Summary:
American Energy Renaissance Act of 2015

 Amends the Natural Gas Act regarding natural gas exports to exclude from the expedited application and approval process any nation subject to sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by the United States.

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to repeal the authority of the President to restrict exports of coal, petroleum products, natural gas, or petrochemical feedstocks, and related materials or equipment.

Amends the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) to repeal limitations on oil exports.

Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to repeal limitations on export of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil or gas.

Declares without force or effect a specified regulation and the limitation placed upon crude oil exports under the Export Administration Act of 1979.

Directs the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce to grant licenses to export crude oil except in certain circumstances.

Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to take into account solely domestic environmental impacts when completing an environmental impact statement for either coal export terminals or for coal transportation to such terminals.

Prescribes an authorization and certification process for certain energy infrastructure projects pertaining to a cross-border segment of either an oil or natural gas pipeline or an electric transmission facility for the import or export of oil or the transmission of electricity to or from Canada or Mexico.

Amends the Natural Gas Act to state that no order of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is required to authorize the export or import of any natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico. Amends the Federal Power Act to repeal the prerequisite that, before transmitting electric energy to a foreign country, a person must first obtain authorization from FERC.

Declares that a presidential permit shall not be required for a certain pipeline application by TransCanada Corporation to the Department of State for the northern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline from the Canadian border to the border between the states of South Dakota and Nebraska.

Prescribes guidelines for leasing on the OCS. Deems the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2010-2015, issued by the Secretary of the Interior, to be the final oil and gas leasing program under the OCSLA for FY2015-FY2020, except with regard to specified lease sales.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a lease sale every 270 days in each OCS planning area for which there is a commercial interest in purchasing federal oil and gas leases, and (2) conduct Lease Sale 220 for areas offshore of Virginia.

Permits a state, in lieu of being subject to a federal oil and gas leasing system, to elect to control energy development and production on available federal land in accordance with certain state leasing, permitting and regulatory programs prescribed by this Act.

Amends the MLA to require the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to offer for sale all nominated acreage not previously made available for lease, unless an individual lease should not be granted.

Prescribes guidelines governing leasing certainty for onshore lease sales.

 Permits the Secretary to extend for up to 2 periods of 15 days each the initial 30-day period after receipt of an application for deciding whether to issue a drilling permit. Deems an application approved if a decision has not been made within 60 days after the application is received.

 Imposes a $5,000 documentation fee upon each administrative protest concerning a lease, right-of-way, or application for a drill permit.

Directs the Secretary to establish a Federal Permit Streamlining Project in each field office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with responsibility for permitting energy projects on federal land.

Considers final regulations governing oil shale management published by BLM on November 18, 2008, to satisfy all legal and procedural requirements. Directs the Secretary to implement them and the oil shale leasing program without any other administrative action necessary.

Considers the Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments/Record of Decision for Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources to Address Land Use Allocations in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement of the Bureau of Land Management (Plan), as in effect on November 17, 2008, to satisfy all legal and procedural requirements. Directs the Secretary to implement, without additional administrative action, the oil shale leasing program and regulations authorized in such Plan.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) hold a lease sale offering an additional 10 parcels for lease for research, development, and demonstration of oil shale resources, under certain terms; and (2) hold at least five separate commercial lease sales of at least 25,000 acres considered to have the most potential for oil shale development in areas nominated through public comment.

Amends the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 to direct the Secretary to conduct a competitive oil and gas leasing program that includes at least one lease sale annually in areas most likely to produce commercial quantities of oil and natural gas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) for each of calendar years 2015 through 2024.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) facilitate and ensure permits for all surface development activities, including pipeline and road construction; (2) issue an integrated activity plan from among the nonadopted alternatives in the NPRA Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision, and (3) issue an environmental impact statement for issuance of oil and gas leases in the NPRA.

Declares without force or effect the NPRA Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision, dated February 21, 2013, including the integrated activity plan and environmental impact statement to which it refers.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) promulgate regulations to ensure that the Department of the Interior is supporting development of oil and gas leases in the NPRA, and (2) complete a comprehensive assessment of all technically recoverable NPRA fossil fuel resources.

 Declares that this Act does not authorize issuance of a lease under the MLA to persons designated for the imposition of specified sanctions.

Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to declare certain federal actions inapplicable to an endangered or threatened species, unless: (1) the Secretary has reported to Congress economic costs and benefits of the application; and (2) the application is authorized expressly for that species in a law enacted by Congress after the date of enactment of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to implement a competitive leasing program for the exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas resources on the Coastal Plain of Alaska.

Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to repeal the prohibition against leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Deems oil and gas leasing programs and activities authorized by this Act to be in compliance with the purposes of ANWR, so that no further findings or decisions are required to implement this determination.

States that the Secretary is neither required to identify nonleasing alternative courses of action, nor to analyze their environmental effects.

Deems compliance with this Act satisfies all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) governing analysis and consideration of the environmental effects of proposed leasing.

Authorizes the Secretary, after consultation with the state of Alaska, the city of Kaktovik, and the North Slope Borough, to designate as a Special Area up to 45,000 acres of the Coastal Plain. Directs the Secretary to designate the Sadlerochit Spring area as a Special Area.

Authorizes the Secretary to exclude any Special Area from leasing.

Permits directional (horizontal) drilling in a Special Area.

Restricts to the terms of this Act the Secretary's authority to close lands within the Coastal Plain to oil and gas leasing, exploration, development, and production.

Instructs the Secretary to offer: (1) tracts with the greatest potential for hydrocarbon discovery; (2) at least 50,000 acres for lease within 22 months after enactment of this Act; and (3) at least an additional 50,000 acres at 6-, 12-, and 18-month intervals thereafter.

Authorizes the Secretary to grant to the highest responsible qualified bidder in a lease sale, upon payment of a bonus, any lands to be leased on the Coastal Plain.

Prescribes a "no significant adverse effect" standard to govern Coastal Plain activities.

Directs the Secretary to develop a facility consolidation plan for the exploration, development, production, and transportation of Coastal Plain oil and gas resources.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) issue rights-of-way and easements across the Coastal Plain for the transportation of oil and gas produced under leases under this Act, (2) convey to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation the surface estate of specified lands, and (3) convey to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation a certain subsurface estate to which it is entitled pursuant to a specified agreement.

 Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to allow either the Secretary, an affected Indian tribe, or a certified third-party appraiser under contract with the Indian tribe, to appraise Indian land or trust assets involved in a transaction requiring the Secretary's approval. Deems approved any appraisal conducted by an Indian tribe or by such an appraiser if the Secretary neither approves nor disapproves it within 60 days after it is received.

 Gives tribes the option of waiving such appraisals if they give the Secretary an unambiguous indication of tribal intent, including an express waiver of any claims they might have against the United States as a consequence of forgoing the appraisal.

States that, when sustainability is federally required, any activities or resources conducted or produced pursuant to either a tribal resource management plan or a Secretary-approved integrated resource management plan shall be deemed to be sustainable. Amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize the Navajo Nation to enter into 99-year leases on their restricted lands without the Secretary's approval, if they are executed under tribal regulations approved by the Secretary.

Permits the Navajo Nation to enter into mineral resource leases on restricted lands without the Secretary's approval if they are executed under approved tribal regulations not to exceed 25 years. Permits a renewal option for one additional term not exceeding 25 years.

Declares inapplicable, except with the express consent of Indian beneficiaries, any rule promulgated by the Secretary regarding hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas development or production on land either held in trust or restricted status for Indians.

Grants to the states sole authority to promulgate or enforce requirements for hydraulic fracturing within their boundaries.

Subjects federal land upon which hydraulic fracturing is performed to the law of the state in which the land is located.

Prohibits award of legal fees to any nongovernmental organization related to an action that: (1) prevents, terminates, or reduces access to or the production of specified enterprises; (2) diminishes the private property value of a property owner; or (3) eliminates or prevents jobs.

Prohibits the Secretary from establishing a master leasing plan as part of any guidance the Secretary issues. Declares certain existing master leasing plans without force or effect.

Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), upon request of a state or the governing body of an Indian tribe, to enter into a prescribed refinery permitting agreement to streamline the permitting process using a specified systematic, interdisciplinary multimedia approach.

Prescribes deadlines for approval or disapproval of consolidated permits for new refineries and for expansion of existing ones.

Amends the Clean Air Act to phase out the renewable fuel standard.

Repeals greenhouse gas regulation. Redefines air pollutant to exclude carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, or sulfur hexafluoride.

