USC Subchapter III

in effect

30 U.S.C. § 1751 Secretarial authority

(a) Prescription of rules and regulationsThe Secretary shall prescribe such rules and regulations as he deems reasonably necessary to carry out this chapter. (b) Conformity with rulemaking provisionsRules and regulations issued to implement this chapter shall be issued in conformity with section 553 of title 5, notwithstanding section 553(a)(2) of that title. (c) Contracts with non-Federal Government inspectors, auditors, etc.; coordination of auditing and enforcement functionsIn addition to entering into cooperative agreements or delegation of authority authorized under this chapter, the Secretary may contract with such non-Federal Government inspectors, auditors, and other persons as he deems necessary to aid in carrying out his functions under this chapter and its implementation. With respect to his auditing and enforcement functions under this chapter, the Secretary shall coordinate such functions so as to avoid to the maximum extent practicable, subjecting lessees, operators, or other persons to audits or investigations of the same subject matter by more than one auditing or investigating entity at the same time.

30 U.S.C. § 1752 Reports

The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report on the implementation of this chapter. The information to be included in the report and the format of the report shall be developed by the Secretary after consulting with the Committees on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. The Secretary shall also report on the progress of the Department in reconciling account balances.

30 U.S.C. § 1753 Relation to other laws

(a) Supplemental nature of chapterThe penalties and authorities provided in this chapter are supplemental to, and not in derogation of, any penalties or authorities contained in any other provision of law. (b) Responsibilities of Secretary related to minerals on Federal and Indian landsNothing in this chapter shall be construed to reduce the responsibilities of the Secretary to ensure prompt and proper collection of revenues from coal, uranium and other energy and nonenergy minerals on Federal and Indian lands, or to restrain the Secretary from entering into cooperative agreements or other appropriate arrangements with States and Indian tribes to share royalty management responsibilities and activities for such minerals under existing authorities. (c) Authority and responsibilities of Inspector General and Comptroller General unaffectedNothing in this chapter shall be construed to enlarge, diminish, or otherwise affect the authority or responsibility of the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior or of the Comptroller General of the United States. (d) Lands and land interests entrusted to Tennessee Valley Authority unaffectedNo provision of this chapter impairs or affects lands and interests in land entrusted to the Tennessee Valley Authority.

30 U.S.C. § 1754 Funding

Effective October 1, 1983, there are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including such sums as may be necessary for the cooperative agreements, contracts, and delegations authorized by this chapter: Provided, That nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect or impair any authority to enter into contracts or make payments under any other provision of law.

30 U.S.C. § 1755 Statute of limitations

Except in the case of fraud, any action to recover penalties under this chapter shall be barred unless the action is commenced within 6 years after the date of the act or omission which is the basis for the action.

30 U.S.C. § 1756 Expanded royalty obligations

Any lessee is liable for royalty payments on oil or gas lost or wasted from a lease site when such loss or waste is due to negligence on the part of the operator of the lease, or due to the failure to comply with any rule or regulation, order or citation issued under this chapter or any mineral leasing law.

30 U.S.C. § 1757 Severability

If any provision of this chapter or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

30 U.S.C. § 1758 Use of royalty-in-kind revenue by Minerals Management Service

That in fiscal year 2006 and thereafter, the MMS may under the royalty-in-kind program, or under its authority to transfer oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, use a portion of the revenues from royalty-in-kind sales, without regard to fiscal year limitation, to pay for transportation to wholesale market centers or upstream pooling points, to process or otherwise dispose of royalty production taken in kind, and to recover MMS transportation costs, salaries, and other administrative costs directly related to the royalty-in-kind program.

30 U.S.C. § 1759 Fees and charges

In fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter, fees and charges authorized by section 9701 of title 31 may be collected only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts.