In this chapter:
(1) The term "national defense" includes the needs of, and the planning and preparedness to meet, essential defense, industrial, and military emergency energy requirements relative to the national safety, welfare, and economy, particularly resulting from foreign military or economic actions.
(2) The term "naval petroleum reserves" means the naval petroleum and oil shale reserves established by this chapter, including Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (Elk Hills), located in Kern County, California, established by Executive order of the President, dated September 2, 1912; Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 (Buena Vista), located in Kern County, California, established by Executive order of the President, dated December 13, 1912; Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 3 (Teapot Dome), located in Wyoming, established by Executive order of the President, dated April 30, 1915; Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 1, located in Colorado, established by Executive order of the President, dated December 6, 1916, as amended by Executive order dated June 12, 1919; Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2, located in Utah, established by Executive order of the President, dated December 6, 1916; and Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 3, located in Colorado, established by Executive order of the President, dated September 27, 1924.
(3) The term "petroleum" includes crude oil, gases (including natural gas), natural gasoline, and other related hydrocarbons, oil shale, and the products of any of such resources.
(4) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Energy.
(5) The term "small refiner" means an owner of a refinery or refineries (including refineries not in operation) who qualifies as a small business refiner under the rules and regulations of the Small Business Administration.
(6) The term "maximum efficient rate" means the maximum sustainable daily oil or gas rate from a reservoir which will permit economic development and depletion of that reservoir without detriment to the ultimate recovery.
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 7420 of this title as this section.
1987—Pub. L. 100–26 substituted colon for dash at end of introductory provisions, inserted "The term" in each par., substituted periods for semicolons in pars. (1) to (4) and period for "; and" in par. (5).
1980—Pub. L. 96–513 in introductory text struck out "(a)" before "In", in par. (2) struck out provisions relating to Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 4, and in par. (4) substituted "Energy" for "the Navy".
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Naval Petroleum Reserve
Pub. L. 109–58, title III, subtitle D, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 694, provided that:
"SEC. 331. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 2, KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) That portion of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 authorized for disposal under section 3403(a) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–261; 10 U.S.C. 7420 note [now 10 U.S.C. 8720 note]).
"(2) That portion of the surface estate of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 conveyed to the City of Taft, California, by section 333.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(d)
"SEC. 332. NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 2 LEASE REVENUE ACCOUNT.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) environmental investigations (other than any environmental investigations that were conducted by the Secretary before the transfer of the Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 lands under section 331), remediation, compliance actions, response, waste management, impediments, fines or penalties, or any other costs or expenses of any kind arising from, or relating to, conditions existing on or below the Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 lands, or activities occurring or having occurred on such lands, on or before the date of the transfer of such lands; and
"(B) any future remediation necessitated as a result of pre-transfer and leasing activities on such lands.
"(2)
"(c)
"(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for a period of three years after the date of the transfer of the Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 lands under section 331, the sum of $500,000 per year of revenue from leases entered into before that date, including bonuses, rents, royalties, and interest charges collected pursuant to the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701 et. seq.), derived from the Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 lands, shall be deposited into the lease revenue account.
"(2) Subject to subsection (d), all revenues derived from leases on Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 lands issued on or after the date of the transfer of such lands, including bonuses, rents, royalties, and interest charges collected pursuant to the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), shall be deposited into the lease revenue account.
"(d)
"(e)
"(f)
"SEC. 333. LAND CONVEYANCE, PORTION OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 2, TO CITY OF TAFT, CALIFORNIA.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(f)
"SEC. 334. REVOCATION OF LAND WITHDRAWAL.
"Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 8, 2005], the Executive Order of December 13, 1912, which created Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2, is revoked in its entirety."
Disposal of Naval Petroleum Reserves
Pub. L. 105–261, div. C, title XXXIV, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2265, as amended by Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXIV, §3403(a), (c)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–484, 1654A–489; Pub. L. 108–204, title I, §129, Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 547; Pub. L. 109–58, title III, §331(d), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 695; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXIV, §3402, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 590, provided that:
"SEC. 3401. DEFINITIONS.
