DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Federal Funds

Federal oil and gas management reforms. The Budget includes a package of legislative reforms to bolster and backstop administrative actions being taken to reform the management of DOI's onshore and offshore oil and gas programs, with a key focus on improving the return to taxpayers from the sale of these Federal resources. Proposed statutory and administrative changes fall into three general categories: 1) advancing royalty reforms, 2) encouraging diligent development of oil and gas leases, and 3) improving revenue collection processes. Royalty reforms include: establishing minimum royalty rates for oil, gas, and similar products; adjusting the onshore oil and gas royalty rate; analyzing a price-based tiered royalty rate; and repealing legislatively-mandated royalty relief. Diligent development requirements include shorter primary lease terms, stricter enforcement of lease terms, and monetary incentives to get leases into production through a new statutory per-acre fee on nonproducing leases. Revenue collection improvements include simplification of the royalty valuation process and permanent repeal of DOI's authority to accept in-kind royalty payments. Collectively, these reforms will generate roughly $1.7 billion in net receipts to the Treasury over 10 years, of which about $1.2 billion would result from statutory changes. Many States will also benefit from higher Federal revenue sharing payments.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is charged with the multiple use management of natural resources on more than 247 million acres of surface estate of public land, about one-eighth of the land in the United States. The BLM also administers approximately 700 million acres of onshore Federal mineral estate underlying BLM and other surface ownerships. In addition, BLM has trust responsibilities on 56 million acres of Indian trust lands for mineral operations and cadastral (land) surveys. The lands managed by BLM provide important natural resources, recreational and scenic values to the American people, as well as resource commodities and revenue to the Federal Government, States, and counties. It is the mission of BLM to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Budget proposes legislation to establish a Congressionally-chartered National BLM Foundation. This Foundation will provide the BLM with an opportunity to broaden its partnership capabilities, leverage private funding, and focus public support for the BLM mission of protecting and restoring the natural, cultural, historical, and recreation resources on the Nation's public lands.

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses for protection, use, improvement, development, disposal, cadastral surveying, classification, acquisition of easements and other interests in lands, and performance of other functions, including maintenance of facilities, as authorized by law, in the management of lands and their resources under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, including the general administration of the Bureau, and assessment of mineral potential of public lands pursuant to section 1010(a) of Public Law 96–487 (16 U.S.C. 3150(a)), [$1,072,675,000] $1,075,545,000, to remain available until expended, including all such amounts as are collected from permit processing fees, as authorized but made subject to future appropriation by section 35(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191), except that amounts from permit processing fees may be used for any bureau-related expenses associated with the processing of oil and gas applications for permits to drill and related use of authorizations; of which $3,000,000 shall be available in fiscal year [2016] 2017 subject to a match by at least an equal amount by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for cost-shared projects supporting conservation of Bureau lands; and such funds shall be advanced to the Foundation as a lump-sum grant without regard to when expenses are incurred.

In addition,

(1) $48,000,000, to remain available until expended, is for conducting oil and gas inspection activities, to be reduced by amounts collected by the Bureau and credited to this appropriation that shall be derived from onshore oil and gas inspection fees that the Bureau shall collect, as provided for in this Act, except that, for fiscal year 2017, inspection fees collected by the Bureau of Land Management may be used to fund personnel and mission-related costs to expand capacity and expedite orderly energy development subject to environmental safeguards, on Federal land, pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), including the review of applications for permits to drill;

(2) $16,500,000, to remain available until expended, is for the processing of grazing permits and leases, to be reduced by amounts collected by the Bureau and credited to this appropriation, which shall be derived from the $2.50 per animal unit month administrative fee, as provided for in this Act; and

(3) $39,696,000 is for Mining Law Administration program operations, including the cost of administering the mining claim fee program, to remain available until expended, to be reduced by amounts collected by the Bureau and credited to this appropriation from mining claim maintenance fees and location fees that are hereby authorized for fiscal year [2016] 2017, so as to result in a final appropriation estimated at not more than [$1,072,675,000] $1,075,545,000, and $2,000,000, to remain available until expended, from communication site rental fees established by the Bureau for the cost of administering communication site activities. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

Land resources.—Provides for management of rangeland and forest resources; riparian areas; soil, water, and air activities; wild horses and burros; and cultural resources. The Budget funds rangeland management activities through a combination of direct appropriations and offsetting collections generated from a proposed three-year pilot program to assess an administrative processing fee on grazing permits. The fee recovers some costs associated with issuing grazing permits/leases on BLM lands. The funds from the fee will be used to address pending applications for grazing permit renewals. The BLM proposes a $2.50 per Animal Unit Month fee, collected along with current grazing fees. The BLM will promulgate regulations for the continuation of the grazing administrative fee for cost recovery after the pilot expires.

