amend the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, and for other purposes

To facilitate and encourage the production of oil from tar sand and other hydrocarbon deposits

To provide for improved energy efficiency

To ensure that all oil and gas originated on the public lands and on the Outer Continental Shelf are properly accounted for under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, and for other purposes

Proposed rule

Final rule

Final rule; withdrawal

Proposed rule

Final rule

Final rule

Proposed rule

Final rule

Final rule

Final rule

The Secretary of the Interior, for the purpose of encouraging the greatest ultimate recovery of coal, oil, gas, oil shale gilsonite (including all vein-type solid hydrocarbons),,13 phosphate, sodium, potassium and sulfur, and in the interest of conservation of natural resources, is authorized to waive, suspend, or reduce the rental, or minimum royalty, or reduce the royalty on an entire leasehold, or on any tract or portion thereof segregated for royalty purposes, whenever in his judgment it is necessary to do so in order to promote development, or whenever in his judgment the leases cannot be successfully operated under the terms provided therein.14*Provided, however, *That in order to promote development and the maximum production of tar sand, at the request of the lessee, the Secretary shall review, prior to commencement of commercial operations, the royalty rates established in each combined hydrocarbon lease issued in special tar sand areas. For purposes of this section, the term “**tar sand**” means any consolidated or unconsolidated rock (other than coal, oil shale, or gilsonite) that either: (1) contains a hydrocarbonaceous material with a gas-free viscosity, at original reservoir temperature, a greater than 10,000 centipoise, or (2) contains a hydrocarbonaceous material and is produced by mining or quarrying. In the event the Secretary of the Interior, in the interest of conservation, shall direct or shall assent to the suspension of operations and production under any lease granted under the terms of this Act, any payments of acreage rental or of minimum royalty prescribed by such lease likewise shall be suspended during such period of suspension of operations and production; and the term of such lease shall be extended by adding any such suspension period thereto. The provisions of this section shall apply to all oil and gas leases issued under this Act, including those within an approved or prescribed plan for unit or cooperative development and operation. Nothing in this section shall be construed as granting to the Secretary the authority to waive, suspend, or reduce advance royalties.

Repeal of provision of the Mineral Leasing Act relating to the suspension, waiver, or reduction of rents or royalties by the Secretary of the Interior to promote development or operation

Repeal of royalty relief provisions

Repeal of royalty relief provisions

Repeal of provision of the Mineral Leasing Act relating to the suspension, waiver, or reduction of rents or royalties by the Secretary of the Interior to promote development or operation

Repeal of royalty relief provisions

Elimination of royalty relief

Fossil fuel resources

Lands subject to disposition; persons entitled to benefits; reciprocal privileges; helium rights reserved