80_FR_58814 80 FR 58625 - Minerals Management: Adjustment of Cost Recovery Fees

80 FR 58625 - Minerals Management: Adjustment of Cost Recovery Fees

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 189 (September 30, 2015)

Page Range58625-58630
FR Document2015-24699

This final rule amends the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mineral resources regulations to update some fees that cover the BLM's cost of processing certain documents relating to its minerals programs and some filing fees for mineral-related documents. These updated fees include those for actions such as lease renewals and mineral patent adjudications.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58625-58630]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24699]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 3000

[L13100000 PP0000 LLWO310000]
RIN 1004-AE44


Minerals Management: Adjustment of Cost Recovery Fees

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
mineral resources regulations to update some fees that cover the BLM's 
cost of processing certain documents relating to its minerals programs 
and some filing fees for mineral-related documents. These updated fees 
include those for actions such as lease renewals and mineral patent 
adjudications.

DATES: This final rule is effective October 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may send inquiries or suggestions to Director (630), 
Bureau of Land Management, 2134LM, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 
20240; Attention: RIN 1004-AE44.

[[Page 58626]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Wells, Chief, Division of Fluid 
Minerals, 202-912-7143; Mitchell Leverette, Chief, Division of Solid 
Minerals, 202-912-7113; or Mark Purdy, Regulatory Affairs, 202-912-
7635. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may leave a message for these individuals with the Federal Information 
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The BLM has specific authority to charge fees for processing 
applications and other documents relating to public lands under section 
304 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 
U.S.C. 1734. In 2005, the BLM published a final cost recovery rule (70 
FR 58854) establishing or revising certain fees and service charges, 
and establishing the method it would use to adjust those fees and 
service charges on an annual basis.
    At 43 CFR 3000.12(a), the regulations provide that the BLM will 
annually adjust fees established in Subchapter C (43 CFR parts 3000-
3900) according to changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross 
Domestic Product (IPD-GDP), which is published quarterly by the U.S. 
Department of Commerce. See also 43 CFR 3000.10. This final rule will 
allow the BLM to update these fees and service charges by October 1 of 
this year, as required by the 2005 regulation. The fee recalculations 
are based on a mathematical formula. The public had an opportunity to 
comment on this procedure during the comment period on the 2005 cost 
recovery rule, and this new rule administers the procedure set forth in 
those regulations. Therefore, the BLM has changed the fees in this 
final rule without providing opportunity for additional notice and 
comment. See 43 CFR 3000.10(c). Accordingly, the Department of the 
Interior for good cause finds under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and (d)(3) that 
notice and public comment procedures are unnecessary and that the rule 
may be effective less than 30 days after publication.

II. Discussion of Final Rule

    The BLM publishes a fee update rule each year, which becomes 
effective on October 1 of that year. The fee updates are based on the 
change in the IPD-GDP from the 4th Quarter of one calendar year to the 
4th Quarter of the following calendar year. This fee update rule is 
based on the change in the IPD-GDP from the 4th Quarter of 2013 to the 
4th Quarter of 2014, thus reflecting the rate of inflation over four 
calendar quarters.
    The fee is calculated by applying the IPD-GDP to the base value 
from the previous year's rule, also known as the ``existing value.'' 
This calculation results in an updated base value. The updated base 
value is then rounded to the closest multiple of $5 for fees equal to 
or greater than $1, or to the nearest cent for fees under $1, to 
establish the new fee.
    Under this rule, 34 fees will remain the same and 14 fees will 
increase. Of the fees that will be increased, 12 of the fee increases 
will amount to $5 each. The largest increase, $40, will be applied to 
the fee for adjudicating a mineral patent application containing more 
than 10 claims, and will increase the fee from $3,035 to $3,075. The 
fee for adjudicating a patent application containing 10 or fewer claims 
will increase by $15, from $1,520 to $1,535.
    The calculations that resulted in the new fees are included in the 
table below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Fixed cost recovery fees FY16
---------------------------------  Existing fee   Existing value      IPD-GDP      New value \4\    New fee \5\
         Document/action                \1\             \2\        Increase \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease application            $405       $403.6113         $5.0451       $408.6565         $410
Competitive lease application...             155        156.6327          1.9579        158.5906          160
Assignment and transfer of                    90         90.3565          1.1295         91.4859           90
 record title or operating
 rights.........................
Overriding royalty transfer,                  10         12.0454          0.1506         12.1960           10
 payment out of production......
Name change, corporate merger or             210        210.8318          2.6354        213.4672          215
 transfer to heir/devisee.......
Lease consolidation.............             445        445.7650          5.5721        451.3371          450
Lease renewal or exchange.......             405        403.6113          5.0451        408.6565          410
Lease reinstatement, Class I....              80         78.3005          0.9788         79.2793           80
Leasing under right-of-way......             405        403.6113          5.0451        408.6565          410
Geophysical exploration permit                25  ..............  ..............  ..............           25
 application--Alaska \6\........
Renewal of exploration permit--               25  ..............  ..............  ..............           25
 Alaska \7\.....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Geothermal (part 3200)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease application             405        403.6113          5.0451        408.6565          410
Competitive lease application...             155        156.6327          1.9579        158.5906          160
Assignment and transfer of                    90         90.3565          1.1295         91.4859           90
 record title or operating right
Name change, corporate merger or             210        210.8318          2.6354        213.4672          215
 transfer to heir/devisee.......
Lease consolidation.............             445        445.7650          5.5721        451.3371          450
Lease reinstatement.............              80         78.3005          0.9788         79.2793           80
Nomination of lands.............             115        112.7688          1.4096        114.1784          115
Plus per acre nomination fee....            0.11         0.11277         0.00141         0.11418            0.11
Site license application........              60         60.2377          0.7530         60.9906           60
Assignment or transfer of site                60         60.2377          0.7530         60.9906           60
 license........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Coal (parts 3400, 3470)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
License to mine application.....              10         12.0454          0.1506         12.1960           10
Exploration license application.             330        331.3177          4.1415        335.4592          335
Lease or lease interest transfer              65         66.2762          0.8285         67.1047           65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 58627]]

