16 USC § 3149 - Oil and gas lease applications

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s3149"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 3149 - Oil and gas lease applications"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "3149"
section_name: "Oil and gas lease applications"
chapter_number: 51
chapter_name: "ALASKA NATIONAL INTEREST LANDS CONSERVATION"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "FEDERAL NORTH SLOPE LANDS STUDIES, OIL AND GAS LEASING PROGRAM AND MINERAL ASSESSMENTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 96–487, title X, § 1009, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2456.)"
---


# § 3149. Oil and gas lease applications

**(a)** **Lands within National Wildlife Refuge System but not part of National Wilderness Preservation System** 30 U.S.C. 181

Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, whenever the Secretary receives an application for an oil and gas lease pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 [ et seq.] for lands in Alaska within a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System which are not also part of the national Wilderness Preservation System he shall, in addition to any other requirements of applicable law, follow the procedures set forth in this section.

**(b)** **Statement of reasons for decision to issue or not to issue lease** Any decision to issue or not to issue a lease shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the reasons for the decision, including the reasons why oil and gas leasing would be compatible or incompatible with the purposes of the refuge.

**(c)** **Environmental impact statement** section 4332(2)(C) of title 42

If the Secretary determines that the requirements of  do not apply to his decision, the Secretary shall render his decision within six months after receipt of a lease application. If such requirements are applicable to the Secretary’s decision, he shall render his decision within three months after publication of the final environmental impact statement.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 96–487, title X, § 1009, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2456.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, referred to in subsec. (a), is , , known as the Mineral Leasing Act, which is classified generally to chapter 3A (§ 181 et seq.) of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.