Wildlife and fisheries management.—Provides for maintenance, improvement, or enhancement of fish and wildlife habitats as part of the management of public lands and ecosystems.

Threatened and endangered species management.—Provides for protection, conservation, consultation, recovery, and evaluation of populations and habitats of threatened, endangered and special status animal and plant species.

Recreation management.—Provides for management and protection of recreational resource values, designated and potential wilderness areas, and collection and expenditure of recreation user fees. The Administration proposes to permanently reauthorize the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture recreation fee program under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which is set to expire on September 30, 2017.

Energy and minerals management.—Provides for management of onshore oil and gas; coal; geothermal and renewable energy resources such as wind and solar; other leasable minerals and mineral materials activities; and the administration of encumbrances on the mineral estate on Federal and Indian lands. The 2017 Budget funds oil and gas management activities through a combination of direct appropriations, permanent appropriations authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015, and offsetting collections generated from assessing fees for inspection activities. Proposed new inspection fees are expected to generate $48 million in 2017 that will be used to offset the costs of administering the BLM's oil and gas program.

Realty and ownership management.—Provides for management and non-reimbursable processing of authorizations and compliance for realty actions and rights-of-way (including Alaska), administration of land title records and completion of cadastral surveys on public lands. Provides for the processing of communication site use authorization requests.

Resource protection.—Provides for management of the land use planning and National Environmental Policy Act processes, including assessment and monitoring activities. Also ensures the health and safety of users of the public lands through remediation of abandoned mine lands and protection from criminal and other unlawful activities; the effects of hazardous material and/or waste; and physical safety hazards.

Transportation and facilities management.—Provides for construction and maintenance of administrative and recreation sites, roads, trails, bridges and dams, including compliance with building codes and standards and environmental protection requirements. These funds allow for the systematic management of facilities with critical health and safety concerns, and ensure the protection of natural and cultural resources and the environment. BLM funds all construction and deferred maintenance projects from this activity, including those on the Oregon and California grant lands.

Challenge Cost Share (CCS).—This program leverages non-Federal funding, in-kind services, and materials with Federal funding to conduct on-the-ground projects that improve the condition of the public lands. These conservation, restoration, and enhancement projects benefit forestry, range, riparian, fish, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, recreation, and cultural resources. No funds are requested for Challenge Cost Share activities in 2017.

National Conservation Lands.—Provides for the management of National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, and other Congressional conservation designations in the National Conservation Lands. The program provides for the recurring operational (base) budgets of these units.

Workforce and organizational support.—Provides for the management of specified bureau business practices, such as human resources, Equal Employment Opportunity, financial resources, procurement, property, information technology, and fixed costs.

Mining law administration.—Provides for exploration and development of minerals on public lands pursuant to the General Mining Law of 1872, including validity examinations, patent application reviews, enforcement of environmental and bonding requirements, and recordation of mining claims. Program costs are expected to be fully offset by claim maintenance and other fees in 2017.

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Employment Summary

For expenses necessary for management, protection, and development of resources and for construction, operation, and maintenance of access roads, reforestation, and other improvements on the revested Oregon and California Railroad grant lands, on other Federal lands in the Oregon and California land-grant counties of Oregon, and on adjacent rights-of-way; and acquisition of lands or interests therein, including existing connecting roads on or adjacent to such grant lands; [$107,734,000] $106,985,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 25 percent of the aggregate of all receipts during the current fiscal year from the revested Oregon and California Railroad grant lands is hereby made a charge against the Oregon and California land-grant fund and shall be transferred to the General Fund in the Treasury in accordance with the second paragraph of subsection (b) of title II of the Act of August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181f). (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

Western Oregon resources management.—Provides for the management of approximately 2.2 million acres of lands that are primarily forested ecosystems in western Oregon. These lands support a number of resource activities including timber management, grazing management, and recreation management. In support of these activities, BLM is involved in improving critical watersheds, restoring wildlife and fish habitat, providing safe recreation opportunities, and preserving cultural resources.

