[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3061 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3061
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain offshore
lease sales, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 29, 2025
Mr. Ezell (for himself, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Weber of Texas,
and Mr. Crenshaw) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain offshore
lease sales, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bringing Reliable Investment into
Domestic Gulf Energy Production Act of 2025'' or the ``BRIDGE
Production Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDING.
Congress finds that President Donald Trump issued Executive Order
14156 (90 Fed. Reg. 8433; relating to declaring a national energy
emergency) on January 20, 2025.
SEC. 3. OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASE SALES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Offshore lease sale.--The term ``offshore lease sale''
means an oil and gas lease sale that--
(A) is held by the Secretary in accordance with the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et
seq.), notwithstanding the requirements of section 18
of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1344);
(B) with respect to lease sales in the Gulf of
America, offers the same lease form, lease terms,
economic conditions, and stipulations as contained in
the final notice of sale titled ``Gulf of Mexico Outer
Continental Shelf Region-Wide Oil and Gas Lease Sale
254'' (85 Fed. Reg. 8010; February 12, 2020);
(C) with respect to lease sales in the Cook Inlet
Planning Area, offers the same lease form, lease terms,
economic conditions, and stipulations as contained in
the final notice of sale titled ``Cook Inlet Planning
Area Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale
244'' (82 Fed. Reg. 23291 (May 22, 2017)); and
(D) if an acceptable bid has been received for any
tract offered in the lease sale (as determined under
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ``Summary of
Procedures for Determining Bid Adequacy at Offshore Oil
and Gas Lease Sales Effective March 2016, with Central
Gulf of Mexico Sale 241 and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Sale
226''), results in the issuance of a lease for such
tract not later than 90 days after the date of the sale
to the highest bidder.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive any requirement of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) that would delay
final approval of an offshore lease sale under subsection (c).
(c) Requirement.--In addition to the lease sales planned pursuant
to section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1344), the Secretary shall conduct not fewer than 26 offshore lease
sales during the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act, including 20 lease sales in the Gulf of America and 6 lease
sales in the Cook Inlet Planning Area.
(d) Timing.--
(1) Gulf of america.--In conducting the offshore lease
sales in the Gulf of America required under subsection (c), the
Secretary shall hold not fewer than 1 lease sale under this
paragraph on or before each of the following dates:
(A) August 31, 2025.
(B) March 31, 2026.
(C) August 31, 2026.
(D) March 31, 2027.
(E) August 31, 2027.
(F) March 31, 2028.
(G) August 31, 2028.
(H) March 31, 2029.
(I) August 31, 2029.
(J) March 31, 2030.
(K) August 31, 2030.
(L) March 31, 2031.
(M) August 31, 2031.
(N) March 31, 2032.
(O) August 31, 2032.
(P) March 31, 2033.
(Q) August 31, 2033.
(R) March 31, 2034.
(S) August 31, 2034.
(T) March 31, 2035.
(2) Cook inlet planning area.--In conducting the offshore
lease sales in the Cook Inlet Planning Area required under
subsection (c), the Secretary shall hold not fewer than 1 lease
sale under this paragraph on or before each of the following
dates:
(A) August 31, 2025.
(B) March 31, 2027.
(C) August 31, 2028.
(D) March 31, 2030.
(E) August 31, 2032.
(F) March 31, 2034.
(e) Area Offered for Lease.--
(1) Acreage.--
(A) Gulf of america.--For each offshore lease sale
conducted under subsection (c) in the Gulf of America,
the Secretary shall offer for leasing not fewer than--
(i) 80,000,000 acres; or
(ii) if the total number of unleased acres
is less than 80,000,000 acres, the total number
of such acres.
(B) Cook inlet planning area.--For each offshore
lease sale conducted under subsection (c) in the Cook
Inlet Planning Area, the Secretary shall offer for
leasing not fewer than--
(i) 1,000,000 acres; or
(ii) if the total number of unleased acres
is less than 1,000,000 acres, the total number
of such acres.
