BLM Announces Annual Adjustment to Drilling Permit Fee
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As directed by Congress, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be adjusting the fee it charges to process oil and gas drilling permits on public and Indian lands for inflation effective October 1, 2016. That adjustment will increase the fee charged for such permits by $110 to $9,610.
The non-refundable processing fee will be collected when an oil and gas operator submits a drilling permit (called an Application for Permit to Drill), and is required whether or not a particular permit is subsequently approved. Congress directed the BLM to adjust the APD fee annually for inflation over 10 years as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.
To carry out this statutory requirement, the BLM has issued guidance to its field offices regarding the collection and handling of APD fees in the current fiscal year. The new guidance largely tracks prior guidance with respect to collection and handling policies such as when the fee is required; when the BLM will begin processing the APD; and acceptable forms of payment.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.