Western Oregon information and resource data systems.—Provides for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of the automated data support systems required for the management of the Oregon and California programs.

Western Oregon transportation and facilities maintenance.—Provides for the maintenance of office buildings, warehouse and storage structures, shops, greenhouses, recreation sites, and the transportation system necessary to assure public safety and effective management of the lands in western Oregon. BLM funds deferred maintenance projects on Oregon and California Grant Lands from the Management of Lands and Resources appropriation.

Western Oregon Acquisition.—Provides for the acquisition of road easements and road use agreements for timber site access and for other resource management activities, including recreation use. This activity also provides for transportation planning, survey, and design of access and other resource management roads.

National Conservation Lands.—Provides for the management of National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, and other Congressional conservation designations on the National Conservation Lands. The program provides for the recurring operational (base) budgets of these National Conservation Lands units.

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Abandoned Well Remediation Fund.—Section 10, paragraph (b) of Public Law 113–40, 127 STAT. 545, appropriated funds to remediate, reclaim, and close abandoned oil and gas wells on current or former National Petroleum Reserve land.

Employment Summary

For expenses necessary to carry out sections 205, 206, and 318(d) of Public Law 94–579, including administrative expenses and acquisition of lands or waters, or interests therein, [$38,630,000] $43,959,000, to be derived from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and to remain available until expended. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

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This appropriation provides for the acquisition of lands or interests in lands, by purchase, easement or exchange, when necessary for public access and recreation use, preservation of open space, resource protection, and/or other purposes related to the management of public lands. The 2017 Federal Land Acquisition program builds on efforts started in 2011 to strategically invest in interagency landscape-scale conservation projects while continuing to meet agency-specific programmatic needs. The Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service collaborated extensively to develop a process to more effectively coordinate land acquisitions with government and local community partners to achieve the highest priority shared conservation goals.

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Mandatory Land and Water Conservation Fund.—The Administration proposes $900 million in discretionary and mandatory funding in FY 2017, and proposes to permanently authorize $900 million in annual mandatory funding for the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior Land and Water Conservation Fund programs beginning in FY 2018.

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For rehabilitation, protection, and acquisition of lands and interests therein, and improvement of Federal rangelands pursuant to section 401 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1751), notwithstanding any other Act, sums equal to 50 percent of all moneys received during the prior fiscal year under sections 3 and 15 of the Taylor Grazing Act (43 U.S.C. 315b, 315m) and the amount designated for range improvements from grazing fees and mineral leasing receipts from Bankhead-Jones lands transferred to the Department of the Interior pursuant to law, but not less than $10,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $600,000 shall be available for administrative expenses. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

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This appropriation is derived from a percentage of receipts from grazing of livestock on the public lands and from grazing and mineral leasing receipts on Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act lands transferred from the Department of Agriculture by various Executive Orders. These funds are used for the planning, construction, development, and monitoring of range improvements.

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Employment Summary

For administrative expenses and other costs related to processing application documents and other authorizations for use and disposal of public lands and resources, for costs of providing copies of official public land documents, for monitoring construction, operation, and termination of facilities in conjunction with use authorizations, and for rehabilitation of damaged property, such amounts as may be collected under Public Law 94–579 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and under section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185), to remain available until expended: Provided, That, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary of section 305(a) of Public Law 94–579 (43 U.S.C. 1735(a)), any moneys that have been or will be received pursuant to that section, whether as a result of forfeiture, compromise, or settlement, if not appropriate for refund pursuant to section 305(c) of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1735(c)), shall be available and may be expended under the authority of this Act by the Secretary to improve, protect, or rehabilitate any public lands administered through the Bureau of Land Management which have been damaged by the action of a resource developer, purchaser, permittee, or any unauthorized person, without regard to whether all moneys collected from each such action are used on the exact lands damaged which led to the action: Provided further, That any such moneys that are in excess of amounts needed to repair damage to the exact land for which funds were collected may be used to repair other damaged public lands. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

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This appropriation is derived from: 1) revenues received to offset administrative and other costs incurred to process applications for rights-of-way, and the monitoring of construction, operation, and termination of rights-of-ways; 2) recovery of costs associated with the adopt-a-horse program; 3) revenues received for rehabilitation of damages to lands, resources, and facilities; 4) fees for processing specified categories of realty actions under the Federal Land Policy Management Act; 5) deposits received from contractors in lieu of completing contract requirements such as slash burning and timber extension expenses; 6) fees for costs of reproduction and administrative services involved in providing requested copies of materials; 7) fixed fees for energy and minerals lease applications, assignments, and transfers; 8) costs of processing applications and administering permits, including environmental analysis and monitoring of special recreation permits; and 9) rents received for permits to do commercial filming and photography on public lands. The Budget assumes BLM will continue to identify new opportunities to recover costs of services provided to benefiting public land users and reduce the need for direct appropriations from the Treasury.