(2) Location.--
(A) Gulf of america.--An offshore lease sale
conducted under subsection (c) in the Gulf of America
shall offer the areas identified as the Proposed Final
Program Area in Figure S-1 of the 2017-2022 Outer
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final
Program published on November 18, 2016, by the Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management (as announced in the notice
of availability of the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management entitled ``Notice of Availability of the
2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing
Proposed Final Program'' (81 Fed. Reg. 84612 (November
23, 2016))).
(B) Cook inlet planning area.--An offshore lease
sale conducted under subsection (c) in the Cook Inlet
Planning Area shall only offer an area within the
Planning Area Boundary depicted in Figure S-2 of the
2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing
Proposed Final Program published on November 18, 2016,
by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (as announced
in the notice of availability of the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management entitled ``Notice of Availability of
the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas
Leasing Proposed Final Program'' (81 Fed. Reg. 84612
(November 23, 2016))).
(f) Commingling Wells.--For the purposes of commingling wells in
multiple reservoirs in a common wellbore on the Outer Continental
Shelf, the Secretary of Interior shall approve operators commingling
requests within 45 days of receipt of an application.
(g) Restoring Reasonable Royalty Rates.--Section 8(a)(1) of the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``not less than 16\2/
3\ percent, but not more than 18\3/4\ percent, during the 10-
year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Act
titled `An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title
II of S. Con. Res. 14', and not less than 16\2/3\ percent
thereafter,'' and inserting ``not less than 12.5 percent, but
not more than 18\3/4\ percent,'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``not less than 16\2/
3\ percent, but not more than 18\3/4\ percent, during the 10-
year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Act
titled `An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title
II of S. Con. Res. 14', and not less than 16\2/3\ percent
thereafter,'' and inserting ``not less than 12.5 percent, but
not more than 18\3/4\ percent,'';
(3) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``not less than 16\2/
3\ percent, but not more than 18\3/4\ percent, during the 10-
year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Act
titled `An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title
II of S. Con. Res. 14', and not less than 16\2/3\ percent
thereafter,'' and inserting ``not less than 12.5 percent, but
not more than 18\3/4\ percent,''; and
(4) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``not less than 16\2/
3\ percent, but not more than 18\3/4\ percent, during the 10-
year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Act
titled `An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title
II of S. Con. Res. 14', and not less than 16\2/3\ percent
thereafter,'' and inserting ``not less than 12.5 percent, but
not more than 18\3/4\ percent,''.
(h) First Production Incentive Pilot Program.--
(1) In general.--For any lease issued pursuant to an
offshore lease sale required by this section, the Secretary
shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary may
reduce the royalty rate under section 8(a)(1) of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(1)) to 10
percent for the first 7 years of production from the area of
the lease if the leaseholder achieves first production from
such area by not later than 3 years after the date on which the
lease is issued.
(2) Application.--A leaseholder seeking a royalty rate
reduction under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary
an application, which shall include evidence that the
leaseholder met the first production milestone described in
paragraph (1), by not later than 60 days after achieving the
milestone.
(3) Limitation.--The Secretary may not reduce the royalty
rate under paragraph (1) for more than 25 leases.
(4) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2030, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
effectiveness of the pilot program at accelerating offshore oil
and gas production.
(5) First production defined.--In this subsection, the term
``first production'' means the date on which oil or gas is
produced in paying quantities, as determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER FEDERAL LAW.
(a) During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act and ending on the date that is 2 years after the date on which
the last lease sale required to be held under section 3 is held, with
respect to each lease sale held, lease issued, and any activity
associated with a lease issued pursuant to section 3, the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), or section 50264
of Public Law 117-169 (commonly referred to as the ``Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022'') that requires a Federal authorization in the
Gulf of America--
(1) compliance with the biological opinion issued by the
National Marine Fisheries Service titled ``Biological Opinion
on the Federally Regulated Oil and Gas Program Activities in
the Gulf of Mexico'' and the incidental take statement
associated with such biological opinion (published March 12,
2020, and updated April 26, 2021) shall be deemed to be
compliance with each applicable requirement of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the Marine
Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.);
(2) the document published by the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management titled ``Gulf of Mexico OCS Lease Sales 259 and 261
Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement'' (OCS EIS/EA
BOEM 2023-001; January 2023) and the documents tiered to and
incorporated by reference therein shall be deemed sufficient to
comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and division A of subtitle III of title
54, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``National
Historic Preservation Act''); and
(3) the consistency determinations prepared by the Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management under section 307 of the Coastal
Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1456) for Lease Sale 261
for the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and
Florida shall be deemed sufficient to comply with that section
(16 U.S.C. 1456).
