HR-1647 : Still Just a Bill


Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act

Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to prohibit the Department of the Interior (Department) from enforcing any federal regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing (including any component of that process), relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on or under any land in any state that has regulations, guidance, or permit requirements for that activity.

Defines "hydraulic fracturing" as the process by which fracturing fluids (including a fracturing fluid system) are pumped into an underground geologic formation to generate fractures or cracks, thereby increasing rock permeability near the wellbore and improving production of natural gas or oil.

Requires the Department to recognize and defer to state regulations, permitting, and guidance for all activities regarding hydraulic fracturing relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on federal land.

Requires each state to submit to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) a copy of its regulations that: (1) apply to hydraulic fracturing operations on federal land, and (2) require disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations on federal land.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to make such state regulations available to the public.

Directs the Comptroller General to examine the economic benefits of domestic shale oil and gas production resulting from hydraulic fracturing, including identification of: (1) state and federal revenue generated as a result of shale gas production, (2) jobs created as a result of shale oil and gas production, and (3) an estimate of potential energy prices without domestic shale oil and gas production.

Prohibits the Department from enforcing any federal regulation, guidance, or permit requirement governing the hydraulic fracturing process, or any of its components, relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on land held either in trust or restricted status for the benefit of Indians except with the express consent of the beneficiary on whose behalf such land is held in trust or restricted status.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2015-06-05CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.House committee actions
2015-03-26IntroReferralReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.House floor actions
2015-03-26IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Bill Flores [R] (TX-17)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Energy
Related Subjects
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Alternative and renewable resources
  • Congressional oversight
  • Economic performance and conditions
  • Energy prices
  • Energy revenues and royalties
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
  • Intergovernmental relations
  • Land use and conservation
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Oil and gas
  • State and local government operations
Related Geographic Entities
Related Organizations
  • Department of the Interior

Related Bills

See Related Bills