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Permanent operating funds accounts include:

Operations and maintenance of quarters.—Funds in this account are used to maintain and repair Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employee-occupied quarters from which rental charges are collected. Agencies are required to collect rental charges from employees who occupy Government-owned housing and quarters. This housing is provided only in isolated areas or where an employee is required to live on-site at a Federally owned facility or reservation.

Forest ecosystems health and recovery.—Funds in this account are derived from revenue generated from the Federal share of receipts from the sale of salvage timber from the Oregon and California grant lands, public domain lands, and Coos Bay Wagon Road lands. Pursuant to P.L. 102–381, as amended, this account was established to allow BLM to more efficiently and effectively address forest health issues. Funds can be used for other forest health purposes, including release from competing vegetation and density control treatments. This account will expire on September 30, 2020 under current law.

Timber sale pipeline restoration fund.—This fund provides for the deposit and use of fees collected by BLM for sales of timber authorized by section 2001(k) of P.L. 104–19. Of the total deposited into this account, 75 percent is to be used for the preparation of timber sales to fill the timber pipeline on lands administered by BLM, and 25 percent is to be used to address recreation projects on BLM lands.

Stewardship contract product sales.—Stewardship contracting improves, maintains, or restores forest and rangeland health; restores or maintains water quality; improves fish and wildlife habitat; reestablishes native plant species and increases their resilience to insects and disease; and reduces hazardous fuels that pose risks to communities and ecosystem values. Stewardship contracting authority includes agreements with non-profits, best-value contracts, designation by description, end results, and goods for services.

Expenses, road maintenance deposits.—Users of certain roads under BLM's jurisdiction make deposits for maintenance purposes. Moneys collected are appropriated for necessary road maintenance. Moneys collected on Oregon and California grant lands are available only for those lands (43 U.S.C. 1762(c), 43 U.S.C. 1735(b)).

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, BLM.—The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) was enacted on December 8, 2004, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2005. The FLREA replaced the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program, and most current BLM sites have transitioned to the new program. All receipts collected under this authority are deposited to this account. The BLM returns 100 percent of these receipts back to the site where the fees were generated. The Administration proposes legislation to permanently authorize the recreation fee programs of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture under FLREA. The FLREA is currently set to expire on September 30, 2017.

Operations and acquisitions in Nevada from land sale receipts.—Pursuant to P.L. 105–263, 85 percent of receipts from sales of public domain lands in southern Nevada are used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands in Nevada; make capital improvements to areas administered by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and BLM in Clark County, Nevada; develop a multi-species habitat plan in Clark County, Nevada; develop parks, trails and natural areas and implement other conservation initiatives in Clark County, Nevada; and reimburse BLM for costs incurred arranging sales and exchanges under the Act.

Lincoln County Land Sales Act.—P.L. 106–298 authorizes the Secretary to dispose of certain lands in Lincoln County, Nevada, and distribute the proceeds as follows: five percent to the State of Nevada; 10 percent to the County; and 85 percent to an interest bearing account that is available for expenditure without further appropriation to be used by the Secretary of the Interior to acquire environmentally sensitive lands in the State of Nevada, for identification and management of unique archaeological resources, for development of a multi-species habitat conservation plan in the County, and for other specified administrative purposes.

White Pine County Land Sales Act.—P.L. 109–432 authorizes the Secretary to dispose of certain lands in White Pine County, Nevada, and to distribute the proceeds as follows: five percent to the State of Nevada; 10 percent to the County; and 85 percent to an account that is available for expenditure without further appropriation for the management of archaeological resources, wilderness protection, recreation activities, preparation of a management plan, reimbursement for sale costs, and other purposes.

Leases from Naval Petroleum Reserve No 2.—The 2005 Energy Policy Act established this fund for environmental investigation and restoration on that site located in Kern County, California. A portion of revenue from new leases on the site is authorized to be deposited to this account.

BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund.—The 2005 Energy Policy Act, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act, 2015, established pilot offices to improve interagency coordination in processing onshore Federal oil and gas permits. Fifty-percent of the rents from non-geothermal onshore mineral leases are authorized to be deposited in this fund and used to facilitate BLM oil and gas permit processing in these pilot offices. In addition, in 2016 through 2026, fees collected for processing applications for permits to drill will be deposited to this fund.

Federal land disposal.—The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, P.L. 106–248 (114 Stat. 613), provided authority for BLM to sell public lands that were classified as suitable for disposal under resource management plans in effect at the time of enactment. This law provided that receipts from such sales could be used to acquire non-Federal lands with significant resource values that fall within the boundaries of areas now managed by the Department of the Interior. This authority expired on July 25, 2010, and was later reauthorized through July 25, 2011. All funds not obligated by both expiration dates were transferred to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Budget includes a proposal to reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act. A separate legislative proposal to permanently authorize the LWCF will also be submitted with the Budget.

Owyhee Land Acquisition Account.—The 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, P.L. 111–11 (123 STAT. 1039), provides that the Secretary may sell public land located within the Boise District of BLM that, as of July 25, 2000, was identified for disposal in appropriate resource management plans. Amounts in the account shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, to purchase land or interests in land in, or adjacent to, certain wilderness areas.

Washington County, Utah Land Acquisition Account.—The 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, P.L. 111–11 (123 STAT. 1091), authorizes the sale of public land located within Washington County, Utah, that, as of July 25, 2000, was identified for disposal in appropriate resource management plans. Amounts in the account shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, to purchase land or interests in land in, or adjacent to, certain wilderness areas.

Silver Saddle Endowment Account.—The 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, P.L. 111–11 (123 STAT. 1114), requires Carson City to deposit twenty-five percent of the difference between what the Secretary of the Interior and the City paid for the 62-acre Bernhard parcel before the Secretary conveys the land to the City. Amounts deposited in the account established by paragraph (1) shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, for the oversight and enforcement of a certain conservation easement.

Carson City Special Account.—The 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, P.L. 111–11 (123 STAT. 1113), authorizes the sale of 158 acres of public land described in the statute. Five percent of the proceeds are paid to the State of Nevada for use for public education. The remainder is deposited to this account and used to acquire environmentally sensitive land or an interest in environmentally sensitive land in Carson City; to cover the cost of surveys and appraisals; and to reimburse BLM for administrative expenses.

Ojito Land Acquisition.—The Ojito Wilderness Act authorized the sale of land to the Pueblo Indian Tribe and the purchase of land from willing sellers within the State of New Mexico.

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Miscellaneous permanent payments include:

Payments for Oregon and California and Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands, receipts.—The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (P.L. 106–393), as amended by P.L. 110–343 and by P.L. 112–141, provides annual transition payments to the 18 O&C counties. These payments were derived from revenues from Federal activities on O&C lands in the previous fiscal year that were not deposited to permanent operating funds, supplemented by amounts from the General Fund when necessary. The last payment authorized under P.L. 106–393 was in 2006. Section 601 of Division C of P.L. 110–343 amended and reauthorized the Secure Rural Schools Act (P.L. 106–393). Amendments to P.L. 106–393 retained most provisions of the original Act, but reduced payments each year. Section 10(a) of P.L. 113–40, 127 Stat. 545, provided authorization for 2013, for payments made in 2014. The Secure Rural Schools Act (SRS Act) was reauthorized by section 524 of P.L. 114–10 for two years and signed into law by the President on April 16, 2015. The Budget proposes a five-year reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act with funding through mandatory appropriations beginning in 2017. Counties not opting to receive a portion of the USDA Forest Service payments to communities will receive funds authorized under the 1937 and 1939 statutes. Payments to the Oregon counties under the 1937 statute will be 50 percent of revenues from O&C grant lands. Payments under the 1939 statute are for lost tax revenue in two Oregon counties and are estimated to be 75 percent of all revenues from Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands.

Payments to States (proceeds of sales).—States are paid five percent of the net proceeds from the sale of public land and public land products (31 U.S.C. 1305).

Payments to States from grazing receipts, etc, public lands outside grazing districts.—States are paid 50 percent of the grazing receipts from public lands outside of grazing districts (43 U.S.C. 315i, 315m).