Declares that the following acts neither authorize nor require the regulation of climate change or global warming: (1) the Clean Air Act, (2) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, (3) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, (4) the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and (5) the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

Declares void and without force or effect certain proposed EPA rules regarding greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pollution.

Prohibits both the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, and EPA from: (1) finalizing the proposed rule entitled "Definition of Waters of the United States Under the Clean Water Act," or (2) using that rule (or substantially similar guidance) as the basis for any rulemaking or decision regarding either the scope or enforcement of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Makes violation of the latter prohibition grounds for vacation of the final rule, the decision, or enforcement action.

Requires the Administrator, before proposing or finalizing any regulation, rule, or policy, to first analyze and describe its direct and indirect net and gross impact upon employment in the United States.

Establishes the Debt Freedom Fund to pay down the national debt of the United States.

amends natural gas act natural gas exports exclude expedited application approval process nation subject sanctions trade restrictions imposed united_states amends energy policy conservation act epca repeal authority president restrict exports coal petroleum products natural gas petrochemical feedstocks related materials equipment amends mineral leasing act mla repeal limitations oil exports amends outer_continental_shelf lands act ocsla repeal limitations export outer_continental_shelf ocs oil gas declares force effect specified regulation limitation placed crude oil exports export administration act directs bureau_of_industry_and_security_of_the_department_of_commerce grant licenses export crude oil certain circumstances directs secretary army acting chief engineers account solely domestic environmental impacts completing environmental impact statement coal export terminals coal transportation terminals prescribes authorization certification process certain energy infrastructure projects pertaining cross border segment oil natural gas pipeline electric transmission facility import export oil transmission electricity canada mexico amends natural gas act state order federal_energy_regulatory_commission ferc required authorize export import natural gas canada mexico amends federal power act repeal prerequisite transmitting electric energy foreign country person obtain authorization ferc declares presidential permit shall required certain pipeline application transcanada_corporation department_of_state northern portion keystone_xl pipeline canadian border border states south_dakota nebraska prescribes guidelines leasing ocs deems draft proposed outer continental shelf oil gas leasing program issued secretary interior final oil gas leasing program ocsla fy2015 fy2020 regard specified lease sales directs secretary conduct lease sale days ocs planning area commercial interest purchasing federal oil gas leases conduct lease_sale areas offshore virginia permits state lieu subject federal oil gas leasing system elect control energy development production available federal land accordance certain state leasing permitting regulatory programs prescribed act amends mla require secretary interior secretary offer sale nominated acreage previously available lease individual lease granted prescribes guidelines governing leasing certainty onshore lease sales permits secretary extend periods days initial day period receipt application deciding issue drilling permit deems application approved decision days application received imposes documentation fee administrative protest concerning lease right way application drill permit directs secretary establish federal_permit_streamlining_project field office bureau_of_land_management blm responsibility permitting energy projects federal land considers final regulations governing oil shale management published blm november satisfy legal procedural requirements directs secretary implement oil shale leasing program administrative action necessary considers tar_sands_resources_to_address_land_use_allocations colorado utah wyoming plan effect november satisfy legal procedural requirements directs secretary implement additional administrative action oil shale leasing program regulations authorized plan directs secretary hold lease sale offering additional parcels lease research development demonstration oil shale resources certain terms hold separate commercial lease sales acres considered potential oil shale development areas nominated public comment amends naval petroleum reserves production act direct secretary conduct competitive oil gas leasing program includes lease sale annually areas likely produce commercial quantities oil natural gas national_petroleum_reserve alaska calendar years directs secretary facilitate ensure permits surface development activities including pipeline road construction issue integrated activity plan alternatives integrated activity plan record decision issue environmental impact statement issuance oil gas leases declares force effect integrated activity plan record decision dated february including integrated activity plan environmental impact statement refers directs secretary promulgate regulations ensure department_of_the_interior supporting development oil gas leases complete comprehensive assessment technically recoverable fossil fuel resources declares act authorize issuance lease mla persons designated imposition specified sanctions amends endangered species act declare certain federal actions inapplicable endangered threatened species secretary reported congress economic costs benefits application application authorized expressly species law enacted congress date enactment act directs secretary implement competitive leasing program exploration development production oil gas resources coastal_plain_of_alaska amends alaska_national_interest_lands_conservation_act repeal prohibition leasing development leading production oil gas arctic_national_wildlife_refuge anwr deems oil gas leasing programs activities authorized act compliance purposes anwr findings decisions required implement determination states secretary required identify nonleasing alternative courses action analyze environmental effects deems compliance act satisfies requirements national_environmental_policy_act nepa governing analysis consideration environmental effects proposed leasing authorizes secretary consultation state alaska city kaktovik north_slope_borough designate special area acres coastal_plain directs secretary designate sadlerochit_spring area special_area authorizes secretary exclude special_area leasing permits directional horizontal drilling special_area restricts terms act secretary authority close lands coastal_plain oil gas leasing exploration development production instructs secretary offer tracts greatest potential hydrocarbon discovery acres lease months enactment act additional acres month intervals authorizes secretary grant highest responsible qualified bidder lease sale payment bonus lands leased coastal_plain prescribes significant adverse effect standard govern coastal_plain activities directs secretary develop facility consolidation plan exploration development production transportation coastal_plain oil gas resources directs secretary issue rights way easements coastal_plain transportation oil gas produced leases act convey kaktovik_inupiat_corporation surface estate specified lands convey arctic_slope_regional_corporation certain subsurface estate entitled pursuant specified agreement amends energy policy act allow secretary affected indian tribe certified party appraiser contract indian tribe appraise indian land trust assets involved transaction requiring secretary approval deems approved appraisal conducted indian tribe appraiser secretary approves disapproves days received gives tribes option waiving appraisals secretary unambiguous indication tribal intent including express waiver claims united_states consequence forgoing appraisal states sustainability federally required activities resources conducted produced pursuant tribal resource management plan secretary approved integrated resource management plan shall deemed sustainable amends long-term_leasing_act authorize navajo nation enter year leases restricted lands secretary approval executed tribal regulations approved secretary permits navajo nation enter mineral resource leases restricted lands secretary approval executed approved tribal regulations exceed years permits renewal option additional term exceeding years declares inapplicable express consent indian beneficiaries rule promulgated secretary hydraulic fracturing oil gas development production land held trust restricted status indians grants states sole authority promulgate enforce requirements hydraulic fracturing boundaries subjects federal land hydraulic fracturing performed law state land located prohibits award legal fees nongovernmental organization related action prevents terminates reduces access production specified enterprises diminishes private property value property owner eliminates prevents jobs prohibits secretary establishing master leasing plan guidance secretary issues declares certain existing master leasing plans force effect requires administrator environmental_protection_agency epa request state governing body indian tribe enter prescribed refinery permitting agreement streamline permitting process specified systematic interdisciplinary multimedia approach prescribes deadlines approval disapproval consolidated permits new refineries expansion existing ones amends clean air act phase renewable fuel standard repeals greenhouse gas regulation redefines air pollutant exclude carbon dioxide water vapor methane nitrous oxide hydrofluorocarbons perfluorocarbons sulfur hexafluoride declares following acts authorize require regulation climate change global warming clean air act federal_water_pollution_control_act national_environmental_policy_act endangered species act solid waste disposal act declares void force effect certain proposed epa rules greenhouse gas emissions carbon pollution prohibits secretary army acting chief engineers epa finalizing proposed rule entitled definition waters united states clean water act rule substantially similar guidance basis rulemaking decision scope enforcement federal_water_pollution_control_act makes violation prohibition grounds vacation final rule decision enforcement action requires administrator proposing finalizing regulation rule policy analyze describe direct indirect net gross impact employment united_states establishes debt freedom fund pay national debt united_states


Summary:
Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands Act

 This bill gives states the sole authority to promulgate or enforce any regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing on or under any land within their boundaries. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation.

Hydraulic fracturing on federal land must comply with the law of the state in which the land is located.

fracturing regulations effective state hands act bill gives states sole authority promulgate enforce regulation guidance permit requirement hydraulic fracturing land boundaries hydraulic fracturing fracking process extract underground resources oil gas geologic formation injecting water propping agent sand chemical additives pressure fracture geological formation hydraulic fracturing federal land comply law state land located


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

LNG and LPG Excise Tax Equalization Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to equalize the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas by establishing a rate of 18.3 cents per energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline for liquefied petroleum gas and 24.3 cents per energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel for liquefied natural gas.

