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136 STAT. 2057 PUBLIC LAW 117–169—AUG. 16, 2022 striking ‘‘$1.50 per acre’’ and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting ‘‘$3 per acre per year during the 2-year period beginning on the date the lease begins for new leases, and after the end of that 2-year period, $5 per acre per year for the following 6-year period, and not less than $15 per acre per year thereafter, or, in the case of a lease issued during the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Act titled ‘An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14’, $3 per acre per year during the 2-year period beginning on the date the lease begins, and after the end of that 2-year period, $5 per acre per year for the following 6-year period, and $15 per acre per year thereafter.’’. (2) RENTALS IN REINSTATED LEASES.—Section 31(e)(2) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 188(e)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘$10’’ and inserting ‘‘$20’’. (d) EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FEE.—Section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(q) FEE FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall assess a nonrefund- able fee against any person that, in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary to carry out this subsection, sub- mits an expression of interest in leasing land available for disposition under this section for exploration for, and develop- ment of, oil or gas. ‘‘(2) AMOUNT OF FEE.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the fee assessed under paragraph (1) shall be $5 per acre of the area covered by the applicable expression of interest. ‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENT OF FEE.—The Secretary shall, by regulation, not less frequently than every 4 years, adjust the amount of the fee under subparagraph (A) to reflect the change in inflation.’’. (e) ELIMINATION OF NONCOMPETITIVE LEASING.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226) is amended— (A) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1)(A)— (I) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘para- graphs (2) and (3) of this subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’; and (II) by striking the last sentence; and (ii) by striking paragraph (3); (B) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the fol- lowing: ‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING.—Land made available for leasing under subsection (b)(1) for which no bid is accepted or received, or the land for which a lease terminates, expires, is cancelled, or is relinquished, may be made available by the Secretary of the Interior for a new round of competitive bidding under that subsection.’’; and (C) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the fol- lowing: ‘‘(e) TERM OF LEASE.— Regulation. Assessment. VerDate Sep 11 2014 15:35 Oct 25, 2022 Jkt 029139 PO 00169 Frm 00241 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL169.117 PUBL169 jmbennett on LAP3P8D0R2PROD with Publaw