 
                   Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications other than those                 35         36.1468          0.4518         36.5987           35
 listed below...................
Prospecting permit amendment....              65         66.2762          0.8285         67.1047           65
Extension of prospecting permit.             110        108.4299          1.3554        109.7853          110
Lease modification or fringe                  30         30.1294          0.3766         30.5060           30
 acreage lease..................
Lease renewal...................             520        518.0692          6.4759        524.5451          525
Assignment, sublease, or                      30         30.1294          0.3766         30.5060           30
 transfer of operating rights...
Transfer of overriding royalty..              30         30.1294          0.3766         30.5060           30
Use permit......................              30         30.1294          0.3766         30.5060           30
Shasta and Trinity hardrock                   30         30.1294          0.3766         30.5060           30
 mineral lease..................
Renewal of existing sand and                  30         30.1294          0.3766         30.5060           30
 gravel lease in Nevada.........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Multiple Use; Mining (Group 3700)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of protest of placer                   10         12.0454          0.1506         12.1960           10
 mining operations..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application to open lands to                  10         12.0454          0.1506         12.1960           10
 location.......................
Notice of Location..............              20         18.0629          0.2258         18.2886           20
Amendment of location...........              10         12.0454          0.1506         12.1960           10
Transfer of mining claim/site...              10         12.0454          0.1506         12.1960           10
Recording an annual FLPMA filing              10         12.0454          0.1506         12.1960           10
Deferment of assessment work....             110        108.4299          1.3554        109.7853          110
Recording a notice of intent to               30         30.1294          0.3766         30.5060           30
 locate mining claims on
 Stockraising Homestead Act
 lands..........................
Mineral Patent adjudication                3,035      3,036.1112         37.9514      3,074.0626        3,075
 (more than ten claims).........
(ten or fewer claims)...........           1,520      1,518.0398         18.9755      1,537.0153        1,535
Adverse claim...................             110        108.4299          1.3554        109.7853          110
Protest.........................              65         66.2762          0.8285         67.1047           65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration License Application.             320        317.7838          3.9723        321.7561          320
Assignment or sublease of record              65         64.6399          0.8080         65.4479           65
 title or overriding royalty....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source for Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product data: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of
  Economic Analysis (March 27, 2015).
\1\ The Existing Fee was established by the 2014 (Fiscal Year 2015) cost recovery fee update rule published
  September 25, 2014 (79 FR 57476), effective October 1, 2014.
\2\ The Existing Value is the figure from the New Value column in the previous year's rule.
\3\ From 4th Quarter 2013 to 4th Quarter 2014, the IPD-GDP increased by 1.25 percent. The value in the IPD-GDP
  Increase column is 1.25 percent of the Existing Value.
\4\ The sum of the Existing Value and the IPD-GDP Increase is the New Value.
\5\ The New Fee for Fiscal Year 2016 is the New Value rounded to the nearest $5 for values equal to or greater
  than $1, or to the nearest penny for values under $1.
\6\ Section 365 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) directed in subsection (i) that ``the
  Secretary shall not implement a rulemaking that would enable an increase in fees to recover additional costs
  related to processing drilling-related permit applications and use authorizations.'' In the 2005 cost recovery
  rule, the BLM interpreted this prohibition to apply to geophysical exploration permits. 70 FR 58854-58855.
  While the $25 fees for geophysical exploration permit applications for Alaska and renewals of exploration
  permits for Alaska pre-dated the 2005 cost recovery rule and were not affected by the Energy Policy Act
  prohibition, the BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act provision as prohibiting it from increasing this $25
  fee.
\7\ The BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act prohibition discussed in footnote 6, above, as prohibiting it from
  increasing this $25 fee, as well.

III. How Fees Are Adjusted

    Each year, the figures in the Existing Value column in the table 
above (not those in the Existing Fee column) are used as the basis for 
calculating the adjustment to these fees. The Existing Value is the 
figure from the New Value column in the previous year's rule. In the 
case of fees that were not in the table the previous year, or that had 
no figure in the New Value column the previous year, the Existing Value 
is the same as the Existing Fee. Because the new fees are derived from 
the new values, adjustments based on the figures in the Existing Fee 
column would lead to significantly over- or under-valued fees over 
time. Accordingly, fee adjustments are made by multiplying the annual 
change in the IPD-GDP by the figure in the Existing Value column. This 
calculation defines the New Value for this year, which is then rounded 
to the nearest $5 for fees equal to or greater than $1 or the nearest 
penny for fees under $1 to establish the New Fee.

IV. Procedural Matters

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

    This document is not a significant rule, and the Office of 
Management and Budget has not reviewed this rule under Executive Order 
12866.
    The BLM has determined that the rule will not have an annual effect 
on the economy of $100 million or more. It will not adversely affect in 
a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, 
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, 
local, or tribal governments or

[[Page 58628]]

communities. The changes in today's rule are much smaller than those in 
the 2005 final rule, which did not approach the threshold in Executive 
Order 12866. For instructions on how to view a copy of the analysis 
prepared in conjunction with the 2005 final rule, please contact one of 
the persons listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
above.
    This rule will not create inconsistencies or otherwise interfere 
with an action taken or planned by another agency. This rule does not 
change the relationships of the onshore minerals programs with other 
agencies' actions. These relationships are included in agreements and 
memoranda of understanding that would not change with this rule.
    In addition, this final rule does not materially affect the 
budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, or loan programs, or the 
rights and obligations of their recipients. This rule applies an 
inflation factor that increases some existing user fees for processing 
documents associated with the onshore minerals programs. However, most 
of these fee increases are less than 2 percent, and none of the 
increases materially affect the budgetary impact of user fees.
    Finally, this rule will not raise novel legal or policy issues. As 
explained above, this rule simply implements an annual process to 
account for inflation that was adopted by and explained in the 2005 
cost recovery rule.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This final rule will not have a significant economic effect on a 
substantial number of small entities as defined under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). A Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis is not required. For the purposes of this section, a small 
entity is defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for mining 
(broadly inclusive of metal mining, coal mining, oil and gas 
extraction, and the mining and quarrying of nonmetallic minerals) as an 
individual, limited partnership, or small company considered to be at 
arm's length from the control of any parent companies, with fewer than 
500 employees. The SBA defines a small entity differently, however, for 
leasing Federal land for coal mining. A coal lessee is a small entity 
if it employs not more than 250 people, including people working for 
its affiliates.
    The SBA would consider many, if not most, of the operators the BLM 
works with in the onshore minerals programs to be small entities. The 
BLM notes that this final rule does not affect service industries, for 
which the SBA has a different definition of ``small entity.''
    The final rule may affect a large number of small entities since 14 
fees for activities on public lands will be increased. However, the BLM 
has concluded that the effects will not be significant. Most of the 
fixed fee increases will be less than 2 percent as a result of this 
final rule. The adjustments result in no increase in the fee for the 
processing of 34 documents relating to the BLM's minerals programs. The 
highest adjustment, in dollar terms, is for adjudications of mineral 
patent applications involving more than 10 mining claims, which will be 
increased by $40. For the 2005 final rule, the BLM completed a 
Regulatory Flexibility Act threshold analysis, which is available for 
public review in the administrative record for that rule. For 
instructions on how to view a copy of that analysis, please contact one 
of the persons listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
above. The analysis for the 2005 rule concluded that the fees would not 
have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small 
entities. The fee increases implemented in today's rule are 
substantially smaller than those provided for in the 2005 rule.

