Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 to revise and expand the guidelines under which the authorities of the Secretary of the Interior for collection of oil and gas receipts and related activities may be delegated to a State upon its request. Provides for judicial review of any Secretarial action to approve or disapprove a State proposal.
Sets a seven-year statute of limitations for any judicial proceeding or demand arising from a royalty obligation. Prescribes procedural guidelines for Secretarial and delegated States' actions and limitation periods, including royalty adjustments and refunds.
Sets forth royalty terms, interest on royalty overpayments (except deliberate, excessive overpayments whose sole purpose is to receive such interest), penalties, and assessments.
Prescribes procedural guidelines under which the Secretary and the State concerned shall jointly determine on a case by case basis the amount of production from marginal properties that shall be subject to prepayment or regulatory relief. Permits the Secretary's sole determination if the royalty payments are not shared with any State.
Renders inapplicable except to Indian leases: (1) the current statute of limitations governing the recovery of penalties; and (2) the Secretary's authority to enter into cooperative agreements with any State (or Indian tribe) with respect to oil or gas royalty activities.
Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to repeal the guidelines governing refunds or credit granted to a lessee for excess payments.
Excludes Indian lands and privately owned minerals from the purview of this Act.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 7.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 104-667.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 104-667.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 341.
Mr. Calvert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7597-7607)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 500.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9675-9678)
Enacted as Public Law 104-185
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Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9675-9678)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 104-185.
Became Public Law No: 104-185.