Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 2.djvu/1051

 PUBLIC LAW 100-203—DEC. 22, 1987

101 STAT. 1330-257

(b) NONCOMPETITIVE LEASING.—Section 17(c) of the Act of February 25, 1920 (30 U.S.C. 226(c)), is amended to read as follows: "(c)(1) If the lands to be leased are not leased under subsection (b)(1) of this section or are not subject to competitive leasing under subsection (b)(2) of this section, the person first making application for the lease who is qualified to hold a lease under this Act shall be entitled to a lease of such lands without competitive bidding, upon payment of a non-refundable application fee of at least $75. A lease under this subsection shall be conditioned upon the payment of a royalty at a rate of 12.5 percent in amount or value of the production removed or sold from the lease. Leases shall be issued within 60 days of the date on which the Secretary identifies the first responsible qualified applicant. "(2)(A) Lands (i) which were posted for sale under subsection (b)(1) of this section but for which no bids were received or for which the highest bid was less than the national minimum acceptable bid and (ii) for which, at the end of the period referred to in subsection (b)(l) of this section no lease has been issued and no lease application is pending under paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall again be available for leasing only in accordance with subsection (b)(1) of this section. "(B) The land in any lease which is issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection or under subsection (b)(1) of this section which lease terminates, expires, is cancelled or is relinquished shall again be available for leasing only in accordance with subsection (b)(1) of this section.". (c) RENTAUS.—Section 17(d) of the Act of February 25, 1920 (30

U.S.C. 226(d)), is amended to read as follows: "(d) All leases issued under this section, as amended by the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987, shall be conditioned upon payment by the lessee of a rental of not less than $1.50 per acre per year for the first through fifth years of the lease and not less than $2 per acre per year for each year thereafter. A minimum royalty in lieu of rental of not less than the rental which otherwise would be required for that lease year shall be payable at the expiration of each lease year beginning on or after a discovery of oil or gas in paying quantities on the lands leased.". (d) NOTICE AND RECLAMATION.—(1) Section 17 of the Act of February 25, 1920 (30 U.S.C. 226), is amended by redesignating subsections (f) through (k) as subsections (i) through (n) and by adding the following new subsections (f) through (h): "(f) At least 45 days before offering lands for lease under this Public section, and at least 30 days before approving applications for information. permits to drill under the provisions of a lease or substantially modifying the terms of any lease issued under this section, the Secretary shall provide notice of the proposed action. Such notice shall be posted in the appropriate local office of the leasing and land management agencies. Such notice shall include the terms or modified lease terms and maps or a narrative description of the affected lands. Where the inclusion of maps in such notice is not practicable, maps of the affected lands shall be made available to the public for review. Such maps shall show the location of all tracts to be leased, and of all leases already issued in the general area. The requirements of this subsection are in addition to any public notice required by other law. "(g) The Secretary of the Interior, or for National Forest lands. Regulations the Secretary of Agriculture, shall regulate all surface-disturbing

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