Payments to States from grazing receipts, etc, public lands within districts.—States are paid 12.5 percent of grazing receipts from public lands inside grazing districts (43 U.S.C. 315b, 315i).

Payments to States from grazing receipts, etc, public lands within grazing districts, miscellaneous.—States are paid specifically determined amounts from grazing receipts derived from miscellaneous lands within grazing districts when payment is not feasible on a percentage basis (43 U.S.C. 315).

Payments to counties, National Grasslands.—Of the revenues received from the use of Bankhead-Jones Act lands administered by BLM, 25 percent is paid to the counties in which such lands are situated, for school and road purposes (7 U.S.C. 1012).

Payments to Nevada from receipts on land sales.—(A) P.L. 96–586 authorizes and directs the Secretary to sell not more than 700 acres of public lands per calendar year in and around Las Vegas, Nevada, the proceeds of which are to be used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin of California and Nevada. Annual revenues are distributed to the State of Nevada (five percent) and the county in which the land is located (10 percent). (B) P.L. 105–263, as amended by P.L. 107–282, authorizes the disposal through sale of approximately 49,000 acres in Clark County Nevada, the proceeds of which are to be distributed as follows: a) five percent for use in the general education program of the State of Nevada; b) 10 percent for use by the Southern Nevada Water Authority for water treatment and transmission facility infrastructure in Clark County, Nevada; and c) the remaining 85 percent to a special fund administered by the Secretary of the Interior to be used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands in Nevada; make capital improvements to areas administered by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and BLM in Clark County, Nevada; develop a multi-species habitat plan in Clark County, Nevada; develop parks, trails, and natural areas and implement other conservation initiatives in Clark County, Nevada; and reimburse BLM for costs incurred arranging sales and exchanges under the Act. (C) P.L. 106–298 authorizes the sale of certain lands in Lincoln County, Nevada. The proceeds of these sales are to be distributed as follows: a) five percent to the State of Nevada for general education purposes; b) 10 percent to Lincoln County for general purposes with emphasis on supporting schools; and c) the remaining 85 percent to a special fund administered by the Secretary of the Interior to acquire environmentally sensitive lands in the State of Nevada, for identification and management of unique archaeological resources, for development of a multi-species habitat conservation plan in the county, and for other specified administrative purposes.

Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated Account.—This account received funding appropriated by section 9102 of the fiscal year 1990 Department of Defense Appropriations Act for the acquisition of Federal real properties, improvements on such lands or rights to their use or exploitation, and any personal property related to the land purchased by the Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated as authorized by the provisions of section 12(b) of P.L. 94–204 (43 U.S.C. 1611). The BLM maintains an accounting of the funds used by the Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated to purchase properties.

State 5 Percent Share, Carson City Land Sales.—The 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Public Law 111–11 (123 STAT. 1113), requires that five percent of proceeds from the sale of 158 acres described in the statute shall be paid to the State of Nevada for general public education purposes.

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The Helium Act Amendments of 1960, P.L. 86–777 (50 U.S.C. 167), authorized activities necessary to provide sufficient helium to meet the current and foreseeable future needs of essential government activities. The Helium Privatization Act of 1996 (HPA), P.L. 104–273, provided for the eventual privatization of the program and its functions, specifying that once the helium debt is retired, the Helium Production Fund would be dissolved. The debt was repaid at the beginning of fiscal year 2014. The Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 (HSA), P.L. 113–40, provided for continued operation of the Helium program while facilitating a gradual exit from the helium market. The Helium program consists of: (a) continued storage and transmission of crude helium; (b) oversight of the production of helium on Federal lands; and (c) administration of in-kind and open market crude helium gas sale programs. To minimize impacts to the helium market, the HSA provides a "glide path" from the sales mandated under HPA, increasing the sales price of helium through an auction mechanism and reducing the total volume of helium sold each year, until the amount in storage reaches 3.0 billion cubic feet. At that point, the remaining helium will be reserved for Federal users. Additionally, HSA provides for a hard deadline to sunset the program and sell off the program assets by 2021.

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Section 306 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 authorizes a BLM working capital fund. The fund is managed as a self-sustaining revolving fund for purchase and maintenance of vehicles and equipment, purchase of materials for resource conservation projects, purchase of uniforms, and other business-type functions.

