Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73not60

§1713 Required Recordkeeping

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

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

People who directly develop, produce, transport, buy, or sell oil or gas up to the later of the first sale or the point where royalties are figured must create and keep the records, reports, and information the Secretary reasonably requires by rule. If the Secretary—or a State or Indian tribe doing an audit or investigation—requests them, those records must be shown and copied. Records for oil and gas from Federal or Indian lands or the Outer Continental Shelf must be kept for 6 years after they are made, unless the Secretary tells the holder an audit or investigation has started and they must keep them longer. Records must be kept until the Secretary releases the holder from that duty.

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 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60