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OCR for page 147
Appendix B
Letter from Chairmen Clarifying Task
147
OCR for page 148
148
tCongre`9 Of ~c Web ~.
Foul of 3tcprcdentatItc
- bind I. 20515
March 2, 1988
Frank Press, President
National Academy of Sciences
Charles A. Bowsher, Comptroller General
U.S. General Accounting Office
Washington, D.C.
Dear Messrs. Press and Bowsher:
Section 5111 of the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing
Reform Act of 1987, recently enacted as part of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, requires the National
Academy of Sciences and the Comptroller General of the United
States to conduct a study on the manner by which oil and gas
resources are considered in land use plans developed pursuant
to the Federal Land Policy and Management.Act of 1976 and the
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 as
amended.
The language of section 5111 provides for the study to
.
recommend any improvements which could be made to ensure
that (1) potential oil and gas resources are adequately
addressed in planning documents, (2) the social, economic and
environmental consequences of exploration and development of
oil and gas resources are determined, and (3) any
stipulations to be applied to oil and gas leases are clearly
identified.
As the authors of the legislation which ultimately
became the subject of our House-Senate Conference Committee
' Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform
like to take this opportunity to
meetings on the Federal
Act of 1987, we would
provide the National
Accounting Office with
study should examine.
Academy of Sciences and General
our views on the issues which the
It should be noted that the study provision was devised
-~=l.~ -~ ~ ~ ~ section S of H.R.
28511 the bill which was reported by the Committee on
Interior and Insular Affairs and included as section 5004 of
the House version of the budget reconciliation legislation
(HER. 3545).
~.._; ~ ~ he Inn aS a compromise to
-
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149
Section 5 of H.R. 2851 was drafted to address problems
in land use planning as it relates to oil and gas leasing
based on testimony received during a number of hearings
conducted by the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural
Resources. The Senate conferees fundamentally disagreed with
the House regarding the need for legislative changes in oil
and gas leasing land use planning. However, the Senate
agreed to examine the issues raised by section 5 in the
future. The study requested by section 5111 is to assist in
this oversight effort and future congressional deliberations.
In effect, the purpose of the study is to examine the
issues raised by section 5 of the House bill and to provide
relevant data, information, analyses and expert opinion on
these issues so as to assist Congress in reaching a consensus
regarding the question of whether there is a need for
revisions to land use planning or leasing statutes.
In accordance with section 5111 of the Federal Onshore
Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act we would find the following
information useful. The study, however, should not
necessarily be limited to only these items.
~ The adequacy of BLM and Forest Service land use planning
budgets.
~ A survey of current BLM and Forest Service land use
planning direction as it relates to oil and gas leasing.
A catalogue of the treatment of oil and gas leasing issues
in existing BLM and Forest Service land use plans.
~ Study of specific impacts of oil and gas exploration and
development, including case studies, on wildlife and other
resource values.
~ Study of the interrelation between oil and gas leasing
decisions and other resource planning decisions.
~ The extent to which the consequences of oil and gas
development can be analyzed, or reasonably foreseen, during
the land use planning stage prior to actual lease issuance.
The effectiveness of lease stipulations.
As the study progresses please do not hesitate to
contact us if we may be of any assistances.
DALE BUMPERS, CHAT
SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS,
NATIONAL PARKS AND FORESTS
Sincerely,
-
NICK J. RAHALL, CHAIRMAN
SUBCOMMITTEE ON MINING
AND NATURAL RESOURCES
OCR for page 150
Representative terms from entire chapter:
leasing reform