The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This final rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined at 5 U.S.C. 
804(2). The final rule will not have an annual effect on the economy 
greater than $100 million; it will not result in major cost or price 
increases for consumers, industries, government agencies, or regions; 
and it will not have significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of 
U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. For 
the 2005 final rule, which established the fee adjustment procedure 
that this rule implements, the BLM completed a threshold analysis, 
which is available for public review in the administrative record for 
that rule. The fee increases implemented in today's rule are 
substantially smaller than those provided for in the 2005 rule. 
Accordingly, a Small Entity Compliance Guide is not required.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    This final rule will not have a substantial direct effect on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. In accordance with Executive Order 13132, 
therefore, we find that the final rule does not have federalism 
implications. A federalism assessment is not required.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This rule does not contain information collection requirements that 
require a control number from the Office of Management and Budget in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521). After the effective date of this rule, the new fees may affect 
the non-hour burdens associated with the following control numbers:
Oil and Gas
    (1) 1004-0034 which expires July 31, 2018;
    (2) 1004-0137 which expires January 31, 2018;
    (3) 1004-0162 which expires September 30, 2015;
    (4) 1004-0185 which expires December 31, 2015;
Geothermal
    (5) 1004-0132 which expires December 31, 2016;
Coal
    (6) 1004-0073 which expires August 31, 2016;
Mining Claims
    (7) 1004-0025 which expires March 31, 2016;
    (8) 1004-0114 which expires October 31, 2016; and
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Oil Shale
    (9) 1004-0121 which expires March 31, 2016.

Takings Implication Assessment (Executive Order 12630)

    As required by Executive Order 12630, the BLM has determined that 
this rule will not cause a taking of private property. No private 
property rights will be affected by a rule that merely updates fees. 
The BLM therefore certifies that this final rule does not represent a 
governmental action capable of interference with constitutionally 
protected property rights.

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

    In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the BLM finds that this 
final rule will not unduly burden the judicial system and meets the 
requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Executive Order.

[[Page 58629]]

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    The BLM has determined that this final rule qualifies as a routine 
financial transaction and a regulation of an administrative, financial, 
legal, or procedural nature that is categorically excluded from 
environmental review under NEPA pursuant to 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210(c) 
and (i). The final rule does not meet any of the 12 criteria for 
exceptions to categorical exclusions listed at 43 CFR 46.215.
    Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, the 
term ``categorical exclusions'' means categories of actions ``which do 
not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment and which have been found to have no such effect in 
procedures adopted by a federal agency in implementation of [CEQ] 
regulations (Sec.  1507.3) and for which, therefore, neither an 
environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is 
required.'' 40 CFR 1508.4.

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The BLM has determined that this final rule is not significant 
under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., 
because it will not result in State, local, private sector, or tribal 
government expenditures of $100 million or more in any one year, 2 
U.S.C. 1532. This rule will not significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments. Therefore, the BLM is not required to prepare a statement 
containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments (Executive 
Order 13175)

    In accordance with Executive Order 13175, the BLM has determined 
that this final rule does not include policies that have tribal 
implications. Specifically, the rule would not have substantial direct 
effects on one or more Indian tribes. Consequently, the BLM did not 
utilize the consultation process set forth in Section 5 of the 
Executive Order.

Information Quality Act

    In developing this rule, the BLM did not conduct or use a study, 
experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Information 
Quality Act (Pub. L. 106-554).

Effects on the Nation's Energy Supply (Executive Order 13211)

    In accordance with Executive Order 13211, the BLM has determined 
that this final rule is not likely to have a significant adverse effect 
on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It merely adjusts 
certain administrative cost recovery fees to account for inflation.

Author

    The principal author of this rule is Mark Purdy of the Division of 
Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Land Management.

List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 3000

    Public lands--mineral resources, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Janice M. Schneider,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.

    For reasons stated in the preamble, the Bureau of Land Management 
amends 43 CFR part 3000 as follows:

PART 3000--MINERALS MANAGEMENT: GENERAL

0
1. The authority citation for part 3000 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.; 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq., 301-
306, 351-359, and 601 et seq.; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 40 U.S.C. 471 et 
seq.; 42 U.S.C. 6508; 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; and Pub. L. 97-35, 95 
Stat. 357.

Subpart 3000--General

0
2. Amend Sec.  3000.12 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  3000.12  What is the fee schedule for fixed fees?

    (a) The table in this section shows the fixed fees that you must 
pay to the BLM for the services listed for Fiscal Year 2016. These fees 
are nonrefundable and must be included with documents you file under 
this chapter. Fees will be adjusted annually according to the change in 
the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product (IPD-GDP) by way 
of publication of a final rule in the Federal Register and will 
subsequently be posted on the BLM Web site (http://www.blm.gov) before 
October 1 each year. Revised fees are effective each year on October 1.