(b) Notwithstanding the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.), a reasonable and prudent alternative or mitigation
measures for Balaenoptera ricei shall not have any force or effect nor
apply to any oil and gas operation in the Gulf of America, for oil and
gas activities in the Gulf of America which would impact a lessee's
activities authorized under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43
U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), section 50264 of Public Law 117-169 (commonly
referred to as the ``Inflation Reduction Act of 2022''), or this Act
with respect to offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and
production.
SEC. 5. JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
(a) In General.--If the Secretary of the Interior fails to hold a
lease sale required under section 3 within 10 days of the date required
by that section, a potential responsible bidder may bring a civil
action consistent with section 23(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1349(c)(2)) to require the Secretary to hold the
lease sale in accordance with section 3 of this Act and the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), notwithstanding
the requirements of section 18 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1344).
(b) Judicial Proceedings.--
(1) In general.--If the court finds that the Secretary
failed to hold a lease sale as described in subsection (a), the
court shall enter an order requiring the Secretary to hold the
lease sale not later than 120 days after the date required
under section 3 for such lease sale and may appoint a special
master under subsection (d) to ensure compliance with such
order.
(2) Failure to comply.--
(A) In general.--If the Secretary fails to comply
with an order entered under this subsection, the court
shall impose fines beginning 30 days after the date on
which the Secretary fails to hold a lease sale required
under section 3, unless the Secretary demonstrates to
the satisfaction of the court that the failure of the
Secretary to comply with the order resulted from
circumstances beyond the control of the Secretary.
(B) Extension of period to comply.--If under
subparagraph (A) the Secretary demonstrates to the
satisfaction of the court that the failure of the
Secretary to comply with an order entered under this
subsection resulted from circumstances beyond the
control of the Secretary, the court may extend the date
in the order requiring the Secretary to hold the lease
sale that is the subject of the order by 30 days.
(C) Failure to comply during extension period.--If
the Secretary fails to hold a lease sale described in
subparagraph (B) within the period described in that
subparagraph, the court shall impose fines beginning on
the day after the date on which that period ends and
appoint a special master in accordance with subsection
(d).
(c) Statute of Limitations.--Any action under this section shall be
filed not later than 30 days after the date by which the lease sale was
required to be held under section 3.
(d) Appointment of Special Master.--
(1) In general.--Upon finding under subsection (b)(1) that
the Secretary has failed to hold a lease sale required under
section 3, the court may appoint a special master to monitor
compliance with the order entered by the court under that
subsection.
(2) Powers and duties of special master.--A special master
appointed under paragraph (1) shall have all the powers and
duties necessary to monitor the actions necessary for the
Secretary to hold the lease sale described in paragraph (1),
including--
(A) monitoring the advertising and promotion of the
lease sale;
(B) the publication of notices in the Federal
Register for the lease sale; and
(C) the issuance of leases to bidders that submit
acceptable bids.
(e) Timeframe for Conducting Missed Lease Sale.--The court, the
Secretary, and the special master, as applicable, shall ensure that a
lease sale that is the subject of an action brought under subsection
(a) is held not later than 120 days after the original sale date.
(f) Use of Department of the Interior Funds.--
(1) In general.--The costs associated with monitoring a
lease sale by a special master appointed under subsection (d)
shall be paid out of funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
(2) Allocation of funds.--The Secretary shall allocate
funds sufficient to cover the costs of any special master
appointed under subsection (d).
(g) Limitation on Judicial Review.--
(1) In general.--A civil action challenging an activity
under section 3 shall not--
(A) affect the validity of any lease issued under
such a lease sale; or
(B) cause a delay with respect to the processing or
issuance of any such lease or any associated--
(i) exploration plan;
(ii) development plan;
(iii) development and operations
coordination document;
(iv) application for permit to drill; or
(v) application for any other Federal
authorization for an activity carried out
within the area of such a lease.
