Surface Estate Owner Notification Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 26, 2009

Surface Estate Owner Notification Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, at least 45 days before the sale of a lease under the Mineral Leasing Act for development of U.S.-owned oil and gas resources (including coalbed methane), to submit a written notice to the surface estate owner of the land subject to the lease.

Requires such a notice to include information on split estates and the rights and responsibilities of landowners.

Requires the Secretary to notify the surface estate owner of: (1) the lessee's identity by 10 working days after a lease is issued; (2) any subsequent decisions regarding a lease, such as modification or waiver of stipulations and approval of rights of way; and (3) the issuance of the drilling permit within five days afterwards.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Mar 26, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 26, 2009
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Mar 26, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.719 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.719, 111th Congress: Surface Estate Owner Notification Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/719

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s719/BILLS-111s719is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.719 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Examine S.719 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.719, 111th Congress: Surface Estate Owner Notification Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/719

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s719/BILLS-111s719is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.719 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine S.719 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.719, 111th Congress: Surface Estate Owner Notification Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/719

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s719/BILLS-111s719is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

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Discuss S.719, 111th Congress: Surface Estate Owner Notification Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/719

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s719/BILLS-111s719is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.719 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.