ORIGINALSJ0001SS001 SENATEPage ENGROSSED2-lines JOINT15 RESOLUTION.through 23 Delete entirely.

SJ00013 ENROLLEDPages JOINT3 RESOLUTIONthrough NO.6 Delete entirely.

1,5 SENATEPage SIXTY-EIGHTH7-lines LEGISLATURE1 OFthrough THE14 STATEDelete OFentirely. WYOMING BUDGET SESSION A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to introduce a bill and enact law to amend the federal Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the state of Wyoming to administer and manage mineral leasing on federal lands located in Wyoming.

WHEREAS,7 inPage 1920,8-lines Congress12 enactedthrough into22 lawDelete theentirely. Mineral Leasing Act, which authorizes the leasing of federal lands for the exploration and development of minerals owned by the United States;

and9 WHEREAS,Page the10-lines Mineral14 Leasingthrough Act18 governsDelete energyentirely minerals, including oil, gas and coalinsert: and solid leasable minerals, including phosphate, potassium, sodium and oil shale;

and"Section WHEREAS,1. the Mineral Leasing Act authorizes the United States Secretary of Interior (Secretary) to lease and regulate the development of minerals owned by the United States;

and(a) WHEREAS,That the SecretaryWyoming delegatedLegislature authorityrequests underthat Congress enact legislation amending the federal Mineral LeasingRoyalty Act to authorize the BureauUnited States secretary of Landthe Managementinterior (BLM),to aenter federalinto agencycooperative thatagreements iswith partthe state of Wyoming under which the Unitedstate Statesmay, Departmentat ofits Interior;election and subject to federal approval, assume administrative primacy for mineral leasing on specified federal lands located within Wyoming.

and WHEREAS, the BLM administers the leasing program for minerals on federal lands, including federal lands controlled by the BLM and federal lands under the jurisdiction of other federal agencies;

and WHEREAS, the federal administration of mineral leasing on federal lands in Wyoming over the past ten (10) years has been inconsistent, unpredictable and subject to political delays that negatively impact Wyoming's economy, energy industry and citizens;

and ORIGINAL SENATE ENGROSSED JOINT RESOLUTION.

SJ0001 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

1, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION WHEREAS, the federal administration of mineral leasing has been subject to prolonged leasing moratoriums, regulatory uncertainty and delayed environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act that have resulted in a decrease in mineral activity on federal lands within Wyoming;

and WHEREAS, even after federal lands in Wyoming are leased, the federal government retains legal title to the federal lands and the federal government receives money from sales, bonuses, royalties and rentals from federal mineral leasing;

and WHEREAS, Wyoming's management of mineral leasing on state lands demonstrates that Wyoming can adequately and efficiently manage and administer mineral leasing on federal lands;

and WHEREAS, Wyoming possesses an unparalleled understanding of land within its borders, making Wyoming better equipped than the federal government to administer and manage mineral leasing on federal lands located within the state;

and WHEREAS, Wyoming could administer and manage mineral leasing on federal lands located within the state more efficiently and at a lower cost than the federal government;

and WHEREAS, Wyoming has knowledge of the state's unique terrain, geology, wildlife habitats and ecosystems, which enables Wyoming to assess site-specific environmental impacts more accurately and quickly and tailor leasing decisions to local conditions;

and WHEREAS, Wyoming's state agencies are in constant communication with local governments, landowners and industry ORIGINAL SENATE ENGROSSED JOINT RESOLUTION.

SJ0001 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

1, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION stakeholders, which would result in a more responsive, efficient and balanced decision making process regarding mineral leasing and in a manner that reflects Wyoming's policies and priorities;

and WHEREAS, authorizing Wyoming to administer and manage mineral leasing of federal minerals not only respects the principles of federalism and local control but also ensures that decisions are made by those who know the land best and are most invested in its long-term sustainability.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

(a) That the Wyoming Legislature requests that Congress enact legislation amending the federal Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the United States secretary of the interior to enter into cooperative agreements with the state of Wyoming under which the state may, at its election and subject to federal approval, assume administrative primacy for mineral leasing on specified federal lands located within Wyoming.

(ii) RequirePreserve statefederal administrationownership toof bethe consistentlands withand applicablethe federalunderlying lawmineral unlessestate; otherwise expressly provided by Congress;

ORIGINAL(iii) SENATERequire ENGROSSEDstate JOINTadministration RESOLUTION.to be consistent with applicable federal law unless otherwise expressly provided by Congress;

SJ0001(iv) ENROLLEDAllow JOINTthe RESOLUTIONstate NO.and the secretary of the interior to modify or terminate any cooperative agreement by mutual consent;

1,and SENATE(v) SIXTY-EIGHTHProvide LEGISLATUREfor OFrevenue THEdistribution STATEconsistent OFwith WYOMINGexisting BUDGETfederal SESSIONstatutory (iii)formulas, Allowprovided thethat, statefor andmineral resources developed on lands designated under a cooperative agreement with the secretarystate of Wyoming, the interiortwo topercent modify(2%) oradministrative terminatecost anydeduction cooperativeauthorized agreementunder by30 mutualU.S.C. consent;

and§ (iv)191(b) Provideshall forbe revenueallocated distributionto consistentand withretained federalby statutory formulas, provided that, for mineral resources developed on lands designated under a cooperative agreement with the state of Wyoming,Wyoming thein twolieu percentof (2%)retention administrativeby costthe deductionUnited authorizedStates undergovernment.". 30 U.S.C.

§ANDERSON, 191(b)CHAIRMAN shall1 be allocated to and retained by the state of Wyoming in lieu of retention by the United States government.

ORIGINAL SENATE ENGROSSED JOINT RESOLUTION.

SJ0001 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

1, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION Section 2.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation and to each member of the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners.

(END) Speaker of the House President of the Senate Governor TIME APPROVED:

_________ DATE APPROVED:

_________ I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk 5