"In this title:
"(1) The term 'naval petroleum reserves' has the meaning given the term in section 7420(2) [now 8720(2)] of title 10, United States Code.
"(2) The term 'Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2' means the naval petroleum reserve, commonly referred to as the Buena Vista unit, that is located in Kern County, California, and was established by Executive order of the President, dated December 13, 1912.
"(3) The term 'Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 3' means the naval petroleum reserve, commonly referred to as the Teapot Dome unit, that is located in the State of Wyoming and was established by Executive order of the President, dated April 30, 1915.
"(4) The term 'Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2' means the naval petroleum reserve that is located in the State of Utah and was established by Executive order of the President, dated December 6, 1916.
"(5) The term 'antitrust laws' has the meaning given the term in section 1(a) of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12(a)), except that the term also includes—
"(A) the Act of June 19, 1936 (15 U.S.C. 13 et seq.; commonly known as the Robinson-Patman Act); and
"(B) section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45), to the extent that such section applies to unfair methods of competition.
"(6) The term 'petroleum' has the meaning given the term in section 7420(3) [now 8720(3)] of title 10, United States Code.
"SEC. 3402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
"(a)
"(1) activities under chapter 641 [now 869] of title 10, United States Code, relating to the naval petroleum reserves;
"(2) closeout activities at Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 upon the sale of that reserve under subtitle B of title XXXIV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Public Law 104–106; 10 U.S.C. 7420 note [now 10 U.S.C. 8720 note]); and
"(3) activities under this title relating to the disposition of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2, Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 3, and Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2.
"(b)
"SEC. 3403. DISPOSAL OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 2.
"(a)
"(2) The Secretary of Energy shall carry out the disposal authorized by paragraph (1) by competitive sale or lease consistent with commercial practices, by transfer to another Federal agency or a public or private entity, or by such other means as the Secretary considers appropriate. Any competitive sale or lease under this subsection shall provide for the disposal of all right, title, and interest of the United States in the property to be conveyed. The Secretary of Energy may use the authority provided by the Act of June 14, 1926 (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.; commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), in the same manner and to the same extent as the Secretary of the Interior, to dispose of the portion of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 2 described in paragraph (1).
"(3) Section 2696(a) of title 10, United States Code, regarding the screening of real property for further Federal use before disposal, shall apply to the disposal authorized by paragraph (1).
"[(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 109–58, title III, §331(d), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 695.]
"(c)
"SEC. 3404. DISPOSAL OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 3.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"SEC. 3405. DISPOSAL OF OIL SHALE RESERVE NUMBERED 2.
"(a)
"(1) NOSR–2.—The term 'NOSR–2' means Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2, as identified on a map on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(b)
"(2) The conveyance under paragraph (1) does not include the following:
"(A) The portion of the bed of Green River contained entirely within NOSR–2, as depicted on the map.
"(B) The land (including surface and mineral rights) to the west of the Green River within NOSR–2, as depicted on the map.
"(C) A ¼ mile scenic easement on the east side of the Green River within NOSR–2.
"(c)
"(2) On completion of the conveyance under subsection (b), the United States relinquishes all management authority over the conveyed land, including tribal activities conducted on the land.
"(3) With respect to the land conveyed to the Tribe under subsection (b)—
"(A) the land shall not be subject to any Federal restriction on alienation; and
"(B) notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the constitution, bylaws, or charter of the Tribe, the Act of May 11, 1938 (commonly known as the 'Indian Mineral Leasing Act of 1938') (25 U.S.C. 396a et seq.), the Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982 (25 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.), section 2103 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 81), or section 2116 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 177), or any other law, no purchase, grant, lease, or other conveyance of the land (or any interest in the land), and no exploration, development, or other agreement relating to the land that is authorized by resolution by the governing body of the Tribe, shall require approval by the Secretary of the Interior or any other Federal official.
