§ 15924. Pilot project to improve Federal permit coordination
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish a Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project (referred to in this section as the “Pilot Project”).
(b)
Memorandum of understanding
(c)
Designation of qualified staff
(1)
In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding under subsection (b), all Federal signatory parties shall, if appropriate, assign to each of the field offices identified in subsection (d) an employee who has expertise in the regulatory issues relating to the office in which the employee is employed, including, as applicable, particular expertise in—
(2)
Duties
Each employee assigned under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
not later than 90 days after the date of assignment, report to the Bureau of Land Management Field Managers in the office to which the employee is assigned;
(d)
Field offices
The following Bureau of Land Management Field Offices shall serve as the Pilot Project offices:
(e)
Reports
Not later than 3 years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that—
(f)
Additional personnel
The Secretary shall assign to each field office identified in subsection (d) any additional personnel that are necessary to ensure the effective implementation of—
(h)
Transfer of funds
For the purposes of coordination and processing of oil and gas use authorizations on Federal land under the administration of the Pilot Project offices identified in subsection (d), the Secretary may authorize the expenditure or transfer of such funds as are necessary to—
(i)
Fees
During the period in which the Pilot Project is authorized, the Secretary shall not implement a rulemaking that would enable an increase in fees to recover additional costs related to processing drilling-related permit applications and use authorizations.