30 U.S.C. § 1701 : US Code - Section 1701: Congressional statement of findings and purposes

Search 30 U.S.C. § 1701 : US Code - Section 1701: Congressional statement of findings and purposes

(a) Congress finds that -
(1) the Secretary of the Interior should enforce effectively
and uniformly existing regulations under the mineral leasing laws
providing for the inspection of production activities on lease
sites on Federal and Indian lands;
(2) the system of accounting with respect to royalties and
other payments due and owing on oil and gas produced from such
lease sites is archaic and inadequate;
(3) it is essential that the Secretary initiate procedures to
improve methods of accounting for such royalties and payments and
to provide for routine inspection of activities related to the
production of oil and gas on such lease sites; and
(4) the Secretary should aggressively carry out his trust
responsibility in the administration of Indian oil and gas.
(b) It is the purpose of this chapter -
(1) to clarify, reaffirm, expand, and define the
responsibilities and obligations of lessees, operators, and other
persons involved in transportation or sale of oil and gas from
the Federal and Indian lands and the Outer Continental Shelf;
(2) to clarify, reaffirm, expand and define the authorities and
responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior to implement
and maintain a royalty management system for oil and gas leases
on Federal lands, Indian lands, and the Outer Continental Shelf;
(3) to require the development of enforcement practices that
ensure the prompt and proper collection and disbursement of oil
and gas revenues owed to the United States and Indian lessors and
those inuring to the benefit of States;
(4) to fulfill the trust responsibility of the United States
for the administration of Indian oil and gas resources; and
(5) to effectively utilize the capabilities of the States and
Indian tribes in developing and maintaining an efficient and
effective Federal royalty management system.