(Sec. 3) The bill also increases from 30% to 35% the rate of the continuous levy on payments made after 180 days after the enactment date of this Act to Medicare providers and suppliers for unpaid taxes.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure lng sec bill amends internal_revenue_code equalize excise tax liquefied petroleum gas liquefied natural gas establishing rate cents energy equivalent gallon gasoline liquefied petroleum gas cents energy equivalent gallon diesel liquefied natural gas sec bill increases rate continuous levy payments days enactment date act medicare providers suppliers unpaid taxes


Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the suspension of the taxable income limitation on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties.

amends internal revenue code permanent suspension taxable income limitation percentage depletion oil natural gas produced marginal properties


Summary:
End Polluter Welfare Act of 2015

 Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal the authority of the Department of the Interior to reduce or eliminate royalty payments for oil and natural gas leases in the Outer Continental Shelf.

 Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to increase minimum royalty payments for coal, oil, and natural gas leases.

Amends the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 to prohibit payment of interest upon any overpayment of royalties.

Amends the Oil Pollution Act to eliminate the limitation on liability for offshore facilities and pipeline operators for oil spills.

Rescinds all unobligated balances made available to the World Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the Export-Import Bank, the Advanced Research Projects Agency in the Department of Energy (DOE), and other international financing entities to carry out any project that supports power plants that operate on fossil fuel (i.e., coal, petroleum, natural gas, or any derivatives used for fuel). Exempts from such rescission any fossil-fueled power plant project located in a Least Developed Country if no other economically feasible alternative exists, and the project uses the most efficient technology available.

Terminates the Office of Fossil Energy Research and Development in DOE and related implementation authority.

Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from making loans under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to carry out projects that will use fossil fuel.

Prohibits the use of Department of Transportation funds to award any grant or other direct assistance to any rail or port project that transports fossil fuel.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) limit or repeal provisions allowing tax incentives for investment in fossil fuels, (2) increase the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund financing rate, and (3) impose a 13% tax on the removal price of any taxable crude oil or natural gas from the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico.

Repeals the corporate income tax exemption for publicly traded partnerships with qualifying income and gains from activities relating to fossil fuels.

Designates the Powder River Basin in southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming as a coal producing region.

Eliminates accelerated depreciation for property that is receiving a subsidy for fossil fuel production.

end polluter welfare act amends outer_continental_shelf_lands_act energy policy act repeal authority department_of_the_interior reduce eliminate royalty payments oil natural gas leases outer_continental_shelf amends mineral leasing act increase minimum royalty payments coal oil natural gas leases amends federal_oil_and_gas_royalty_management_act prohibit payment interest overpayment royalties amends oil pollution act eliminate limitation liability offshore facilities pipeline operators oil spills rescinds unobligated balances available world_bank overseas_private_investment_corporation opic export-import_bank advanced_research_projects_agency department_of_energy doe international financing entities carry project supports power plants operate fossil fuel coal petroleum natural gas derivatives fuel exempts rescission fossil fueled power plant project located developed country economically feasible alternative exists project uses efficient technology available doe related implementation authority making loans rural electrification act carry projects use fossil fuel prohibits use department_of_transportation funds award grant direct assistance rail port project transports fossil fuel amends internal revenue code limit repeal provisions allowing tax incentives investment fossil fuels increase oil_spill_liability_trust_fund financing rate impose tax removal price taxable crude oil natural gas outer_continental_shelf gulf_of_mexico repeals corporate income tax exemption publicly traded partnerships qualifying income gains activities relating fossil fuels designates powder_river_basin southeast montana northeast wyoming coal producing region eliminates accelerated depreciation property receiving subsidy fossil fuel production


Summary:
Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act or the COAST Anti-Drilling Act

 Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from issuing a lease or other authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in either the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, or the North Atlantic planning areas.

clean_ocean_and_safe_tourism_anti-drilling_act coast anti drilling act amends outer_continental_shelf_lands_act prohibit secretary interior issuing lease authorization exploration development production oil natural gas mineral mid-atlantic south_atlantic north_atlantic planning areas


Summary:
Seismic Moratorium Act

This bill prohibits conducting geological or geophysical activities in support of oil or gas exploration and development in any area located within a specified exclusive economic zone located off the coastline of Florida.

This moratorium shall only be terminated if the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (of the Department of Commerce) determines that the reasonably foreseeable impacts of such activities are minimal to individuals or populations of marine mammals, sea turtles, or fish.

These geological or geophysical activities are described in the final programmatic environmental impact statement of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (of the Department of the Interior) entitled "Atlantic OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas," completed February 2014.

seismic bill prohibits conducting geological geophysical activities support oil gas exploration development area located specified exclusive economic zone located coastline florida moratorium shall terminated administrator national_oceanic_and_atmospheric_administration department_of_commerce determines reasonably foreseeable impacts activities minimal individuals populations marine mammals sea turtles fish geological geophysical activities described final programmatic environmental impact statement bureau_of_ocean_energy_management department_of_the_interior entitled atlantic ocs proposed geological geophysical activities mid-atlantic south atlantic planning areas completed february


Summary:
Pipeline Modernization and Consumer Protection Act

 Requires each operator of a gas pipeline facility, in accordance with an integrity management program, if applicable, to accelerate the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of gas piping or equipment that is leaking or may pose high risk of leaking.

Requires each state regulatory authority and each nonregulated gas utility, in complying with such requirements, to:

 develop prioritized timelines to repair or replace all leaking or high-risk piping or equipment, and require use of best available technology to detect gas leaks. Directs the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to issue non-binding best practices guidelines for identifying and classifying high-risk pipeline infrastructure and leaks for repair or replacement.

Directs the Administrator and the heads of other applicable federal agencies to work jointly to establish and publish forms that adopt a standard definition and methodology for calculating and reporting information on the causes of unaccounted-for gas.

pipeline modernization consumer protection act requires operator gas pipeline facility accordance integrity management program applicable accelerate repair rehabilitation replacement gas piping equipment leaking pose high risk leaking requires state regulatory authority nonregulated gas utility complying requirements develop prioritized timelines repair replace leaking high risk piping equipment require use best available technology detect gas leaks directs administrator pipeline hazardous_materials_safety_administration issue non binding best practices guidelines identifying classifying high risk pipeline infrastructure leaks repair replacement directs administrator heads applicable federal agencies work jointly establish publish forms adopt standard definition methodology calculating reporting information causes unaccounted gas


Summary:
Pipeline Revolving Fund and Job Creation Act

 Directs the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to offer to enter into agreements to make capitalization grants, including letters of credit, to eligible states for the repair or replacement of natural gas distribution pipelines.

Requires grant funds to be deposited into state revolving loan funds to provide loans or loan guarantees to: (1) facilitate compliance with an intended use plan, or (2) repair or replace those pipelines that have been identified as leak-prone.

Prohibits the use of funds from loans or loan guarantees made by a state to repair or replace natural gas distribution pipelines unless all of the iron, steel, plastic, and manufactured goods used in the repair or replacement are produced in the United States (Buy America).

job creation act directs administrator pipeline hazardous_materials_safety_administration offer enter agreements capitalization grants including letters credit eligible states repair replacement natural gas distribution pipelines requires grant funds deposited state revolving loan funds provide loans loan guarantees facilitate compliance intended use plan repair replace pipelines identified leak prone prohibits use funds loans loan guarantees state repair replace natural gas distribution pipelines iron steel plastic manufactured goods repair replacement produced united_states


Summary:
Oil and Gas Production and Distribution Reform Act of 2015

This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to: (1) identify, as soon as practicable after an application for federal authorization relating to oil and gas production and distribution is submitted, each federal, state, or local governmental entity that may consider an aspect of that application; and (2) invite each identified agency to cooperate or participate in the review process for the application.

The governmental entity delegated to review an aspect of the application must make a final decision on the aspect of the federal authorization under its consideration within 90 days after FERC issues its final environmental document (unless federal law establishes a different schedule).

 When deciding a federal authorization, an agency must defer to the scope of environmental review that FERC determines appropriate.

Each agency considering an application for federal authorization shall take certain actions as well as identify and, according to specified procedures, try to resolve issues that may delay or prevent granting of the authorization.

bill requires federal_energy_regulatory_commission ferc identify soon practicable application federal authorization relating oil gas production distribution submitted federal state local governmental entity consider aspect application invite identified agency cooperate participate review process application governmental entity delegated review aspect application final decision aspect federal authorization consideration days ferc issues final environmental document federal law establishes different schedule deciding federal authorization agency defer scope environmental review ferc determines appropriate agency considering application federal authorization shall certain actions identify according specified procedures try resolve issues delay prevent granting authorization


Summary: This bill amends the Natural Gas Act to require that civil penalties for violations of the Act be assessed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in accordance with the guidelines which it apply regarding civil penalties for violations under the Federal Power Act (under which a court may review de novo the law and the facts involved).

bill amends natural gas act require civil penalties violations act assessed federal_energy_regulatory_commission accordance guidelines apply civil penalties violations federal power act court review novo law facts involved


Summary:
This bill requires the Department of the Interior, upon state request, to establish a program under which the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with a state to create consistent rules and processes for measurement of oil and gas production activities, inspection of meters or other measurement methodologies, and other operational activities.

