A bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to extend the period of time during which the Secretary of the Interior is required to collect a fee for each new application for a permit to drill, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lee

Bills extends the period during which the Interior Department must collect a fee for each new permit-to-drill application on federal lands.

Introduced in Senate

Overview

S. 5039 is a bill introduced in the United States Senate during the 119th Congress. Its central aim is to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to extend the period during which the Secretary of the Interior is required to collect a fee for each new application for a permit to drill (APD). The bill has a sponsor and at least one co-sponsor (Sen. Mike Lee).

Purpose and intent

Primary purpose: Extend the statutory window during which a fee must be collected by the Department of the Interior for each new APD application for oil and gas leasing on federal lands.

Policy goal (as inferred from the title): Maintain or modify the fee collection requirement related to permit-to-drill applications, potentially providing continued funding or administrative support tied to the permitting process.

Key provisions and changes (as currently drafted)

Amendment to the Mineral Leasing Act (specific sections not provided in the summary).

Extension of the time period during which the Secretary of the Interior is required to collect a fee for each new APD application.

Likely preserves the existing framework for APD-related fees, but extends the duration of mandatory fee collection.

The bill may impact associated fees, collection timelines, and related administrative processes for drilling permit applications on federal lands.

Note: The exact numerical details (e.g., the length of the extension, the amount of the fee, or any sunset/renewal provisions) are not specified in the provided summary.

Who/what would be affected

The Department of the Interior, particularly the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (for offshore) and other Interior units that administer onshore federal mineral leasing and permitting.

Applicants seeking permits to drill for oil and gas on federal lands (oil, gas, and related mineral resources).

Potentially, states or tribal entities involved in mineral development if they interact with the federal permitting framework.

Federal government revenue streams tied to APD fees, if the extension changes fee collection amounts or timing.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative action: Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (as of the provided history).

Action history: Read twice and referred to committee on July 21, 2026.

Next steps (typical): Committee review, potential markup, and either reporting the bill back to the Senate with amendments or placing it on the calendar for floor action; potential passage in the Senate, then movement to the House of Representatives, and subsequent conference if necessary.

Potential impacts and considerations

Fiscal impact: Extending fee collection could affect funding for administration of the APD process, potentially increasing or stabilizing Revenue-Fund support for interior permitting activities.

Regulatory impact: Could influence the cost and timing of filing APD applications for developers and lessees.

Economic considerations: The extension of a permit fee could alter project economics for drilling proposals on federal lands, depending on the fee amount and how long the extension lasts.

If more detailed language becomes available (specific sections, fee amounts, sunset dates, or transition rules), I can provide a more precise itemized analysis of provisions and fiscal implications.