[20200522]IN11380_海上特许权使用费减免：2019冠状病毒疾病大流行期间的状况.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Offshore Royalty Relief: Status During the COVID-19 Pandemic Updated May 22, 2020 U.S. oil and gas producers face financial challenges stemming from demand reduction, oversupply, and commodity price drops during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Members of Congress have asked the Department of the Interior (DOI) to offer royalty relief on federal oil and gas leasesa temporary reduction or waiver of the royalties that companies pay the federal government on production from these leases. Some other Members have opposed a comprehensive royalty relief program for federal oil and gas producers. DOI has stated that affected producers may apply for royalty relief individually using existing options, clarifying that the Department does not plan to pursue a new program of blanket royalty relief at this time. Existing Offshore Royalty Relief Options For offshore oil and gas production, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA; 43 U.S.C 1337(a)(3) broadly authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to reduce or eliminate royalties in order to “promote increased production on the lease area.” The law also contains provisi