 To be eligible for this program, a state must administer oil and gas programs sufficient to fulfill BLM oversight and enforcement responsibilities.

bill requires department_of_the_interior state request establish program director bureau_of_land_management blm shall enter memorandum understanding state create consistent rules processes measurement oil gas production activities inspection meters measurement methodologies operational activities eligible program state administer oil gas programs sufficient fulfill blm oversight enforcement responsibilities


Summary:
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Energy to:

 evaluate the international obligations that gave rise to the establishment and maintenance of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR); analyze changes in energy security infrastructure since the establishment of the SPR, including changes in the distribution infrastructure and the integrity of the salt caverns associated with the SPR; estimate the costs of completing deferred maintenance for the SPR; estimate the costs of life extension spending for SPR infrastructure nearing the end of its design life; and evaluate the size of the SPR as of the date of the study, based upon current and projected oil supply and demand.

strategic petroleum reserve modernization act bill directs department_of_energy evaluate international obligations gave rise establishment maintenance strategic_petroleum_reserve spr analyze changes energy security infrastructure establishment spr including changes distribution infrastructure integrity salt associated spr estimate costs completing deferred maintenance spr estimate costs life extension spending spr infrastructure nearing end design life evaluate size spr date study based current projected oil supply demand


Summary:
This bill amends the Natural Gas Act with respect to liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals to prohibit the Department of Energy, as of the date the total quantity of natural gas cumulatively exported by fully permitted LNG terminals is at least equal to 8 billion cubic feet per day, from either taking into consideration or approving any proposal submitted by an LNG terminal to:

 initiate the export of natural gas to a foreign country from an LNG terminal that does not export natural gas as of the date of the proposal's submission, or increase the quantity of natural gas exported to a foreign country by an LNG terminal that does export natural gas as of the date of the proposal's submission.

bill amends natural gas act respect liquid natural gas lng terminals prohibit department_of_energy date total quantity natural gas cumulatively exported fully permitted lng terminals equal billion cubic feet day taking consideration approving proposal submitted lng terminal initiate export natural gas foreign country lng terminal export natural gas date proposal submission increase quantity natural gas exported foreign country lng terminal export natural gas date proposal submission


Summary:
Regional Gas Consumer Protection Act

This bill amends the Natural Gas Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, before approving or disapproving an application for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, to consider: (1) regional constraints in the U.S. natural gas supply, and (2) whether the application includes provisions of benefit to the regional consumers that would be affected by the exportation of natural gas.

regional gas consumer protection act bill amends natural gas act direct federal_energy_regulatory_commission approving disapproving application siting construction expansion operation liquefied natural gas lng terminal consider regional constraints natural gas supply application includes provisions benefit regional consumers affected exportation natural gas


Summary:
Fuel Loss Abatement and Royalty Enhancement Act or the FLARE Act

This bill requires the Department of the Interior to issue regulations to: (1) prevent or minimize the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on federal land onshore and offshore in the United States, and (2) promote the capture and beneficial use or reinjection of gas in such operations.

Such regulations shall also treat gas that is flared or vented in operations under a lease as production for which a royalty is required to be paid to the United States.

The Government Accountability Office shall assess such venting and flaring and estimate the volume of gas vented or flared in such operations each year.

fuel loss abatement royalty enhancement act act bill requires department_of_the_interior issue regulations prevent minimize venting gas oil gas production operations federal land onshore offshore united_states promote capture beneficial use gas operations regulations shall treat gas flared vented operations lease production royalty required paid united_states government_accountability_office shall assess venting estimate volume gas vented flared operations year


Summary:
Offshore Energy and Jobs Act of 2015

This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to direct the Department of the Interior to make available for leasing, and conduct lease sales including, at least 50% of the available unleased acreage within each outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning area in the Gulf of Mexico considered to have the largest undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources.

Each proposed oil and gas leasing program must include any state subdivision of an OCS planning area in the Gulf of Mexico requested by the governor of the state that represents that subdivision.

The Department must also make available for leasing under each five-year oil and gas leasing program any OCS planning area in the Gulf of Mexico estimated to contain more than 2.5 billion barrels of oil or 7.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The bill also amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to:

 redefine "Military Mission Line" as the western border of the Eastern Planning Area extending from Florida waters to the point that is 50 miles south in the Gulf of Mexico, and reduce the area subject to a moratorium on oil and gas leasing activities in the Central Planning Area off the coastline of Florida. Interior shall implement the Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program (2017-2022) in accordance with a specified schedule.

Interior must conduct lease sales in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico in accordance with a prescribed schedule for 2018, 2019, and 2020.

 50% of qualified OCS revenues generated from OCS areas adjacent to Gulf producing states must be deposited into a special account in the Treasury, of which 75% shall be disbursed to Gulf producing states, and 25% for financial assistance to states for land and water conservation.

The bill increases, for FY2018-FY2055, the amount of qualified OCS revenues available for distribution to Gulf producing states.

Oil or natural gas exploration, development, or production on the OCS under a federal lease that would conflict with a military operation is hereby prohibited.

Interior must prepare a multisale environmental impact statement for all lease sales that are not included in the Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program (2017-2022). A Gulf producing state may enter into the offshore oil and gas leasing and development program described in that Program before publishing its programmatic environmental impact statement.

Interior must consult with the Environmental Protection Agency to assure coordination of air pollution control regulation for OCS emissions in adjacent onshore areas of Mississippi.

The National Marine Fisheries Service shall, by certain deadlines, act upon or deny a written request for incidental harassment authorization to conduct an activity under this Act regardless of whether it may result in incidental harassment of a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild.

Interior must amend regulations to extend from 180 to 270 the number of remaining days of continuous operation of production under an oil, gas, or sulphur lease during which specified actions must be taken to renew the lease.

The bill prescribes guidelines for expedited judicial review of certain energy actions or decisions by a federal official regarding the leasing of offshore federal land in the OCS.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the estimated costs of complying with major federal rules relating to offshore energy development and production activities on the OCS.

jobs_act bill amends outer_continental_shelf_lands_act direct department_of_the_interior available leasing conduct lease sales including available unleased acreage outer continental_shelf ocs planning area gulf_of_mexico considered largest undiscovered technically recoverable oil gas resources proposed oil gas leasing program include state subdivision ocs planning area gulf_of_mexico requested governor state represents subdivision department available leasing year oil gas leasing program ocs planning area gulf_of_mexico estimated contain billion barrels oil trillion cubic feet natural gas bill amends gulf_of_mexico_energy_security act redefine military mission line western border eastern_planning_area extending florida waters point miles south gulf_of_mexico reduce area subject moratorium oil gas leasing activities central_planning_area coastline florida interior shall implement accordance specified schedule interior conduct lease sales eastern_gulf mexico accordance prescribed schedule qualified ocs revenues generated ocs areas adjacent gulf producing states deposited special account treasury shall disbursed gulf producing states financial assistance states land water conservation bill increases qualified ocs revenues available distribution gulf producing states oil natural gas exploration development production ocs federal lease conflict military operation prohibited interior prepare multisale environmental impact statement lease sales included gulf producing state enter offshore oil gas leasing development program described program publishing programmatic environmental impact statement interior consult environmental_protection_agency assure coordination air pollution control regulation ocs emissions adjacent onshore areas mississippi national_marine_fisheries_service shall certain deadlines act deny written request incidental harassment authorization conduct activity act regardless result incidental harassment marine mammal marine mammal stock wild interior amend regulations extend number remaining days continuous operation production oil gas lease specified actions taken renew lease bill prescribes guidelines expedited judicial review certain energy actions decisions federal official leasing offshore federal land ocs government_accountability_office shall report congress estimated costs complying major federal rules relating offshore energy development production activities ocs


Summary:
Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Act

This bill requires the Department of the Interior to conduct oil and gas lease sales in the Cook Inlet Planning Area, and in the portion of the Beaufort Planning Area located within three nautical miles of the seaward boundary of Alaska.

