H.R. 3061

[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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