January 28, 2025
Mr. Arrington (for himself, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Maloy, Mr. Moore of Utah, and Mr. Owens) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To direct the Director of the Bureau of Land Management and the Chief of the United States Forest Service to conduct a study of onshore mineral values and the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to conduct a study of offshore mineral values.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Abundant American Resources Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Onshore and offshore mineral value studies
(a) Onshore mineral study
Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this section—
(1)
the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall complete (including through a contract with a private entity) a study to determine the dollar value of liquid, gaseous, locatable, leasable, and salable minerals present in each covered onshore area under the jurisdiction of the Director; and
(2)
the Chief of the Forest Service, shall complete (including through a contract with a private entity) a study to determine the dollar value of liquid, gaseous, and locatable minerals present in each covered onshore area under the jurisdiction of the Chief.
(b) Offshore mineral study
Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management shall complete (including through a contract with a private entity) a study to determine the dollar value of liquid, gaseous, and locatable minerals present in each covered offshore area under the jurisdiction of the Director.
(c) Included and excluded areas
The studies required under subsections (a) and (b) shall—
(1)
include co-managed areas; and
(2)
exclude—
(A)
any unit of the National Park System; and
(B)
any national monument designated as an area of critical environmental concern before January 1, 2000.
(d) Definitions
In this section—
(1)
the term area of critical environmental concern
means an area that meets all of the criteria identified under section 1610.7–2(d) of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations;
(2)
the term co-managed area
means an area that is under the jurisdiction of two or more Federal agencies;
(3)
the term covered onshore area
means—
(A)
a national monument—
(i)
that is not a marine national monument; and
(ii)
that was designated after December 31, 1999;
(B)
an area of critical environmental concern; and
(C)
an area that has been withdrawn from—
(i)
entry under the general mining laws; or
(ii)
operation of the mineral leasing and mineral materials laws;
(4)
the term covered offshore area
means—
(A)
a marine national monument;
(B)
an offshore area that has been withdrawn from—
(i)
entry under the general mining laws; or
(ii)
operation of the mineral leasing and mineral materials laws; and
(C)
an offshore area that is otherwise designated as an area under moratorium;
(5)
the term liquid minerals
includes crude oil; and
(6)
the term gaseous minerals
includes natural gas.