Bill > HR4346

This bill, the Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2019, amends the Mineral Leasing Act to regulate surface-disturbing activities related to oil and gas development and protect taxpayers from bearing the costs of reclamation. It requires the approval of both an interim and final reclamation plan before issuing a drilling permit, mandates the establishment of adequate financial bonds to ensure complete and timely reclamation, and prohibits the issuance of leases to entities that have failed to comply with reclamation requirements. The bill also directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to establish uniform standards for reclamation plans, aiming to restore affected ecosystems to pre-disturbance conditions, and requires monitoring and approval of final abandonment before releasing any bonds.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4346/all-info