"(4) The reservation of the easement under subsection (b)(2)(C) shall not affect the right of the Tribe to use and maintain access to the Green River through the use of the road within the easement, as depicted on the map.
"(5) Each withdrawal that applies to NOSR–2 and that is in effect on the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 [Oct. 30, 2000] is revoked to the extent that the withdrawal applies to NOSR–2.
"(6) Notwithstanding that the land conveyed to the Tribe under subsection (b) shall not be part of the reservation of the Tribe, such land shall be deemed to be part of the reservation of the Tribe for the purposes of criminal and civil jurisdiction.
"(d)
"(2) Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 [Oct. 30, 2000], the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress a land use plan for the management of the land and interests in land referred to in paragraph (1).
"(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
"(e)
"(2) The royalty payments shall be made by the Tribe or its designee to the Secretary of Energy during the period that the oil, gas, hydrocarbons, or minerals are being produced, saved, sold, or extracted. The Secretary of Energy shall retain and use the payments in the manner provided in subsection (i)(3).
"(3) The royalty interest retained by the United States under this subsection does not include any development, production, marketing, and operating expenses.
"(4) The Tribe shall submit to the Secretary of Energy and to Congress an annual report on resource development and other activities of the Tribe concerning the conveyance under subsection (b).
"(5) Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 [Oct. 30, 2000], and every five years thereafter, the Tribe shall obtain an audit of all resource development activities of the Tribe concerning the conveyance under subsection (b), as provided under chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code. The results of each audit under this paragraph shall be included in the next annual report submitted under paragraph (4).
"(f)
"(A) maintains the protected status of the land; and
"(B) is consistent with the government-to-government agreement and in the memorandum of understanding dated February 11, 2000, as agreed to by the Tribe and the Secretary of the Interior.
"(2) An ordinance referred to in paragraph (1) shall not impair, limit, or otherwise restrict the management and use of any land that is not owned, controlled, or subject to the jurisdiction of the Tribe.
"(3) An ordinance adopted by the Tribe and referenced in the government-to-government agreement may not be repealed or amended without the written approval of both the Tribe and the Secretary of the Interior.
"(g)
"(A) listed as an endangered species or threatened species under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533); and
"(B) located or found on the NOSR–2 land conveyed to the Tribe.
"(2) The protection described in paragraph (1) shall be performed solely under tribal jurisdiction.
"(h)
"(2) The management, control, and protection of horses described in paragraph (1) shall be performed solely—
"(A) under tribal jurisdiction; and
"(B) in accordance with a government-to-government agreement between the Tribe and the Secretary of the Interior.
"(i)
"(B) The remediation plan required by subparagraph (A) shall be completed not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 [Oct. 30, 2000], and the Secretary of Energy shall commence remedial action at the Moab site as soon as practicable after the completion of the plan.
"(C) The license for the materials at the Moab site issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall terminate one year after the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001, unless the Secretary of Energy determines that the license may be terminated earlier. Until the license is terminated, the Trustee, subject to the availability of funds appropriated specifically for a purpose described in clauses (i) through (iii) or made available by the Trustee from the Moab Mill Reclamation Trust, may carry out—
"(i) interim measures to reduce or eliminate localized high ammonia concentrations in the Colorado River, identified by the United States Geological Survey in a report dated March 27, 2000;
"(ii) activities to dewater the mill tailings at the Moab site; and
"(iii) other activities related to the Moab site, subject to the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy.
"(D) As part of the remediation plan for the Moab site required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Energy shall develop, in consultation with the Trustee, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the State of Utah, an efficient and legal means for transferring all responsibilities and title to the Moab site and all the materials therein from the Trustee to the Department of Energy.