Oil and gas leases under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act shall have an initial 20-year lease period (extendable for an additional 20 years) if they are located in the portion of the Beaufort Planning Area or Chukchi Planning Area beyond three nautical miles of the seaward boundary of the State of Alaska.

The bill establishes, for FY2016-FY2026, a scheme for revenue allocation between the Treasury and the state of Alaska for specified purposes, including workforce development relating to oil and gas infrastructure and, for FY2027 and beyond, certain related activities of coastal political subdivisions.

Interior must also include in any leasing program at least three lease sales in each of the Beaufort Planning Area and the Chukchi Planning Area.

The North Slope Science Initiative under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 shall now include the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.

Interior must enter into cooperative agreements with the Northwest Arctic Borough and the NANA Regional Corporation to coordinate efforts, share resources, and fund projects.

sale act bill requires department_of_the_interior conduct oil gas lease sales portion located nautical miles seaward boundary alaska oil gas leases outer_continental_shelf_lands_act shall initial year lease period additional years located portion nautical miles seaward boundary bill establishes fy2016 fy2026 scheme revenue allocation treasury state alaska specified purposes including workforce development relating oil gas infrastructure fy2027 certain related activities coastal political subdivisions interior include leasing program lease sales energy policy act shall include beaufort chukchi_seas interior enter cooperative agreements borough coordinate efforts share resources fund projects


Summary:
Southern Atlantic Energy Security Act

 Directs the Department of the Interior, before conducting a lease sale that would offer leases within 30 nautical miles of the coastline, to consult with the governor of each potentially affected state to establish lease stipulations for the management of the surface occupancy of the areas between the coastline and 30 nautical miles to mitigate potential concerns regarding impacts to coastal viewsheds.

Prescribes formal considerations for production facilities. Prohibits Interior from approving a development and production plan if permanent surface facilities are proposed within 30 nautical miles of the coastline, unless the facilities are designed to minimize the impacts upon coastal viewsheds.

Permits onshore facilities associated with the drilling, development, and production of the oil and gas resources of the South Atlantic planning area within 12 nautical miles seaward of the coastline of a state.

Requires Interior to include the South Atlantic planning area in the outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing program for FY2017-FY2022, and conduct in that area one lease sale during FY2021 and two during FY2022.

Directs Interior and the Department of Defense to implement lease sales jointly to: (1) preserve the ability of the Armed Forces to maintain an optimum state of readiness through their continued use of the OCS; and (2) allow effective exploration, development, and production of U.S. oil, gas, and renewable energy resources.

Prohibits: (1) Interior from making any tract available for lease if the President, in consultation with certain congressional committees, determines that leasing that tract would conflict with military operations relating to national security; and (2) exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas on the OCS that would conflict with military operations set forth in specified documents.

Requires deposit of 50% of qualified revenues into the general fund of the Treasury and 50% into a special Treasury account for allocation to certain states for:

 enhancing land and water conservation efforts; improving state public transportation projects; establishing alternative, renewable, and clean energy production and generation; enhancing beach nourishment and coastal dredging; and enhancing geological and geophysical education for the energy future of the U.S. Requires Interior, acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), to partner with certain institutions of higher education to facilitate the study of geological and geophysical sciences on the Atlantic OCS and elsewhere on the U.S. Continental Shelf.

Authorizes the governor of each state to nominate institutions of higher education located in the state for participation in such a partnership: (1) including one historically Black college or university, and (2) giving preference to those that demonstrate a vigorous rate of admissions of veterans of the Armed Forces.

Requires the BOEM Director to establish an Atlantic regional office in an area included in the OCS leasing program for FY2017-FY2022 that has the highest potential for resource development.

act directs department_of_the_interior conducting lease sale offer leases nautical miles coastline consult governor potentially affected state establish lease stipulations management surface occupancy areas coastline nautical miles mitigate potential concerns impacts coastal prescribes formal considerations production facilities prohibits interior approving development production plan permanent surface facilities proposed nautical miles coastline facilities designed minimize impacts coastal permits onshore facilities associated drilling development production oil gas resources south_atlantic planning area nautical miles seaward coastline state requires interior include south_atlantic planning area outer continental_shelf ocs leasing program fy2017 fy2022 conduct area lease sale fy2021 fy2022 directs interior department_of_defense implement lease sales jointly preserve ability armed_forces maintain optimum state readiness continued use ocs allow effective exploration development production oil gas renewable energy resources prohibits interior making tract available lease president consultation certain congressional committees determines leasing tract conflict military operations relating national security exploration development production oil natural gas ocs conflict military operations set forth specified documents requires deposit qualified revenues general fund treasury special treasury account allocation certain states enhancing land water conservation efforts improving state public transportation projects establishing alternative renewable clean energy production generation enhancing beach nourishment coastal dredging enhancing geological geophysical education energy future requires interior acting bureau_of_ocean_energy_management boem partner certain institutions higher education facilitate study geological geophysical sciences atlantic ocs continental shelf authorizes governor state nominate institutions higher education located state participation partnership including historically black college university giving preference demonstrate vigorous rate admissions veterans armed_forces requires boem director establish atlantic regional office area included ocs leasing program fy2017 fy2022 highest potential resource development


Summary:
United States Exploration on Idle Tracts Act or the USE IT Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to issue regulations to establish a specified graduated annual production incentive fee with respect to federal onshore and offshore lands subject to a lease for production of oil or natural gas under which production is not occurring.

Amounts received for the fee shall be reserved for expenditures on inspection, enforcement, and permitting relating to oil and gas.

use act bill directs department_of_the_interior issue regulations establish specified graduated annual production incentive fee respect federal onshore offshore lands subject lease production oil natural gas production occurring amounts received fee shall reserved expenditures inspection enforcement permitting relating oil gas


Summary:
Deficit Reduction Through Fair Oil Royalties Act

This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing new oil or natural gas production leases in the Gulf of Mexico under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act unless they have been renegotiated to require royalty payments if the price of oil and natural gas is greater than or equal to specified price thresholds.

Rentals or royalties received by the United States under covered leases must be deposited in the Treasury and used for federal budget deficit reduction or, if there is no federal budget deficit, federal debt reduction.

Interior must agree to a lessee's request to amend a lease to incorporate price thresholds applicable to royalty suspension requirements that are equal to or less than certain statutory price thresholds if the lease was issued for any Central and Western Gulf of Mexico tract on or after January 1, 1996, through November 28, 2000.

deficit reduction fair oil royalties act bill prohibits department_of_the_interior issuing new oil natural gas production leases gulf_of_mexico outer_continental_shelf_lands_act renegotiated require royalty payments price oil natural gas greater equal specified price thresholds rentals royalties received united_states covered leases deposited treasury federal budget deficit reduction federal budget deficit federal debt reduction interior agree lessee request amend lease incorporate price thresholds applicable royalty suspension requirements equal certain statutory price thresholds lease issued central western gulf mexico tract january november


Summary:
Oil Spill Deterrent Act

This bill amends: (1) the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 to increase from $5,000 to $100,000 the civil penalty for failure to take corrective action pertaining to drilling violations on federal land, and (2) the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to increase from $20,000 to $250,000 the civil penalty for failure to take corrective action pertaining to drilling violations on the Outer Continental Shelf.

 Both Acts authorize the Department of the Interior to increase such penalties after notice and an opportunity for public comment.

oil spill deterrent act bill amends federal_oil_and_gas_royalty_management_act increase civil penalty failure corrective action pertaining drilling violations federal land outer_continental_shelf_lands_act increase civil penalty failure corrective action pertaining drilling violations outer_continental_shelf acts authorize department_of_the_interior increase penalties notice opportunity public comment


Summary:
American Crude Oil Export Equality Act

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to repeal the authority of the President to restrict exports of:

 coal, petroleum products, natural gas, or petrochemical feedstocks; and materials or equipment which he determines necessary for either exploration, production, refining, or transportation of energy supplies, or for construction or maintenance of energy facilities within the United States. Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to repeal limitations on exports of oil.

Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to repeal limitations on export of Outer Continental Shelf oil or gas on the lands within its purview.

Declares without force or effect:

 the limitation placed upon crude oil exports by the Export Administration Act of 1979, and a specified regulation relating to crude oil (but retains its full force and effect with respect to crude oil exports from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve [SPR]). Requires a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce for export to a country of crude oil only if:

 the country is subject to sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by the United States, the President or Congress has designated the country as subject to exclusion for reasons of national security, or the export concerns the withdrawal of crude oil from the SPR. Authorizes the President to ban crude oil exports from the United States during a national emergency for a maximum period of one year (renewable for additional one-year periods) if certain circumstances exist.

