42 U.S.C. § 15922 — Consultation regarding oil and gas leasing on public land

(a) In general: Within 180 days of August 8, 2005, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture had to sign a memorandum of understanding covering oil and gas leasing on (1) public land the Interior Department manages, and (2) National Forest System land the Agriculture Department manages. (b) Contents: That agreement must (1) set up clear administrative steps and lines of authority for promptly handling lease applications, surface use plans (including the steps for processing them), and drilling permit applications on schedule; (2) cut down on duplicated work by coordinating planning and environmental review between the two agencies; (3) make sure lease conditions are applied consistently, coordinated between the agencies, and no more restrictive than necessary to protect the resource they are meant to protect; (4) create a shared data system that tracks applications and formal requests and shows their status across both departments; and (5) create a shared mapping system, using geographic information technology, to track surface resource values for land management and to help process surface use plans and drilling permit applications.