                 FY 2016 Processing and Filing Fee Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Document/action                        FY 2016 fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease             $410
 application.
Competitive lease application..  160
Assignment and transfer of       90
 record title or operating
 rights.
Overriding royalty transfer,     10
 payment out of production.
Name change, corporate merger    215
 or transfer to heir/devisee.
Lease consolidation............  450
Lease renewal or exchange......  410
Lease reinstatement, Class I...  80
Leasing under right-of-way.....  410
Geophysical exploration permit   25
 application--Alaska.
Renewal of exploration permit--  25
 Alaska.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Geothermal (part 3200)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease             410
 application.
Competitive lease application..  160
Assignment and transfer of       90
 record title or operating
 rights.
Name change, corporate merger    215
 or transfer to heir/devisee.
Lease consolidation............  450
Lease reinstatement............  80

[[Page 58630]]

 
Nomination of lands............  115
    plus per acre nomination     0.11
     fee.
Site license application.......  60
Assignment or transfer of site   60
 license.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Coal (parts 3400, 3470)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
License to mine application....  10
Exploration license application  335
Lease or lease interest          65
 transfer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500,
                                  3580)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications other than those    35
 listed below.
Prospecting permit application   65
 amendment.
Extension of prospecting permit  110
Lease modification or fringe     30
 acreage lease.
Lease renewal..................  525
Assignment, sublease, or         30
 transfer of operating rights.
Transfer of overriding royalty.  30
Use permit.....................  30
Shasta and Trinity hardrock      30
 mineral lease.
Renewal of existing sand and     30
 gravel lease in Nevada.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Public Law 359; Mining in Powersite Withdrawals: General (part 3730)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of protest of placer      10
 mining operations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application to open lands to     10
 location.
Notice of location *...........  20
Amendment of location..........  10
Transfer of mining claim/site..  10
Recording an annual FLPMA        10
 filing.
Deferment of assessment work...  110
Recording a notice of intent to  30
 locate mining claims on
 Stockraising Homestead Act
 lands.
Mineral patent adjudication....  3,075 (more than 10 claims)
                                 1,535 (10 or fewer claims)
Adverse claim..................  110
Protest........................  65
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration license application  320
Application for assignment or    65
 sublease of record title or
 overriding royalty.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* To record a mining claim or site location, you must pay this
  processing fee along with the initial maintenance fee and the one-time
  location fee required by statute. 43 CFR part 3833.

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-24699 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-84-P



                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                                     58625

                                                placing a site on the NPL does not mean                                  validity of the legislative veto into                                PART 300—NATIONAL OIL AND
                                                that any remedial or removal action                                      question, the EPA has transmitted a                                  HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
                                                necessarily need be taken.                                               copy of this regulation to the Secretary                             POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLAN
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                                                K. Congressional Review Act
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                                                Comptroller General of the United                                        question, the EPA will publish a                                     9601–9657; E.O. 13626, 77 FR 56749, 3 CFR,
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                                                as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).                                           Register.                                                            3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52
                                                  Provisions of the Congressional                                                                                                             FR 2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.
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                                                (and the President signs) a joint                                        resources, Oil pollution, Penalties,                                 ‘‘Main Street Ground Water Plume’’ and
                                                resolution of disapproval, described                                     Reporting and recordkeeping                                          ‘‘Grain Handling Facility at Freeman’’ in
                                                under section 802. Another statutory                                     requirements, Superfund, Water                                       alphabetical order by state to read as
                                                provision that may affect this rule is                                   pollution control, Water supply.                                     follows:
                                                CERCLA section 305, which provides
                                                                                                                           Dated: September 21, 2015.                                         Appendix B to Part 300—National
                                                for a legislative veto of regulations
                                                promulgated under CERCLA. Although                                       Mathy Stanislaus,                                                    Priorities List
                                                INS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919,103 S. Ct.                                   Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste
                                                2764 (1983), and Bd. of Regents of the                                   and Emergency Response.
                                                University of Washington v. EPA, 86                                        40 CFR part 300 is amended as
                                                F.3d 1214,1222 (D.C. Cir. 1996), cast the                                follows:

                                                                                                                      TABLE 1—GENERAL SUPERFUND SECTION
                                                        State                                                           Site name                                                                  City/County                Notes (a)


                                                              *                       *                  *                             *                                                *                       *               *
                                                IL .......................   Estech General Chemical Company .....................................................                     Calumet City.

                                                            *                           *                           *                                 *                                 *                       *               *
                                                LA .....................     Colonial Creosote ..................................................................................      Bogalusa.

                                                           *                          *                                *                                 *                               *                      *               *
                                                MA ....................      BJAT LLC ..............................................................................................   Franklin.

                                                            *                          *                  *                               *                                             *                       *               *
                                                TX .....................     Main Street Ground Water Plume .........................................................                  Burnet.

                                                           *                           *                     *                             *                                             *                      *               *
                                                WA ....................      Grain Handling Facility at Freeman ......................................................                 Freeman.

                                                                *                            *                              *                              *                            *                       *               *
                                                    (a) A
                                                       = Based on issuance of health advisory by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (if scored, HRS score need not be greater
                                                than or equal to 28.50).


                                                *           *       *        *       *                                   DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                           mineral resources regulations to update
                                                [FR Doc. 2015–24330 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]                                                                                                   some fees that cover the BLM’s cost of
                                                BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                                   Bureau of Land Management                                            processing certain documents relating to
                                                                                                                                                                                              its minerals programs and some filing
                                                                                                                         43 CFR Part 3000                                                     fees for mineral-related documents.
                                                                                                                         [L13100000 PP0000 LLWO310000]                                        These updated fees include those for
                                                                                                                                                                                              actions such as lease renewals and
                                                                                                                         RIN 1004–AE44
                                                                                                                                                                                              mineral patent adjudications.
                                                                                                                         Minerals Management: Adjustment of                                   DATES:This final rule is effective
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                                                                                                                         Cost Recovery Fees                                                   October 1, 2015.
                                                                                                                         AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,                                 ADDRESSES:  You may send inquiries or
                                                                                                                         Interior.                                                            suggestions to Director (630), Bureau of
                                                                                                                         ACTION: Final rule.                                                  Land Management, 2134LM, 1849 C
                                                                                                                         SUMMARY:  This final rule amends the                                 Street NW., Washington, DC 20240;
                                                                                                                         Bureau of Land Management (BLM)                                      Attention: RIN 1004–AE44.