Directs the Governmental Accountability Office to conduct annual reviews of:

 energy production in the United States; and the effects, if any, of crude oil exports from the United States on consumers, independent refiners, and shipbuilding and ship repair yards.

amends energy policy conservation act repeal authority president restrict exports coal petroleum products natural gas petrochemical feedstocks materials equipment determines necessary exploration production refining transportation energy supplies construction maintenance energy facilities united_states amends mineral leasing act repeal limitations exports oil amends outer_continental_shelf lands act repeal limitations export outer_continental_shelf oil gas lands purview declares force effect limitation placed crude oil exports export administration act specified regulation relating crude oil retains force effect respect crude oil exports strategic_petroleum_reserve spr requires license bureau_of_industry_and_security_of_the_department_of_commerce export country crude oil country subject sanctions trade restrictions imposed united_states president congress designated country subject exclusion reasons national security export concerns withdrawal crude oil spr authorizes president ban crude oil exports united_states national emergency maximum period year renewable additional year periods certain circumstances exist directs conduct annual reviews energy production united_states effects crude oil exports united_states consumers independent refiners shipbuilding ship repair yards


Summary:
Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation Act of 2015 or the FRESHER Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to require a permit under the national pollutant discharge elimination system for discharges of stormwater runoff from: (1) mining operations; (2) oil and gas operations; or (3) transmission facilities for collecting and conveying precipitation runoff that are not contaminated by contact with any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, finished product, byproduct, or waste products located on the site of the operations.

The Department of the Interior must study stormwater runoff associated with oil or gas operations, including an analysis of: (1) measurable contamination, (2) groundwater resources, and (3) the susceptibility of aquifers to contamination from stormwater runoff associated with the operations.

focused reduction stormwater runoff act bill amends federal_water_pollution_control_act commonly known clean water act allow environmental_protection_agency require permit national pollutant discharge elimination system discharges stormwater runoff mining operations oil gas operations transmission facilities collecting conveying precipitation runoff contaminated contact raw material intermediate products finished product byproduct waste products located site operations department_of_the_interior study stormwater runoff associated oil gas operations including analysis measurable contamination groundwater resources susceptibility aquifers contamination stormwater runoff associated operations


Summary:
Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Protection Act

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit to Congress and publish on the HHS website a report containing the results of a study concerning petroleum coke that includes: (1) an analysis of the public health and environmental impacts of the production, transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke; (2) an assessment of potential approaches and best practices for storing, transporting, and managing petroleum coke; and (3) a quantitative analysis of current and projected domestic petroleum coke production and utilization locations.

The Environmental Protection Agency is required to promulgate rules concerning the storage and transportation of petroleum coke that ensure the protection of public and ecological health based upon the findings of such study.

petroleum coke transparency public health protection act bill directs department_of_health_and_human_services hhs submit congress publish hhs website report containing results study concerning petroleum coke includes analysis public health environmental impacts production transportation storage use petroleum coke assessment potential approaches best practices storing transporting managing petroleum coke quantitative analysis current projected domestic petroleum coke production utilization locations environmental_protection_agency required promulgate rules concerning storage transportation petroleum coke ensure protection public ecological health based findings study


Summary:
Underground Gas Storage Facility Safety Act of 2015

This bill revises federal pipeline safety requirements to authorize states to enforce a state requirement for the safe construction and operation of underground natural gas storage wellbores if:

 the state authority has consulted with the Department of Transportation (DOT) about the requirement, and DOT does not object to the requirement within 30 days after consultation is initiated.

bill revises federal pipeline safety requirements authorize states enforce state requirement safe construction operation underground natural gas storage state authority consulted department_of_transportation dot requirement dot object requirement days consultation initiated


Summary:
Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2015

This bill declares that it is the policy of the United States that the Arctic Ocean should be managed for the best interests of the people of the United States, including by keeping fossil fuels in the ground to avoid the dangerous impacts of climate change.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act is amended to prohibit the Department of the Interior from issuing or renewing a lease or any other authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in the Arctic Ocean, including the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas.

stop arctic ocean drilling act bill declares policy united_states arctic_ocean managed best interests people united_states including keeping fossil fuels ground avoid dangerous impacts climate change outer continental shelf lands act amended prohibit department_of_the_interior issuing renewing lease authorization exploration development production oil natural gas mineral arctic_ocean including beaufort_sea


Summary:
Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit or repeal certain tax benefits for major integrated oil companies (defined as companies with annual gross receipts over $1 billion and an average daily worldwide production of crude oil of at least 500,000 barrels or certain successors in interest of such companies), including: (1) the foreign tax credit for companies that are dual capacity taxpayers; (2) the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, processing, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or primary products thereof; (3) the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs; (4) the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells; and (5) the tax deduction for qualified tertiary injectant expenses.

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal royalty relief (suspension of royalties) for: (1) natural gas production from deep wells in shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico; and (2) deep water oil and gas production in the Western and Central Planning Area of the Gulf (including the portion of the Eastern Planning Area encompassing whole lease blocks lying west of 87 degrees, 30 minutes west longitude).

Dedicates any increased revenue generated by this Act to the reduction of a federal budget deficit or the federal debt.

Provides for compliance of the budgetary effects of this Act with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

close big oil tax loopholes_act amends internal revenue code limit repeal certain tax benefits major integrated oil companies defined companies annual gross receipts billion average daily worldwide production crude oil barrels certain successors interest companies including foreign tax credit companies dual capacity taxpayers tax deduction income attributable production refining processing transportation distribution oil natural gas primary products thereof tax deduction intangible drilling development costs percentage depletion allowance oil gas wells tax deduction qualified tertiary injectant expenses amends energy policy act repeal royalty relief suspension royalties natural gas production deep wells shallow waters gulf_of_mexico deep water oil gas production western central planning area gulf including portion eastern_planning_area encompassing lease blocks lying west degrees minutes west longitude dedicates increased revenue generated act reduction federal budget deficit federal debt provides compliance budgetary effects act statutory pay act


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act of 2015

TITLE I--THE GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE ENERGY AND JOBS ACT OF 2015 (Sec. 101) This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to direct the Department of the Interior to make available for oil and natural gas leasing, and conduct lease sales, including sales of the available unleased acreage within each outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning area in the Gulf of Mexico considered to have the largest undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources.

Each proposed oil and gas leasing program must include any state subdivision of an OCS planning area in the Gulf of Mexico requested by the governor of the state that represents that subdivision.

Interior must also make available for leasing under each five-year oil and gas leasing program any OCS planning area in the Gulf of Mexico estimated to contain more than 2.5 billion barrels of oil or 7.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

(Sec. 102) The bill also amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to:

 redefine "Military Mission Line" as the western border of the Eastern Planning Area extending from Florida waters to the point that is 50 miles south in the Gulf of Mexico, and reduce the area subject to a moratorium on oil and gas leasing activities in the Eastern and Central Planning Areas off the coastline of Florida. (Sec. 103) Interior shall implement the Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program (2017-2022) in accordance with a specified schedule.

Interior must conduct lease sales in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico in accordance with a prescribed schedule for FY2018-FY2020.

 (Sec. 104) Florida shall be added, beginning in FY2017, to the list of Gulf producing states (currently Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas), and the areas containing leases from which qualified revenues are derived shall be expanded to include the Central and Western Planning Areas.

The bill revises requirements for the distribution of qualified OCS revenues (all rentals, royalties, bonus bids, and other sums due and payable to the United States from leases) to require that the 25% of the 50% of revenues from the Gulf of Mexico not reserved to the Treasury or to Gulf producing states be considered as income to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for financial assistance to states.

The bill increases, for FY2018-FY2055, the amount of qualified OCS revenues available for distribution to Gulf producing states.

(Sec. 105) Oil or natural gas exploration, development, or production on the OCS under a federal lease that would conflict with a military operation are hereby prohibited.

(Sec. 106) Interior must prepare a multisale environmental impact statement for all lease sales that are not included in the Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program (FY2017-FY2022). A Gulf producing state may enter into the offshore oil and gas leasing and development program described in that Program before publishing its programmatic environmental impact statement.

(Sec. 107) Before publishing the programmatic environmental impact statement relating to any Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, a state shall have the option to enter into the offshore oil and gas leasing and development program described in that proposed program if: (1) the state legislature enacts a law approving entry into the program, and (2) that resolution is signed by the state governor.

(Sec. 108) The Clean Air Act is amended to repeal the requirement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish requirements to control air pollution from OCS sources located along the U.S. Gulf Coast off Florida eastward of longitude 87 degrees and 30 minutes to attain and maintain federal and state ambient air quality standards.