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Trust Funds

In addition to amounts authorized to be expended under existing laws, there is hereby appropriated such amounts as may be contributed under section 307 of Public Law 94–579 (43 U.S.C. 1737), and such amounts as may be advanced for administrative costs, surveys, appraisals, and costs of making conveyances of omitted lands under section 211(b) of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1721(b)), to remain available until expended. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

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Current Trust Funds include:

Land and Resource Management Trust Fund.—Provides for the acceptance of contributed money or services for: 1) resource development, protection, and management; 2) conveyance or acquisition of public lands (including omitted lands or islands) to States, their political subdivisions, or individuals; and 3) conducting cadastral surveys, provided that estimated costs are paid prior to project initiation. (The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1721, 1737).) The Sikes Act of 1974, as amended, provides for acceptance of contributions for conservation, restoration, and management of species and their habitats in cooperation with State wildlife agencies (16 U.S.C. 670 et seq.).

Permanent Trust Funds include:

Range improvements.—Acceptance of contributions for rangeland improvements is authorized by the Taylor Grazing Act (43 U.S.C. 315h and 315i). These funds are permanently appropriated as trust funds to the Secretary for such uses as specified by those Acts.

Public surveys.—Acceptance of contributions for public surveys is authorized by 43 U.S.C. 759, 761, and 31 U.S.C. 1321(a). These contributions are permanently appropriated as trust funds to the Secretary for such uses as specified by those Acts.

Trustee funds, Alaska townsites.—Amounts received from the sale of Alaska town lots are available for expenses incident to the maintenance and sale of townsites (31 U.S.C. 1321; Comp. Gen. Dec. of Nov. 18, 1935).

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

The Bureau of Land Management may carry out the operations funded under this Act by direct expenditure, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and reimbursable agreements with public and private entities, including with States. Appropriations for the Bureau shall be available for purchase, erection, and dismantlement of temporary structures, and alteration and maintenance of necessary buildings and appurtenant facilities to which the United States has title; up to $100,000 for payments, at the discretion of the Secretary, for information or evidence concerning violations of laws administered by the Bureau; miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement activities authorized or approved by the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary's certificate, not to exceed $10,000: Provided, That notwithstanding Public Law 90–620 (44 U.S.C. 501), the Bureau may, under cooperative cost-sharing and partnership arrangements authorized by law, procure printing services from cooperators in connection with jointly produced publications for which the cooperators share the cost of printing either in cash or in services, and the Bureau determines the cooperator is capable of meeting accepted quality standards: Provided further, That projects to be funded pursuant to a written commitment by a State government to provide an identified amount of money in support of the project may be carried out by the Bureau on a reimbursable basis. Appropriations herein made shall not be available for the destruction of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros in the care of the Bureau or its contractors or for the sale of wild horses and burros that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Federal Funds

For expenses necessary for granting leases, easements, rights-of-way and agreements for use for oil and gas, other minerals, energy, and marine-related purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf and approving operations related thereto, as authorized by law; for environmental studies, as authorized by law; for implementing other laws and to the extent provided by Presidential or Secretarial delegation; and for matching grants or cooperative agreements, [$170,857,000] $175,138,000, of which [$74,235,000] $80,194,000, is to remain available until September 30, [2017] 2018 and of which [$96,622,000] $94,944,000 is to remain available until expended: Provided, That this total appropriation shall be reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary and credited to this appropriation from additions to receipts resulting from increases to lease rental rates in effect on August 5, 1993, and from cost recovery fees from activities conducted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including studies, assessments, analysis, and miscellaneous administrative activities: Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced as such collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to result in a final fiscal year [2016] 2017 appropriation estimated at not more than [$74,235,000] $80,194,000: Provided further, That not to exceed $3,000 shall be available for reasonable expenses related to promoting volunteer beach and marine cleanup activities. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages the exploration and development of the nation's offshore energy and marine mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These marine resources include vast deposits of oil and natural gas, non-energy minerals, as well as renewable resources such as offshore wind, wave and ocean currents. BOEM's goal is to balance economic development, energy security, and environmental protection through responsible and transparent management of offshore resources based on the best available science. In carrying out this mission, the Bureau manages a range of OCS activities. For offshore oil and gas , this includes conducting resource assessments; planning for the timing and location of OCS areas that will be offered for leasing; conducting lease sales ; permitting geological and geophysical activities; reviewing and approving exploration and development plans; and conducting environmental reviews at multiple steps in the process. In addition, BOEM supports planning, leasing, and permitting for OCS renewable energy development, as well as managing OCS sand and gravel resources.