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                                                58626             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                           changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for                         year to the 4th Quarter of the following
                                                Steven Wells, Chief, Division of Fluid                                     Gross Domestic Product (IPD–GDP),                                  calendar year. This fee update rule is
                                                Minerals, 202–912–7143; Mitchell                                           which is published quarterly by the U.S.                           based on the change in the IPD–GDP
                                                Leverette, Chief, Division of Solid                                        Department of Commerce. See also 43                                from the 4th Quarter of 2013 to the 4th
                                                Minerals, 202–912–7113; or Mark                                            CFR 3000.10. This final rule will allow                            Quarter of 2014, thus reflecting the rate
                                                Purdy, Regulatory Affairs, 202–912–                                        the BLM to update these fees and                                   of inflation over four calendar quarters.
                                                7635. Persons who use a                                                    service charges by October 1 of this                                  The fee is calculated by applying the
                                                telecommunications device for the deaf                                     year, as required by the 2005 regulation.                          IPD–GDP to the base value from the
                                                (TDD) may leave a message for these                                        The fee recalculations are based on a                              previous year’s rule, also known as the
                                                individuals with the Federal                                               mathematical formula. The public had                               ‘‘existing value.’’ This calculation
                                                Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–                                     an opportunity to comment on this                                  results in an updated base value. The
                                                800–877–8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days                                       procedure during the comment period                                updated base value is then rounded to
                                                a week.                                                                    on the 2005 cost recovery rule, and this                           the closest multiple of $5 for fees equal
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                                 new rule administers the procedure set                             to or greater than $1, or to the nearest
                                                                                                                           forth in those regulations. Therefore, the                         cent for fees under $1, to establish the
                                                I. Background                                                              BLM has changed the fees in this final                             new fee.
                                                   The BLM has specific authority to                                       rule without providing opportunity for
                                                charge fees for processing applications                                    additional notice and comment. See 43                                 Under this rule, 34 fees will remain
                                                and other documents relating to public                                     CFR 3000.10(c). Accordingly, the                                   the same and 14 fees will increase. Of
                                                lands under section 304 of the Federal                                     Department of the Interior for good                                the fees that will be increased, 12 of the
                                                Land Policy and Management Act of                                          cause finds under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and                           fee increases will amount to $5 each.
                                                1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1734. In 2005,                                     (d)(3) that notice and public comment                              The largest increase, $40, will be
                                                the BLM published a final cost recovery                                    procedures are unnecessary and that the                            applied to the fee for adjudicating a
                                                rule (70 FR 58854) establishing or                                         rule may be effective less than 30 days                            mineral patent application containing
                                                revising certain fees and service charges,                                 after publication.                                                 more than 10 claims, and will increase
                                                and establishing the method it would                                                                                                          the fee from $3,035 to $3,075. The fee
                                                use to adjust those fees and service                                       II. Discussion of Final Rule                                       for adjudicating a patent application
                                                charges on an annual basis.                                                   The BLM publishes a fee update rule                             containing 10 or fewer claims will
                                                   At 43 CFR 3000.12(a), the regulations                                   each year, which becomes effective on                              increase by $15, from $1,520 to $1,535.
                                                provide that the BLM will annually                                         October 1 of that year. The fee updates                               The calculations that resulted in the
                                                adjust fees established in Subchapter C                                    are based on the change in the IPD–GDP                             new fees are included in the table
                                                (43 CFR parts 3000–3900) according to                                      from the 4th Quarter of one calendar                               below:

                                                                    Fixed cost recovery fees FY16                                             Existing            Existing                 IPD–GDP                   New value 4              New fee 5
                                                                                                                                               fee 1              value 2                  Increase 3
                                                                               Document/action

                                                                                                                         Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)

                                                Noncompetitive lease application ......................................                             $405            $403.6113                     $5.0451                 $408.6565               $410
                                                Competitive lease application ............................................                           155             156.6327                      1.9579                  158.5906                160
                                                Assignment and transfer of record title or operating rights                                           90              90.3565                      1.1295                   91.4859                 90
                                                Overriding royalty transfer, payment out of production .....                                          10              12.0454                      0.1506                   12.1960                 10
                                                Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devi-
                                                  see ..................................................................................             210              210.8318                       2.6354                 213.4672               215
                                                Lease consolidation ...........................................................                      445              445.7650                       5.5721                 451.3371               450
                                                Lease renewal or exchange ..............................................                             405              403.6113                       5.0451                 408.6565               410
                                                Lease reinstatement, Class I .............................................                            80                78.3005                      0.9788                   79.2793               80
                                                Leasing under right-of-way ................................................                          405              403.6113                       5.0451                 408.6565               410
                                                Geophysical exploration permit application—Alaska 6 ......                                            25     ........................   ........................   ........................         25
                                                Renewal of exploration permit—Alaska 7 ..........................                                     25     ........................   ........................   ........................         25

                                                                                                                                           Geothermal (part 3200)

                                                Noncompetitive lease application ......................................                              405              403.6113                       5.0451                 408.6565               410
                                                Competitive lease application ............................................                           155              156.6327                       1.9579                 158.5906               160
                                                Assignment and transfer of record title or operating right                                            90               90.3565                       1.1295                  91.4859                90
                                                Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devi-
                                                  see ..................................................................................             210              210.8318                      2.6354                  213.4672               215
                                                Lease consolidation ...........................................................                      445              445.7650                      5.5721                  451.3371               450
                                                Lease reinstatement ..........................................................                         80              78.3005                      0.9788                   79.2793                80
                                                Nomination of lands ...........................................................                      115              112.7688                      1.4096                  114.1784               115
                                                Plus per acre nomination fee .............................................                           0.11              0.11277                     0.00141                   0.11418                 0.11
                                                Site license application ......................................................                        60              60.2377                      0.7530                   60.9906                60
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                                                Assignment or transfer of site license ...............................                                 60              60.2377                      0.7530                   60.9906                60

                                                                                                                                           Coal (parts 3400, 3470)

                                                License to mine application ...............................................                           10               12.0454                      0.1506                   12.1960                10
                                                Exploration license application ..........................................                           330              331.3177                      4.1415                  335.4592               335
                                                Lease or lease interest transfer .........................................                            65               66.2762                      0.8285                   67.1047                65