"(2) The Secretary of Energy shall limit the amounts expended in carrying out the remedial action under paragraph (1) to—
"(A) amounts specifically appropriated for the remedial action in an appropriation Act; and
"(B) other amounts made available for the remedial action under this subsection.
"(3)(A) The royalty payments received by the Secretary of Energy under subsection (e) shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, to carry out the remedial action under paragraph (1) until such time as the Secretary determines that all costs incurred by the United States to carry out the remedial action (other than costs associated with long-term monitoring) have been paid.
"(B) Upon making the determination referred to in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Energy shall transfer all remaining royalty amounts to the general fund of the Treasury and release to the Tribe the royalty interest retained by the United States under subsection (e).
"(4)(A) Funds made available to the Department of Energy for national security activities shall not be used to carry out the remedial action under paragraph (1), except that the Secretary of Energy may use such funds for program direction directly related to the remedial action.
"(B) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out the remedial action under paragraph (1) such sums as are necessary.
"(5) If the Moab site is sold after the date on which the Secretary of Energy completes the remedial action under paragraph (1), the seller shall pay to the Secretary of Energy, for deposit in the general fund of the Treasury, the portion of the sale price that the Secretary determines resulted from the enhancement of the value of the Moab site as a result of the remedial action. The enhanced value of the Moab site shall be equal to the difference between—
"(A) the fair market value of the Moab site on the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 [Oct. 30, 2000], based on information available on that date; and
"(B) the fair market value of the Moab site, as appraised on completion of the remedial action.
"(6)(A) Not later than October 1, 2019, the Secretary of Energy shall complete remediation at the Moab site and removal of the tailings to the Crescent Junction site in Utah.
"(B) In the event the Secretary of Energy is unable to complete remediation at the Moab Site by October 1, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan setting forth the projected completion date and the estimated funding to meet the revised date. The Secretary shall submit the plan, if required, to Congress not later than October 2, 2019.
"SEC. 3406. ADMINISTRATION.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(f)
Pub. L. 104–106, div. C, title XXXIV, subtitle B, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 631, as amended by Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, §1067(6), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, §1071(b)(12), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3507, provided that:
"SEC. 3411. DEFINITIONS.
"For purposes of this subtitle:
"(1) The terms 'Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1' and 'reserve' mean Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1, commonly referred to as the Elk Hills Unit, located in Kern County, California, and established by Executive order of the President, dated September 2, 1912.
"(2) The term 'naval petroleum reserves' has the meaning given that term in section 7420(2) [now 8720(2)] of title 10, United States Code, except that the term does not include Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1.
"(3) The term 'unit plan contract' means the unit plan contract between equity owners of the lands within the boundaries of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 entered into on June 19, 1944.
"(4) The term 'effective date' means the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 10, 1996].
"(5) The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Energy.
"(6) The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce [now Committee on Energy and Commerce] of the House of Representatives.
"SEC. 3412. SALE OF NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVE NUMBERED 1.
"(a)
"(b)
"(2) The Secretary shall retain the services of an independent petroleum engineer, mutually acceptable to the equity owners, who shall prepare a recommendation on final equity figures. The Secretary may accept the recommendation of the independent petroleum engineer for final equity in each known oil and gas zone and establish final equity interest in Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 in accordance with the recommendation, or the Secretary may use such other method to establish final equity interest in the reserve as the Secretary considers appropriate.
"(3) If, on the effective date, there is an ongoing equity redetermination dispute between the equity owners under section 9(b) of the unit plan contract, the dispute shall be resolved in the manner provided in the unit plan contract within eight months after the effective date. The resolution shall be considered final for all purposes under this section.
"(c)
"(d)
"(A) all equipment and facilities to be included in the sale;
"(B) the estimated quantity of petroleum and natural gas in the reserve; and
"(C) the net present value of the anticipated revenue stream that the Secretary and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget jointly determine the Treasury would receive from the reserve if the reserve were not sold, adjusted for any anticipated increases in tax revenues that would result if the reserve were sold.