Interior must consult with the EPA to assure coordination of air pollution control regulation for OCS emissions in adjacent onshore areas along the U.S. Gulf Coast off Florida.

(Sec. 109) The bill addresses the moratorium under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 on the taking and importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products, during which time no permit may be issued for the taking of any marine mammal, and no marine mammal or marine mammal product may be imported into the United States. During the moratorium, however, incidental, but not intentional, taking by harassment of small numbers of marine mammals may be permitted if the harassment during each period concerned:

 will have a negligible impact on the species or stock, and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of such species or stock for taking for subsistence uses or pursuant to a marine mammal cooperative agreement in Alaska. The bill prescribes deadlines for consideration by Interior of any request for incidental harassment authorization by a U.S. citizen who engages in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specific geographic region.

Interior shall:

 within 45 days after submission of a written request for incidental harassment authorization accept the request as adequate and complete, or give the requester an additional 30 days to complete the request with certain additional information; and within 30 days after receiving such additional information determine the adequacy and completeness of the request, or deny the request with an explanation. Any failure of Interior to respond to such a request within applicable deadlines shall result in the request's being considered to be adequate and complete.

Within 45 days after considering a request to be adequate and complete, Interior shall publish a proposed authorization and request public comment; and within 45 days after the close of the public comment period, Interior shall issue the requested authorization.

Issuance of the authorization for incidental taking shall not be:

 considered an action likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species, or to result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat; or subject to the interagency cooperation requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Nor shall any taking in compliance with an authorization for incidental taking under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 be considered a prohibited taking under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

(Sec. 110) Interior shall amend regulations to extend from 180 to 365 the number of remaining days of continuous operation of production under an oil, gas, or sulphur lease during which specified actions must be taken to renew the lease.

(Sec. 111) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall report to Congress on the estimated costs of complying with major federal rules relating to offshore energy development and production activities on the OCS.

TITLE II-- THE ALASKA OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LEASE SALE ACT

(Sec. 201) Interior shall establish a Nearshore Beaufort Sea Planning Area in the OCS within three nautical miles of the seaward boundary of Alaska, and conduct one oil and gas lease sale under the OCSLA:

 in that Planning Area in each of FY2018-FY2020, and also in the Cook Inlet Planning Area in each of those fiscal years. (Sec. 202) Oil and gas leases under the OCSLA shall have an initial 20-year lease period if they are located in the portion of the Beaufort Planning Area or Chukchi Planning Area beyond three nautical miles of the seaward boundary of Alaska. The initial term of any existing lease, except one in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea Planning Area, may be extended to 20 years.

(Sec. 203) The bill establishes, for FY2016-FY2026, a scheme for revenue allocation between the Treasury and the state of Alaska for specified purposes, including the North Slope Science Initiative, skilled workforce development relating to oil and gas infrastructure, and the Tribal Resilience Fund (established by title IV of this Act). Allocations are also specified for FY2027 and beyond, especially for certain related activities of coastal political subdivisions.

(Sec. 204) The OCSLA is amended to direct Interior to include in any leasing program for FY2023-FY2027 at least three lease sales in each of the Beaufort Planning Area and the Chukchi Planning Area, as well as annual lease sales in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea Planning Area and the Cook Inlet Planning Area.

(Sec. 205) The North Slope Science Initiative under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 shall now include the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.

Interior shall enter into cooperative agreements with the Northwest Arctic Borough and the NANA Regional Corporation to coordinate efforts, share resources, and fund projects.

TITLE III--THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC ENERGY SECURITY ACT

(Sec. 302) Before conducting a lease sale that would offer leases within 30 nautical miles of the coastline, Interior shall consult with the governor of each potentially affected state to establish lease stipulations for the management of the surface occupancy of the areas between the coastline and 30 nautical miles to mitigate potential concerns regarding impacts to coastal viewsheds (the geographical areas visible from a location).

The bill prescribes formal considerations for production facilities. Interior shall not approve a development and production plan if permanent surface facilities are proposed within 30 nautical miles of the coastline, unless the facilities are designed to minimize the impacts upon coastal viewsheds.

The bill does permit onshore facilities associated with the drilling, development, and production of the oil and gas resources of the South Atlantic planning area within 12 nautical miles seaward of the coastline of a state.

(Sec. 303) Interior shall include the South Atlantic planning area in the OCS leasing program for FY2017-FY2022, and conduct in that area one lease sale during FY2021 and two during FY2022.

(Sec. 304) Interior and the Department of Defense (DOD) shall work jointly in implementing lease sales to: (1) preserve the ability of the Armed Forces to maintain an optimum state of readiness through their continued use of the OCS; and (2) allow effective exploration, development, and production of U.S. oil, gas, and renewable energy resources.

 No person may engage in any exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas on the OCS under a lease issued under this title that would conflict with any military operation, as determined in accordance with a specified agreement between Interior and DOD.

(Sec. 305) The OCSLA is amended to direct Interior to deposit 62.5% of qualified revenues into the general fund of the Treasury, allocating specified portions to:

 the Department of Energy (DOE) for projects that enhance the safety, security, resilience, and reliability of energy supply, research, transmission, storage, or distribution infrastructure; the DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program; and high priority deferred maintenance needs of the National Park Service that support critical infrastructure and visitor services. "Qualified revenues" are all revenues derived from all rentals, royalties, bonus bids, and other sums due and payable to the United States from energy development in the Atlantic planning region.

Interior shall deposit 37.5% of qualified revenues into a special Treasury account for allocation according to a specified formula to states adjacent to the South Atlantic Planning Area for:

 enhancing land and water conservation efforts; improving state public transportation projects; establishing alternative, renewable, and clean energy production and generation; enhancing beach nourishment and coastal dredging; and enhancing geological and geophysical education for the energy future of the U.S. (Sec. 306) Acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior shall partner with certain institutions of higher education to facilitate the study of geological and geophysical sciences on the Atlantic OCS, especially hydrocarbon potential, and elsewhere on the U.S. Continental Shelf.

The governor of each state may nominate institutions of higher education in the state for participation in such a partnership: (1) including one historically Black college or university, and (2) giving preference to those that demonstrate a vigorous rate of admissions of veterans of the Armed Forces.

(Sec. 307) The BOEM Director shall establish an Atlantic regional office in an area included in the OCS leasing program for FY2017-FY2022 that has the highest potential for resource development. TITLE IV--TRIBAL RESILIENCE PROGRAM

(Sec. 401) Interior shall establish a grant program for specified activities to:

 improve the resilience of Indian tribes to the effects of a changing climate; support Native American leaders in building strong, resilient communities; and ensure the development of modern, cost-effective infrastructure. (Sec. 402) The bill establishes the Tribal Resilience Fund to receive appropriations for the grants, and authorizes appropriations for FY2027 and ensuing fiscal years.

TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

(Sec. 501) Any domestic crude oil or condensate (other than crude oil stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) may be exported without a federal license to countries not subject to U.S. sanctions, but subject to export licensing requirements or other restrictions in the event of a national emergency or national security.

The GAO shall review energy production in the United States and the effects, if any, of crude oil exports from the United States on consumers, independent refiners, and shipbuilding and ship repair yards.

(Sec. 502) The department in which the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is operating shall analyze for specified congressional committees the proposed BSEE regulations and rules relating to:

 offshore oil and gas drilling, completions, workovers, and decommissioning, including the proposed rule entitled "Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf--Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control"; and exploratory drilling activities on the U.S. Arctic Continental Shelf, including the proposed rule entitled "Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf--Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf." Interior shall not issue:

 any proposed, interim, or final regulation or rule earlier than 180 days after the submission of the report on this analysis; or any final regulation or rule before issuing revised proposed regulations or rules that take into account report findings and provide notice and an opportunity for public comment