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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                              58627

                                                                    Fixed cost recovery fees FY16                                              Existing            Existing          IPD–GDP            New value 4    New fee 5
                                                                                                                                                fee 1              value 2           Increase 3
                                                                               Document/action

                                                                                                  Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580)

                                                Applications other than those listed below ........................                                    35                36.1468          0.4518            36.5987          35
                                                Prospecting permit amendment .........................................                                 65                66.2762          0.8285            67.1047          65
                                                Extension of prospecting permit ........................................                              110               108.4299          1.3554           109.7853         110
                                                Lease modification or fringe acreage lease ......................                                      30                30.1294          0.3766            30.5060          30
                                                Lease renewal ....................................................................                    520               518.0692          6.4759           524.5451         525
                                                Assignment, sublease, or transfer of operating rights .......                                          30                30.1294          0.3766            30.5060          30
                                                Transfer of overriding royalty .............................................                           30                30.1294          0.3766            30.5060          30
                                                Use permit ..........................................................................                  30                30.1294          0.3766            30.5060          30
                                                Shasta and Trinity hardrock mineral lease ........................                                     30                30.1294          0.3766            30.5060          30
                                                Renewal of existing sand and gravel lease in Nevada .....                                              30                30.1294          0.3766            30.5060          30

                                                                                                                                    Multiple Use; Mining (Group 3700)

                                                Notice of protest of placer mining operations ....................                                         10            12.0454          0.1506            12.1960          10

                                                                                                       Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)

                                                Application to open lands to location .................................                                10                12.0454          0.1506            12.1960          10
                                                Notice of Location ..............................................................                      20                18.0629          0.2258            18.2886          20
                                                Amendment of location ......................................................                           10                12.0454          0.1506            12.1960          10
                                                Transfer of mining claim/site ..............................................                           10                12.0454          0.1506            12.1960          10
                                                Recording an annual FLPMA filing ....................................                                  10                12.0454          0.1506            12.1960          10
                                                Deferment of assessment work .........................................                                110               108.4299          1.3554           109.7853         110
                                                Recording a notice of intent to locate mining claims on
                                                   Stockraising Homestead Act lands ................................                                   30             30.1294             0.3766             30.5060         30
                                                Mineral Patent adjudication (more than ten claims) ..........                                       3,035          3,036.1112            37.9514          3,074.0626      3,075
                                                (ten or fewer claims) ..........................................................                    1,520          1,518.0398            18.9755          1,537.0153      1,535
                                                Adverse claim ....................................................................                    110            108.4299             1.3554            109.7853        110
                                                Protest ................................................................................               65             66.2762             0.8285             67.1047         65

                                                                                                                         Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)

                                                Exploration License Application .........................................                             320               317.7838          3.9723           321.7561         320
                                                Assignment or sublease of record title or overriding roy-
                                                  alty ..................................................................................                  65            64.6399          0.8080            65.4479          65
                                                  Source for Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product data: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis (March 27,
                                                2015).
                                                  1 The Existing Fee was established by the 2014 (Fiscal Year 2015) cost recovery fee update rule published September 25, 2014 (79 FR
                                                57476), effective October 1, 2014.
                                                  2 The Existing Value is the figure from the New Value column in the previous year’s rule.
                                                  3 From 4th Quarter 2013 to 4th Quarter 2014, the IPD–GDP increased by 1.25 percent. The value in the IPD–GDP Increase column is 1.25
                                                percent of the Existing Value.
                                                  4 The sum of the Existing Value and the IPD–GDP Increase is the New Value.
                                                  5 The New Fee for Fiscal Year 2016 is the New Value rounded to the nearest $5 for values equal to or greater than $1, or to the nearest
                                                penny for values under $1.
                                                  6 Section 365 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–58) directed in subsection (i) that ‘‘the Secretary shall not implement a rulemaking
                                                that would enable an increase in fees to recover additional costs related to processing drilling-related permit applications and use authorizations.’’
                                                In the 2005 cost recovery rule, the BLM interpreted this prohibition to apply to geophysical exploration permits. 70 FR 58854–58855. While the
                                                $25 fees for geophysical exploration permit applications for Alaska and renewals of exploration permits for Alaska pre-dated the 2005 cost recov-
                                                ery rule and were not affected by the Energy Policy Act prohibition, the BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act provision as prohibiting it from in-
                                                creasing this $25 fee.
                                                  7 The BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act prohibition discussed in footnote 6, above, as prohibiting it from increasing this $25 fee, as well.




                                                III. How Fees Are Adjusted                                                  Existing Fee column would lead to                         IV. Procedural Matters
                                                                                                                            significantly over- or under-valued fees                  Regulatory Planning and Review
                                                  Each year, the figures in the Existing                                    over time. Accordingly, fee adjustments
                                                Value column in the table above (not                                                                                                  (Executive Order 12866)
                                                                                                                            are made by multiplying the annual
                                                those in the Existing Fee column) are                                                                                                   This document is not a significant
                                                                                                                            change in the IPD–GDP by the figure in
                                                used as the basis for calculating the                                                                                                 rule, and the Office of Management and
                                                adjustment to these fees. The Existing                                      the Existing Value column. This
                                                                                                                                                                                      Budget has not reviewed this rule under
                                                Value is the figure from the New Value                                      calculation defines the New Value for
                                                                                                                                                                                      Executive Order 12866.
                                                column in the previous year’s rule. In                                      this year, which is then rounded to the                     The BLM has determined that the rule
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                                                the case of fees that were not in the table                                 nearest $5 for fees equal to or greater                   will not have an annual effect on the
                                                the previous year, or that had no figure                                    than $1 or the nearest penny for fees                     economy of $100 million or more. It will
                                                in the New Value column the previous                                        under $1 to establish the New Fee.                        not adversely affect in a material way
                                                year, the Existing Value is the same as                                                                                               the economy, a sector of the economy,
                                                the Existing Fee. Because the new fees                                                                                                productivity, competition, jobs, the
                                                are derived from the new values,                                                                                                      environment, public health or safety, or
                                                adjustments based on the figures in the                                                                                               State, local, or tribal governments or