"(2) The independent experts retained under paragraph (1) shall also determine and submit to the Secretary the estimated total amount of the cost of any environmental restoration and remediation necessary at the reserve. The Secretary shall report the estimate to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary of the Treasury, and Congress.
"(3) The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall set the minimum acceptable price for the reserve. The Secretary may not set the minimum acceptable price below the higher of—
"(A) the average of the five assessments prepared under paragraph (1); and
"(B) the average of three assessments after excluding the high and low assessments.
"(e)
"(2) Not later than 11 months after the effective date, the investment banker or financial adviser retained under paragraph (1) shall complete a draft contract or contracts for the sale of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1, which shall accompany the solicitation of offers and describe the terms and provisions of the sale of the interest of the United States in the reserve.
"(3) The draft contract or contracts shall identify—
"(A) all equipment and facilities to be included in the sale; and
"(B) any potential claim or liability (including liability for environmental restoration and remediation), and the extent of any such claim or liability, for which the United States is responsible under subsection (g).
"(4) The draft contract or contracts, including the terms and provisions of the sale of the interest of the United States in the reserve, shall be subject to review and approval by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Each of those officials shall complete the review of, and approve or disapprove, the draft contract or contracts not later than 12 months after the effective date.
"(f)
"(2) Not later than 18 months after the effective date, the Secretary shall identify the highest responsible offer or offers for purchase of the interest of the United States in Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 that, in total, meet or exceed the minimum acceptable price determined under subsection (d)(3).
"(3) The Secretary shall take such action immediately after the effective date as is necessary to obtain from an independent petroleum engineer within 10 months after that date a reserve report prepared in a manner consistent with commercial practices. The Secretary shall use the reserve report in support of the preparation of the solicitation of offers for the reserve.
"(g)
"(h)
"(i)
"(j)
"(k)
"SEC. 3413. EFFECT OF SALE OF RESERVE.
"(a)
"(2) The Secretary shall exercise the termination procedures provided in the contract between the United States and Bechtel Petroleum Operation, Inc., Contract Number DE–ACO1–85FE60520 so that the contract terminates not later than the date of closing of the sale of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 under section 3412.
"(3) The Secretary shall exercise the termination procedures provided in the unit plan contract so that the unit plan contract terminates not later than the date of closing of the sale of reserve.
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"SEC. 3414. CONDITIONS ON SALE PROCESS.
"(a)
"(1) describing the conditions of the proposed sale; and
"(2) containing an assessment by the Secretary of whether it is in the best interests of the United States to sell the reserve under such conditions.
"(b)
"(A) the sale is proceeding in a manner inconsistent with achievement of a sale price that reflects the full value of the reserve; or
"(B) a course of action other than the immediate sale of the reserve is in the best interests of the United States.
"(2) Immediately after making a determination under paragraph (1) to suspend the sale of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a written notification describing the basis for the determination and requesting a reconsideration of the merits of the sale of the reserve.
"(c)
"SEC. 3415. TREATMENT OF STATE OF CALIFORNIA CLAIM REGARDING RESERVE.
"(a)
"(1) settled by agreement with the United States under subsection (c); or
"(2) finally resolved in favor of the State by a court of competent jurisdiction, if a settlement agreement is not reached.
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"SEC. 3416. STUDY OF FUTURE OF OTHER NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVES.
"(a)
"(1) Retention and operation of the naval petroleum reserves by the Secretary under chapter 641 [now 869] of title 10, United States Code.
"(2) Transfer of all or a part of the naval petroleum reserves to the jurisdiction of another Federal agency for administration under chapter 641 [now 869] of title 10, United States Code.
"(3) Transfer of all or a part of the naval petroleum reserves to the Department of the Interior for leasing in accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and surface management in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act [of 1976] (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
"(4) Sale of the interest of the United States in the naval petroleum reserves.
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)