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure offshore production national security act title gulf jobs act sec bill amends outer_continental_shelf_lands_act ocsla direct department_of_the_interior available oil natural gas leasing conduct lease sales including sales available unleased acreage outer continental_shelf ocs planning area gulf_of_mexico considered largest undiscovered technically recoverable oil gas resources proposed oil gas leasing program include state subdivision ocs planning area gulf_of_mexico requested governor state represents subdivision interior available leasing year oil gas leasing program ocs planning area gulf_of_mexico estimated contain billion barrels oil trillion cubic feet natural gas sec bill amends gulf_of_mexico_energy_security act redefine military mission line western border eastern_planning_area extending florida waters point miles south gulf_of_mexico reduce area subject moratorium oil gas leasing activities eastern central planning areas coastline florida sec interior shall implement accordance specified schedule interior conduct lease sales eastern_gulf mexico accordance prescribed schedule sec florida shall added beginning fy2017 list gulf producing states currently alabama louisiana mississippi texas areas containing leases qualified revenues derived shall expanded include bill revises requirements distribution qualified ocs revenues rentals royalties bonus bids sums payable united_states leases require revenues gulf_of_mexico reserved treasury gulf producing states considered income land_and_water_conservation_fund financial assistance states bill increases qualified ocs revenues available distribution gulf producing states sec oil natural gas exploration development production ocs federal lease conflict military operation prohibited sec interior prepare multisale environmental impact statement lease sales included fy2017 fy2022 gulf producing state enter offshore oil gas leasing development program described program publishing programmatic environmental impact statement sec publishing programmatic environmental impact statement relating proposed final outer continental shelf oil gas leasing program state shall option enter offshore oil gas leasing development program described proposed program state legislature enacts law approving entry program resolution signed state governor sec clean air act amended repeal requirement environmental_protection_agency epa establish requirements control air pollution ocs sources located gulf_coast florida longitude degrees minutes attain maintain federal state ambient air quality standards interior consult epa assure coordination air pollution control regulation ocs emissions adjacent onshore areas gulf_coast florida sec bill addresses moratorium marine_mammal_protection_act taking importation marine mammals marine mammal products time permit issued taking marine mammal marine mammal marine mammal product imported united_states moratorium incidental intentional taking harassment small numbers marine mammals permitted harassment period concerned negligible impact species stock adverse impact availability species stock taking subsistence uses pursuant marine mammal cooperative agreement alaska bill prescribes deadlines consideration interior request incidental harassment authorization citizen engages specified activity commercial fishing specific geographic region interior shall days submission written request incidental harassment authorization accept request adequate complete requester additional days complete request certain additional information days receiving additional information determine adequacy completeness request deny request explanation failure interior respond request applicable deadlines shall result request considered adequate complete days considering request adequate complete interior shall publish proposed authorization request public comment days close public comment period interior shall issue requested authorization issuance authorization incidental taking shall considered action likely jeopardize continued existence endangered species threatened species result destruction adverse modification critical habitat subject interagency cooperation requirements endangered species act shall taking compliance authorization incidental taking marine_mammal_protection_act considered prohibited taking endangered species act sec interior shall amend regulations extend number remaining days continuous operation production oil gas lease specified actions taken renew lease sec government_accountability_office gao shall report congress estimated costs complying major federal rules relating offshore energy development production activities ocs title alaska outer continental shelf lease sale act sec interior shall establish beaufort sea planning area ocs nautical miles seaward boundary alaska conduct oil gas lease sale ocsla planning area fiscal years sec oil gas leases ocsla shall initial year lease period located portion nautical miles seaward boundary alaska initial term existing lease beaufort sea planning area extended years sec bill establishes fy2016 fy2026 scheme revenue allocation treasury state alaska specified purposes including skilled workforce development relating oil gas infrastructure established title act allocations specified fy2027 especially certain related activities coastal political subdivisions sec ocsla amended direct interior include leasing program lease sales annual lease sales beaufort sea planning area cook inlet planning area sec energy policy act shall include beaufort chukchi_seas interior shall enter cooperative agreements borough coordinate efforts share resources fund projects title iii sec conducting lease sale offer leases nautical miles coastline interior shall consult governor potentially affected state establish lease stipulations management surface occupancy areas coastline nautical miles mitigate potential concerns impacts coastal geographical areas visible location bill prescribes formal considerations production facilities interior shall approve development production plan permanent surface facilities proposed nautical miles coastline facilities designed minimize impacts coastal bill permit onshore facilities associated drilling development production oil gas resources south_atlantic planning area nautical miles seaward coastline state sec interior shall include south_atlantic planning area ocs leasing program fy2017 fy2022 conduct area lease sale fy2021 fy2022 sec interior department_of_defense dod shall work jointly implementing lease sales preserve ability armed_forces maintain optimum state readiness continued use ocs allow effective exploration development production oil gas renewable energy resources person engage exploration development production oil natural gas ocs lease issued title conflict military operation determined accordance specified agreement interior dod sec ocsla amended direct interior deposit qualified revenues general fund treasury allocating specified portions department_of_energy doe projects enhance safety security resilience reliability energy supply research transmission storage distribution infrastructure renewable energy program high priority deferred maintenance needs national_park_service support critical infrastructure visitor services qualified revenues revenues derived rentals royalties bonus bids sums payable united_states energy development atlantic planning region interior shall deposit qualified revenues special treasury account allocation according specified formula states adjacent enhancing land water conservation efforts improving state public transportation projects establishing alternative renewable clean energy production generation enhancing beach nourishment coastal dredging enhancing geological geophysical education energy future sec acting bureau_of_ocean_energy_management boem interior shall partner certain institutions higher education facilitate study geological geophysical sciences atlantic ocs especially hydrocarbon potential continental shelf governor state nominate institutions higher education state participation partnership including historically black college university giving preference demonstrate vigorous rate admissions veterans armed_forces sec boem director shall establish atlantic regional office area included ocs leasing program fy2017 fy2022 highest potential resource development title tribal resilience program sec interior shall establish grant program specified activities improve resilience indian tribes effects changing climate support native american leaders building strong resilient communities ensure development modern cost effective infrastructure sec bill establishes receive appropriations grants authorizes appropriations fy2027 ensuing fiscal years title miscellaneous sec domestic crude oil condensate crude oil stored strategic_petroleum_reserve exported federal license countries subject sanctions subject export licensing requirements restrictions event national emergency national security gao shall review energy production united_states effects crude oil exports united_states consumers independent refiners shipbuilding ship repair yards sec department bureau_of_safety_and_environmental_enforcement operating shall analyze specified congressional committees proposed regulations rules relating offshore oil gas drilling decommissioning including proposed rule entitled oil gas control exploratory drilling activities including proposed rule entitled oil gas interior shall issue proposed interim final regulation rule earlier days submission report analysis final regulation rule issuing revised proposed regulations rules account report findings provide notice opportunity public comment


Summary:
Pipeline Improvement and Preventing Spills Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prescribe minimum standards to require the owner or operator of a pipeline facility to notify all owners and residents of property located within 2,000 feet of a transmission line of:

 the property's proximity to the line, and the line's specific location if it is on private residential property. DOT shall ensure that industry standards and procedures adopted as part of the federal pipeline safety regulatory program are easily available to the public free of charge.

 In identifying high-consequence areas, DOT shall consider specified features of a pipe, including its age, whether it can be inspected using the most modern instrumented internal inspection devices, whether it crosses open waters of the Great Lakes, and the type of commodity it transports.

 The Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research shall:

 identify measures to respond to spills or leaks of oil in the Great Lakes; and assess their effectiveness in preventing significant or substantial harm to the public health or welfare. DOT shall:

 conduct a comprehensive water crossing survey of all intrastate and interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facilities that cross U.S. waterways in the Great Lakes Basin; and enter into a joint agreement with the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences to identify gaps in data and information in the Basin pipeline network, and make recommendations to prevent future leaks, ruptures, and failures that could result in damage to Basin waterways and natural resources. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act is amended to:

 prohibit vessel transportation of crude oil and crude oil derived from oil sands on the Great Lakes; and include in the meaning of "worst-case discharge," in the case of an offshore or onshore facility, the largest foreseeable discharge in adverse weather conditions (as in current law) in which waters that may receive a discharge are covered by ice.

preventing spills act bill directs department_of_transportation dot prescribe minimum standards require owner operator pipeline facility notify owners residents property located feet transmission line property proximity line line specific location private residential property dot shall ensure industry standards procedures adopted federal pipeline safety regulatory program easily available public free charge identifying high consequence areas dot shall consider specified features pipe including age inspected modern internal inspection devices crosses open waters great lakes type commodity transports interagency_coordinating_committee_on_oil_pollution_research shall identify measures respond spills leaks oil great lakes assess effectiveness preventing significant substantial harm public health welfare dot shall conduct comprehensive water crossing survey intrastate interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facilities cross waterways great_lakes_basin enter joint agreement national_research_council national academies sciences identify gaps data information basin pipeline network recommendations prevent future leaks failures result damage basin waterways natural resources federal_water_pollution_control_act amended prohibit vessel transportation crude oil crude oil derived oil sands great lakes include meaning worst case discharge case offshore onshore facility largest foreseeable discharge adverse weather conditions current law waters receive discharge covered ice