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                                                58628        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                communities. The changes in today’s                     industries, for which the SBA has a                   we find that the final rule does not have
                                                rule are much smaller than those in the                 different definition of ‘‘small entity.’’             federalism implications. A federalism
                                                2005 final rule, which did not approach                    The final rule may affect a large                  assessment is not required.
                                                the threshold in Executive Order 12866.                 number of small entities since 14 fees
                                                                                                        for activities on public lands will be                The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                                For instructions on how to view a copy
                                                of the analysis prepared in conjunction                 increased. However, the BLM has                         This rule does not contain
                                                with the 2005 final rule, please contact                concluded that the effects will not be                information collection requirements that
                                                one of the persons listed in the FOR                    significant. Most of the fixed fee                    require a control number from the Office
                                                FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section                     increases will be less than 2 percent as              of Management and Budget in
                                                above.                                                  a result of this final rule. The                      accordance with the Paperwork
                                                  This rule will not create                             adjustments result in no increase in the              Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
                                                inconsistencies or otherwise interfere                  fee for the processing of 34 documents                3521). After the effective date of this
                                                with an action taken or planned by                      relating to the BLM’s minerals                        rule, the new fees may affect the non-
                                                another agency. This rule does not                      programs. The highest adjustment, in                  hour burdens associated with the
                                                change the relationships of the onshore                 dollar terms, is for adjudications of                 following control numbers:
                                                minerals programs with other agencies’                  mineral patent applications involving
                                                actions. These relationships are                        more than 10 mining claims, which will                Oil and Gas
                                                included in agreements and memoranda                    be increased by $40. For the 2005 final
                                                                                                        rule, the BLM completed a Regulatory                    (1) 1004–0034 which expires July 31,
                                                of understanding that would not change                                                                        2018;
                                                with this rule.                                         Flexibility Act threshold analysis,
                                                                                                        which is available for public review in                 (2) 1004–0137 which expires January
                                                  In addition, this final rule does not                                                                       31, 2018;
                                                materially affect the budgetary impact of               the administrative record for that rule.
                                                entitlements, grants, or loan programs,                 For instructions on how to view a copy                  (3) 1004–0162 which expires
                                                or the rights and obligations of their                  of that analysis, please contact one of               September 30, 2015;
                                                recipients. This rule applies an inflation              the persons listed in the FOR FURTHER                   (4) 1004–0185 which expires
                                                                                                        INFORMATION CONTACT section above. The                December 31, 2015;
                                                factor that increases some existing user
                                                fees for processing documents                           analysis for the 2005 rule concluded
                                                                                                        that the fees would not have a                        Geothermal
                                                associated with the onshore minerals
                                                                                                        significant economic effect on a
                                                programs. However, most of these fee                                                                            (5) 1004–0132 which expires
                                                                                                        substantial number of small entities.
                                                increases are less than 2 percent, and                                                                        December 31, 2016;
                                                                                                        The fee increases implemented in
                                                none of the increases materially affect
                                                                                                        today’s rule are substantially smaller                Coal
                                                the budgetary impact of user fees.
                                                                                                        than those provided for in the 2005 rule.
                                                  Finally, this rule will not raise novel                                                                       (6) 1004–0073 which expires August
                                                legal or policy issues. As explained                    The Small Business Regulatory                         31, 2016;
                                                above, this rule simply implements an                   Enforcement Fairness Act
                                                annual process to account for inflation                                                                       Mining Claims
                                                                                                           This final rule is not a ‘‘major rule’’
                                                that was adopted by and explained in                    as defined at 5 U.S.C. 804(2). The final                (7) 1004–0025 which expires March
                                                the 2005 cost recovery rule.                            rule will not have an annual effect on                31, 2016;
                                                The Regulatory Flexibility Act                          the economy greater than $100 million;                  (8) 1004–0114 which expires October
                                                                                                        it will not result in major cost or price             31, 2016; and
                                                   This final rule will not have a                      increases for consumers, industries,
                                                significant economic effect on a                        government agencies, or regions; and it               Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than
                                                substantial number of small entities as                 will not have significant adverse effects             Oil Shale
                                                defined under the Regulatory Flexibility                on competition, employment,
                                                Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). A Regulatory                                                                        (9) 1004–0121 which expires March
                                                                                                        investment, productivity, innovation, or
                                                Flexibility Analysis is not required. For                                                                     31, 2016.
                                                                                                        the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to
                                                the purposes of this section, a small                   compete with foreign-based enterprises.               Takings Implication Assessment
                                                entity is defined by the Small Business                 For the 2005 final rule, which                        (Executive Order 12630)
                                                Administration (SBA) for mining                         established the fee adjustment
                                                (broadly inclusive of metal mining, coal                procedure that this rule implements, the                 As required by Executive Order
                                                mining, oil and gas extraction, and the                 BLM completed a threshold analysis,                   12630, the BLM has determined that
                                                mining and quarrying of nonmetallic                     which is available for public review in               this rule will not cause a taking of
                                                minerals) as an individual, limited                     the administrative record for that rule.              private property. No private property
                                                partnership, or small company                           The fee increases implemented in                      rights will be affected by a rule that
                                                considered to be at arm’s length from                   today’s rule are substantially smaller                merely updates fees. The BLM therefore
                                                the control of any parent companies,                    than those provided for in the 2005 rule.             certifies that this final rule does not
                                                with fewer than 500 employees. The                      Accordingly, a Small Entity Compliance                represent a governmental action capable
                                                SBA defines a small entity differently,                 Guide is not required.                                of interference with constitutionally
                                                however, for leasing Federal land for                                                                         protected property rights.
                                                coal mining. A coal lessee is a small                   Executive Order 13132, Federalism
                                                                                                                                                              Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order
                                                entity if it employs not more than 250                    This final rule will not have a                     12988)
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                                                people, including people working for its                substantial direct effect on the States, on
                                                affiliates.                                             the relationship between the national                   In accordance with Executive Order
                                                   The SBA would consider many, if not                  government and the States, or on the                  12988, the BLM finds that this final rule
                                                most, of the operators the BLM works                    distribution of power and                             will not unduly burden the judicial
                                                with in the onshore minerals programs                   responsibilities among the various                    system and meets the requirements of
                                                to be small entities. The BLM notes that                levels of government. In accordance                   sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Executive
                                                this final rule does not affect service                 with Executive Order 13132, therefore,                Order.


