PUBLIC LAW 95-91— AUG. 4, 1977 



91 STAT. 579 



thermal Steam Act of 1970, and the Energy Policy and (Conservation 30 USC 1001 

 Act, which relate to the — °°'i'icr ^1901 



(1) fostering of competition for Federal lea.ses (including, but '^^ USC 6201 

 not limited to, prohibition on bidding for development rights by "° *' 

 certain types of joint ventures) ; 



(2) implementation of alternative bidding systems authorized 

 for the award of Federal leases ; 



(3) establishment of diligence requirements for operations con- 

 ducted on Federal leases (including, but nut limited to, procedures 

 relating to the granting or ordering by the Secretary of the 

 Interior of suspension of operations or production as they relate 

 to such requirements) ; 



(4) setting rates of production for Federal leases; and 



(5) specifying the procedures, terms, and conditions for the 

 acquisition and disposition of Federal royalty interests taken in 

 kind. 



(c) There are hereby transferred to, and vested in, the Secretary all Production rates, 

 the functions of the Secretary of the Interior to establish production 



rates for all Federal leases. 



(d) There are hereby transferred to, and vested in, the Secretary 

 those functions of the Secretary of the Interior, the Department of the 

 Interior, and officers and components of that Department under the 



Act of May 15, 1010, and other authorities, exercised by the Bureau of 30 USC 1,3, 5-7. 

 Mines, but limited to — 



(1) fuel supply and demand analysis and data gathering; 

 (•2) research and development relating to increased efficiency of 

 production technology of solid fuel minerals, other than research 

 lelating to mine health and safety and research relating to the 

 eu\ironmental and leasing consequences of solid fuel mining 

 (which shall remain in the Department of the Interior) ; and 

 (3) coal preparation and analysis. 



ADMINLSTIiATlOX OF LEASING TRANSFERS 



Skc. 303. (a) The Secietary of the Inteiior shall retain any authori- 

 ties not transferred under section 302(b) of this Act and shall be 

 solely responsible for the issuance and supervision of Federal leases 

 and the enforcement of all regulations applicable to the leasing of 

 mineral resources, including biit not limited to lease terms and condi- 

 tions and production lates. No regulation pronndgated by the Secre- 

 tary shall restrict or limit any authority retained by the Secretary of 

 the Interior under section 302(b) of this Act with respect to the issu- 

 ance or supervision of Federal leases. Nothing in section 302(b) of this 

 Act shall be construed to atfect Indian lands and resources or to 

 transfer any functions of the Secretary of the Interior concerning such 

 lands and resoui-ces. 



(b) In exercising the authority under section 302(b) of this Act 

 to promulgate regidatiuns. the Secretary shall consult with the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior dui-iug the prepaiation of such regulations and 

 shall art'oid the Secretary of the Interior not less than thirty days, 

 prior to the date on which the Department first publishes or otherwise 

 presciibes regulations, to conunent on the content and etFect of such 

 regulations. 



(c) (1) The Secretary of the Interior shall afford the Secretary not 

 less than thirty days, jirior to tlie date on which the Department of the 

 Interior fiist publishes or otherwise prescribes the terms and condi- 

 tions on which a Federal lease will be issued, to disapprove any term 



Federal leasing of 

 mineral 

 resources. 

 42 USC 7153. 



Indian lands. 



Regulations. 



Terms and 

 conditions, 

 disapproval. 



101 



