Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73

§1713 Required recordkeeping

Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 29— - OIL AND GAS ROYALTY MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - FEDERAL ROYALTY MANAGEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT › § 1713

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

People who are directly involved in developing, producing, transporting, buying, or selling oil or gas up to the later of the first sale or the point where royalties are figured must keep records, make reports, and give any information the Secretary requires by rule. If a federal official, a State, or an Indian tribe asks while doing an audit or investigation, those records must be available for inspection and copying. Records for leases on Federal land, Indian land, or the Outer Continental Shelf must be kept for 6 years after they are created. If the Secretary tells you an audit or investigation has started, you must keep the records longer until the Secretary says you can stop.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §1713

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A lessee, operator, or other person directly involved in developing, producing, transporting, purchasing, or selling oil or gas subject to this chapter through the point of first sale or the point of royalty computation, whichever is later, shall establish and maintain any records, make any reports, and provide any information that the Secretary may, by rule, reasonably require for the purposes of implementing this chapter or determining compliance with rules or orders under this chapter. Upon the request of any officer or employee duly designated by the Secretary or any State or Indian tribe conducting an audit or investigation pursuant to this chapter, the appropriate records, reports, or information which may be required by this section shall be made available for inspection and duplication by such officer or employee, State, or Indian tribe.

(b)Records required by the Secretary with respect to oil and gas leases from Federal or Indian lands or the Outer Continental Shelf shall be maintained for 6 years after the records are generated unless the Secretary notifies the record holder that he has initiated an audit or investigation involving such records and that such records must be maintained for a longer period. In any case when an audit or investigation is underway, records shall be maintained until the Secretary releases the record holder of the obligation to maintain such records.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 1713

Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73