Oil and gas drilling permit fees on federal land extended to 2037

What does this do?

HR 7831 extends the deadline for collecting oil and gas permit application fees on federal public land from 2026 to 2037. Starting in 2027, all collected fees will go into the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund, replacing the previous split arrangement where only part of the fees entered that fund.

Who does it affect?

Oil and gas companies seeking to drill on federal land pay the application fees and are directly affected. The Bureau of Land Management, which reviews and processes those permits, receives the consolidated fee revenue under this bill.

Why does it matter?

Routing all fees into the processing fund could change how quickly the BLM is able to review permit applications. The pace of permit processing affects oil and gas companies, as well as people who live near or use federal public lands where drilling may occur.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Companies pay fees per permit application
• All fees to BLM fund from 2027 to 2037
• Prior law split fees among multiple uses