(2) Restriction.--If, in a civil action challenging a lease
sale held under section 3, a court finds that the lease sale
was not carried out in compliance with section 3, the court--
(A) shall remand the matter to the Secretary or
other appropriate officer to correct the noncompliance;
and
(B) shall not--
(i) set aside, vacate, or enjoin the lease
sale or any lease issued pursuant to the lease
sale; or
(ii) enjoin the Secretary from issuing
leases pursuant to the challenged lease sale.
(3) Venue.--Any civil action described in this subsection
shall be subject to judicial review only consistent with
section 23(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43
U.S.C. 1349(c)(2)).
(h) Security for Injunctive Relief.--A party seeking injunctive
relief to delay or prevent a lease sale held under section 3 or to
delay or prevent the issuance of a lease by the Secretary following
such a lease sale, shall provide security pursuant to Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 65(c), or pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate
Procedure 8(a)(2)(E), as applicable.
(i) Other Actions.--Section 4 shall be subject to judicial review
only consistent with section 23(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1349(c)(2)).
SEC. 6. CONTINUOUS LEASING PROGRAMS.
Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1344) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Continuous Leasing Program.--
``(1) Purpose.--The leasing program required under this
section shall be maintained without interruption to ensure a
continuous schedule of offshore oil and gas lease sales on the
outer Continental Shelf, avoiding any lapse between the
expiration of one 5-year leasing program and the approval of
the subsequent program.
``(2) Timely approval.--For each leasing program covering a
5-year period beginning on or after the date of enactment of
the Bringing Reliable Investment into Domestic Gulf Energy
Production Act of 2025, the Secretary shall approve the final
leasing program by not later than 120 days before the
expiration date of the preceding leasing program.
``(3) Preparation schedule.--To meet the requirement of
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall--
``(A) not later than 24 months before the
expiration of the leasing program in effect, publish a
draft proposed leasing program for the subsequent 5-
year period; and
``(B) complete the consultation, comment, and
approval processes required under this section in time
to comply with paragraph (2).
``(4) Default schedule in case of delay.--If the Secretary
fails to approve a leasing program for a subsequent 5-year
period by the date specified in paragraph (2), the following
leasing schedule and requirements shall immediately take effect
as the operative leasing program under this section for that 5-
year period:
``(A) Gulf of america region.--The Secretary shall
annually conduct two region-wide oil and gas lease
sales, one in the Central Gulf of America Planning Area
and one in the Western Gulf of America Planning Area,
as described in the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf
Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program published on
November 18, 2016, by the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (as announced in the notice of availability
of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management entitled
`Notice of Availability of the 2017-2022 Outer
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final
Program' (81 Fed. Reg. 84612 (November 23, 2016))).
``(B) Alaska region.--The Secretary shall annually
conduct one region-wide oil and gas lease sale in the
Alaska Region of the outer Continental Shelf, as
described in the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil
and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program published on
November 18, 2016, by the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (as announced in the notice of availability
of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management entitled
`Notice of Availability of the 2017-2022 Outer
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final
Program' (81 Fed. Reg. 84612 (November 23, 2016))).
``(C) Scope of offerings.--Each lease sale
conducted under this paragraph shall include all
unleased acres in the areas identified in Figure 1-2 of
the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas
Leasing Proposed Final Program published on November
18, 2016, by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (as
announced in the notice of availability of the Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management entitled `Notice of
Availability of the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf
Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program' (81 Fed.
Reg. 84612 (November 23, 2016))).
``(5) Environmental compliance for default schedule.--Upon
the application of paragraph (4), holding a lease sale under
the replacement schedule described in that paragraph shall not
require additional analysis under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, and the environmental reviews specified in
section 4(a)(2) of the BRIDGE Production Act of 2025 shall be
deemed sufficient to meet all requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for such lease sales, lease
issuances, and associated activities requiring Federal
authorization on such leases.
``(6) Bid acceptance and lease issuance.--If the Secretary
receives an acceptable bid for any tract offered in a lease
sale held pursuant to the schedule described under paragraph
(4) (as determined under the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
`Summary of Procedures for Determining Bid Adequacy at Offshore
Oil and Gas Lease Sales Effective March 2016'), the Secretary
shall issue a lease for such tract not later than 90 days after
the date of the lease sale.''.
