43 U.S.C. § 1356b Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023 Edition
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-19 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/06/2023)

(a) Authorization

After December 26, 2013, the Secretary may implement the terms of any transboundary hydrocarbon agreement for the management of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs entered into by the President and approved by Congress. In implementing such an agreement, the Secretary shall protect the interests of the United States to promote domestic job creation and ensure the expeditious and orderly development and conservation of domestic mineral resources in accordance with all applicable United States laws governing the exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbon resources on the Outer Continental Shelf.

(b) Submission to Congress

(1) In general

No later than 180 days after all parties to a transboundary hydrocarbon agreement have agreed to its terms, a transboundary hydrocarbon agreement that does not constitute a treaty in the judgment of the President shall be submitted by the Secretary to-

(A) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(B) the Majority Leader of the Senate;

(C) the Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and

(D) the Chair of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

(2) Contents of submission

The submission shall include-

(A) any amendments to this subchapter or other Federal law necessary to implement the agreement;

(B) an analysis of the economic impacts such agreement and any amendments necessitated by the agreement will have on domestic exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbon resources on the Outer Continental Shelf; and

(C) a detailed description of any regulations expected to be issued by the Secretary to implement the agreement.

(c) Implementation of specific transboundary agreement with Mexico

The Secretary may take actions as necessary to implement the terms of the Agreement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico, signed at Los Cabos, February 20, 2012, including-

(1) approving unitization agreements and related arrangements for the exploration, development, or production of oil and natural gas from transboundary reservoirs or geological structures;