Pub. L. 100-446, tit. I, sec. 117

Sec. 117. Within currently available funds, the Secretary of the Interior is directed immediately to appoint and compensate an independent third party factfinder mutually agreed upon by the Secretary and the Governor of Louisiana, to make all appropriate factual findings relating to past drainage on State and Federal leases occurring along the boundary of the State of Louisiana and Federal waters. Such factual findings shall include— (a) whether drainage of either United States or State hydro-carbons has occurred during the time period starting April 7, 1986 and ending on the date the factfinding proceeding is completed; (b) the areas or reservoirs from which the drainage occurred; (c) the quantity of recoverable hydrocarbons, determined on a volumetric basis, originally in place within such areas or reservoirs prior to any production therefrom; (d) the respective percentages of such recoverable hydro-carbons within the Federal and State portions of such areas or reservoirs; 102 STAT. 1803 (e) the total accumulated volume of any net drainage from each area or reservoir, including the value thereof (together with a description of the method for determining such value) and all production costs incurred during that period; (f) the net dollar impact to the United States, United States lessees, the State of Louisiana, and the State lessees that has resulted from any such drainage from each area or reservoir; (g) the proper allocation of production from each field from all time periods starting April 7, 1986; and (h) the proper prospective allocation of production from the fields involved. Within 180 days of the date of enactment of this Act, the third party factfinder shall submit a written report containing the factual findings to the Secretary, the Governor of Louisiana, and the Congressional Committees of jurisdiction. The Secretary shall then prepare a plan 60 days after receipt of the written report regarding options for the potential redistribution of royalty receipts, if war-ranted by the findings of this written report.