SEC. 7. MINIMUM LEASE SALES.
Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1344) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Minimum Lease Sales.--
``(1) Requirement.--Beginning on January 1, 2035, the
Secretary may only approve a leasing program under this section
if the leasing program provides for offering at least 15
offshore lease sales during a period of 5 years.
``(2) Replacement schedule.--If a court determines a
leasing program under this section does not meet the
requirement of paragraph (1), the following offshore lease sale
schedule shall immediately replace such program as the
operative leasing program under this section, notwithstanding
any other provision of this section:
``(A) Gulf of america sales.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
conduct 2 offshore lease sales each year in the
Gulf of America region during the 5-year period
of the replaced program, totaling 10 lease
sales.
``(ii) Acreage.--For each lease sale under
this subparagraph, the Secretary shall offer
all unleased acres in the Gulf of America
region, as identified in Figure S-1 of the
2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas
Leasing Proposed Final Program published on
November 18, 2016, by the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management (as announced in the notice
of availability of the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management entitled `Notice of Availability of
the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and
Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program' (81 Fed.
Reg. 84612 (November 23, 2016))).
``(iii) Terms and conditions.--In each
lease sale under this subparagraph, the
Secretary shall offer the same lease form,
lease terms, economic conditions, and
stipulations as contained in the final notice
of sale titled `Gulf of Mexico Outer
Continental Shelf Region-Wide Oil and Gas Lease
Sale 254' (85 Fed. Reg. 8010; February 12,
2020), except that the net royalty rate payable
to the Federal Government shall not exceed
18.75 percent.
``(iv) Timing.--The Secretary shall conduct
the first lease sale under this subparagraph by
not later than 6 months after the start of the
5-year period of the replaced program, with
subsequent sales not later than every 7 months
thereafter, ensuring all sales are completed
within the 5-year period.
``(B) Alaska outer continental shelf sales.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
conduct 5 region-wide offshore lease sales on
the Alaska outer Continental Shelf during the
5-year period of the replaced program.
``(ii) Acreage.--For each lease sale under
this subparagraph, the Secretary shall offer
all unleased acres across the Alaska outer
Continental Shelf, in the areas identified in
Figure 1-2 of the 2017-2022 Outer Continental
Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final
Program published on November 18, 2016, by the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (as announced
in the notice of availability of the Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management entitled `Notice of
Availability of the 2017-2022 Outer Continental
Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final
Program' (81 Fed. Reg. 84612 (November 23,
2016))).
``(iii) Terms and conditions.--In each
lease sale under this subparagraph, the
Secretary shall offer the same lease form,
lease terms, economic conditions, and
stipulations as contained in the final notice
of sale entitled `Outer Continental Shelf Cook
Inlet, Alaska, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244' (82
Fed. Reg. 23163; May 22, 2017), except that the
net royalty rate payable to the Federal
Government shall not exceed 16.75 percent.
``(iv) Timing.--The Secretary shall conduct
the first lease sale under this subparagraph by
not later than 12 months after the start of the
5-year period of the replaced program, with
subsequent sales occurring not later than 11
months thereafter, ensuring all 5 sales are
completed within the 5-year period.
``(3) Streamlining provisions.--
``(A) Environmental and regulatory exemptions.--
Holding lease sales under paragraph (2) shall not
require additional analysis or compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972, or any requirements for tribal
consultation under Federal law. The environmental
reviews specified in section 4(a)(2) of the BRIDGE
Production Act of 2025, and the Biological Opinion
specified in section 4(a)(1) of that Act, shall be
deemed sufficient to meet all applicable Federal
environmental and regulatory requirements for such
lease sales, lease issuances, and associated activities
requiring Federal authorization.
``(B) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive
any requirement under this section that would delay
holding a lease sale under paragraph (2).
``(C) Bid acceptance and lease issuance.--If the
Secretary receives an acceptable bid for any tract
offered in a lease sale held pursuant to the schedule
described in paragraph (2) (as determined under the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management `Summary of
Procedures for Determining Bid Adequacy at Offshore Oil
and Gas Lease Sales Effective March 2016'), the
Secretary shall issue a lease for such tract not later
than 90 days after the date of the lease sale.''.
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