The Ocean Energy Management account includes the following budget activities: Renewable Energy, Conventional Energy, Environmental Programs, and Executive Direction.

Renewable Energy.—Oversees renewable energy program development and implementation, including: identification of wind energy areas; environmental and compliance work; issuance of offshore renewable energy leases; review of site assessment, construction, and operation plans; and consultation with state and local governments, Federal agencies, and other stakeholders.

Conventional Energy.—Supports OCS oil and gas leasing, including development of the Five Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program; conducting lease sales; administering leases; reviewing exploration and development plans; conducting technical and economic resource evaluation; and engaging in planning activities involving minerals other than oil and gas.

Environmental Programs.—Develops the environmental impact statements and environmental assessments needed to consider the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions in accordance with the National Environmental Protection Act, the OCS Lands Act, and numerous other environmental statutes, regulations, and executive orders. Also conducts specific studies that address information needs associated with both conventional and renewable energy leasing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Executive Direction.—Funds bureau-wide leadership, management, coordination, and outreach. This includes budget management, congressional and public affairs, and program policy and analysis.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For expenses necessary for the regulation of operations related to leases, easements, rights-of-way and agreements for use for oil and gas, other minerals, energy, and marine-related purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf, as authorized by law; for enforcing and implementing laws and regulations as authorized by law and to the extent provided by Presidential or Secretarial delegation; and for matching grants or cooperative agreements, [$124,772,000] $124,968,000, of which [$67,565,000] $81,438,000 is to remain available until September 30, [2017] 2018 and of which [$57,207,000] $43,530,000 is to remain available until expended: Provided, That this total appropriation shall be reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary and credited to this appropriation from additions to receipts resulting from increases to lease rental rates in effect on August 5, 1993, and from cost recovery fees from activities conducted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including studies, assessments, analysis, and miscellaneous administrative activities: Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced as such collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to result in a final fiscal year [2016] 2017 appropriation estimated at not more than [$67,565,000] $81,438,000.

For an additional amount, $65,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary and credited to this appropriation, which shall be derived from non-refundable inspection fees collected in fiscal year [2016] 2017, as provided in this Act: Provided, That to the extent that amounts realized from such inspection fees exceed $65,000,000, the amounts realized in excess of $65,000,000 shall be credited to this appropriation and remain available until expended: Provided further, That for fiscal year [2016] 2017, not less than 50 percent of the inspection fees expended by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement will be used to fund personnel and mission-related costs to expand capacity and expedite the orderly development, subject to environmental safeguards, of the Outer Continental Shelf pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), including the review of applications for permits to drill. (Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) was established on October 1, 2011, to ensure the safe and responsible development of our Nation's offshore energy resources. BSEE's continued focus is on safety and goes beyond simple compliance with regulations towards the adoption, by both industry and regulators, of a meaningful safety culture that permeates all offshore activities. The Bureau is responsible for the oversight of exploration, development, and production operations for oil and natural gas on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE) account is BSEE's primary operating account and funds the following activities: Operations, Safety, and Regulation; Environmental Enforcement; Administrative Operations; and Executive Direction.

Operations, Safety, and Regulation. Funds safety activities associated with OCS oil and gas development plans and permits, including drilling permit application reviews; conducts facility inspections, including overseeing critical high-risk activities and identifying incidences of noncompliance with safety requirements; ensures offshore operators comply with oil spill planning and preparedness requirements; conducts accident investigations; oversees operator training and audit programs; conducts annual operator performance reviews; conducts research on emerging energy development technologies; and performs inspection verification of oil and gas production levels to help ensure the public receives a fair return from the sale of these public resources.

Environmental Enforcement. Funds environmental compliance activities related to issuing permits; inspections of environmental measures and enforcement of incidences of noncompliance, and monitoring industry compliance with mitigation and other environmental requirements through office and field inspections.

Administrative Operations. Funds general administration and ethics programs, equal employment opportunity services, emergency management, finance, human resources, procurement, and information management. This activity also provides a full range of administrative and information management services to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), as well as select services to other Departmental entities.

Executive Direction. Funds bureau-wide leadership, direction, management, coordination, communications strategies, and outreach. This includes functions such as budget, congressional and public affairs, and policy and program analysis.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)