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                                                  58629

                                                The National Environmental Policy Act                                    Consultation and Coordination With                                        List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 3000
                                                (NEPA)                                                                   Indian Tribal Governments (Executive                                        Public lands—mineral resources,
                                                   The BLM has determined that this                                      Order 13175)                                                              Reporting and recordkeeping
                                                final rule qualifies as a routine financial                                In accordance with Executive Order                                      requirements.
                                                transaction and a regulation of an
                                                                                                                         13175, the BLM has determined that                                        Janice M. Schneider,
                                                administrative, financial, legal, or
                                                                                                                         this final rule does not include policies                                 Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals
                                                procedural nature that is categorically
                                                excluded from environmental review                                       that have tribal implications.                                            Management.
                                                under NEPA pursuant to 43 CFR 46.205                                     Specifically, the rule would not have                                       For reasons stated in the preamble,
                                                and 46.210(c) and (i). The final rule                                    substantial direct effects on one or more                                 the Bureau of Land Management
                                                does not meet any of the 12 criteria for                                 Indian tribes. Consequently, the BLM                                      amends 43 CFR part 3000 as follows:
                                                exceptions to categorical exclusions                                     did not utilize the consultation process
                                                listed at 43 CFR 46.215.                                                 set forth in Section 5 of the Executive                                   PART 3000—MINERALS
                                                   Pursuant to Council on                                                Order.                                                                    MANAGEMENT: GENERAL
                                                Environmental Quality (CEQ)                                              Information Quality Act
                                                regulations, the term ‘‘categorical                                                                                                                ■ 1. The authority citation for part 3000
                                                exclusions’’ means categories of actions                                                                                                           continues to read as follows:
                                                                                                                           In developing this rule, the BLM did
                                                ‘‘which do not individually or                                           not conduct or use a study, experiment,                                     Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.; 30
                                                cumulatively have a significant effect on                                or survey requiring peer review under                                     U.S.C. 181 et seq., 301–306, 351–359, and
                                                the human environment and which                                                                                                                    601 et seq.; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 40 U.S.C. 471 et
                                                                                                                         the Information Quality Act (Pub. L.                                      seq.; 42 U.S.C. 6508; 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.;
                                                have been found to have no such effect                                   106–554).                                                                 and Pub. L. 97–35, 95 Stat. 357.
                                                in procedures adopted by a federal
                                                agency in implementation of [CEQ]                                        Effects on the Nation’s Energy Supply
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Subpart 3000—General
                                                regulations (§ 1507.3) and for which,                                    (Executive Order 13211)
                                                therefore, neither an environmental                                                                                                                ■ 2. Amend § 3000.12 by revising
                                                assessment nor an environmental                                            In accordance with Executive Order
                                                                                                                                                                                                   paragraph (a) to read as follows:
                                                impact statement is required.’’ 40 CFR                                   13211, the BLM has determined that
                                                1508.4.                                                                  this final rule is not likely to have a                                   § 3000.12 What is the fee schedule for
                                                                                                                         significant adverse effect on the supply,                                 fixed fees?
                                                The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of                                      distribution, or use of energy. It merely                                    (a) The table in this section shows the
                                                1995                                                                     adjusts certain administrative cost                                       fixed fees that you must pay to the BLM
                                                   The BLM has determined that this                                      recovery fees to account for inflation.                                   for the services listed for Fiscal Year
                                                final rule is not significant under the                                                                                                            2016. These fees are nonrefundable and
                                                Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of                                          Author                                                                    must be included with documents you
                                                1995, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., because it                                    The principal author of this rule is                                    file under this chapter. Fees will be
                                                will not result in State, local, private                                 Mark Purdy of the Division of                                             adjusted annually according to the
                                                sector, or tribal government                                             Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Land                                        change in the Implicit Price Deflator for
                                                expenditures of $100 million or more in                                  Management.                                                               Gross Domestic Product (IPD–GDP) by
                                                any one year, 2 U.S.C. 1532. This rule                                                                                                             way of publication of a final rule in the
                                                will not significantly or uniquely affect                                                                                                          Federal Register and will subsequently
                                                small governments. Therefore, the BLM                                                                                                              be posted on the BLM Web site (http://
                                                is not required to prepare a statement                                                                                                             www.blm.gov) before October 1 each
                                                containing the information required by                                                                                                             year. Revised fees are effective each year
                                                the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.                                                                                                                  on October 1.

                                                                                                                   FY 2016 PROCESSING AND FILING FEE TABLE
                                                                                                                      Document/action                                                                                            FY 2016 fee

                                                                                                                        Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)

                                                Noncompetitive lease application ..............................................................................................................................           $410
                                                Competitive lease application ...................................................................................................................................         160
                                                Assignment and transfer of record title or operating rights ......................................................................................                        90
                                                Overriding royalty transfer, payment out of production ............................................................................................                       10
                                                Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devisee ...................................................................................                             215
                                                Lease consolidation ...................................................................................................................................................   450
                                                Lease renewal or exchange ......................................................................................................................................          410
                                                Lease reinstatement, Class I ....................................................................................................................................         80
                                                Leasing under right-of-way ........................................................................................................................................       410
                                                Geophysical exploration permit application—Alaska ................................................................................................                        25
                                                Renewal of exploration permit—Alaska ....................................................................................................................                 25
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                                                                                                                                          Geothermal (part 3200)

                                                Noncompetitive lease application ..............................................................................................................................           410
                                                Competitive lease application ...................................................................................................................................         160
                                                Assignment and transfer of record title or operating rights ......................................................................................                        90
                                                Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devisee ...................................................................................                             215
                                                Lease consolidation ...................................................................................................................................................   450
                                                Lease reinstatement ..................................................................................................................................................    80



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                                                58630             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                                                                          FY 2016 PROCESSING AND FILING FEE TABLE—Continued
                                                                                                                          Document/action                                                                                                  FY 2016 fee

                                                Nomination of lands ..................................................................................................................................................            115
                                                     plus per acre nomination fee .............................................................................................................................                   0.11
                                                Site license application ..............................................................................................................................................           60
                                                Assignment or transfer of site license .......................................................................................................................                    60

                                                                                                                                              Coal (parts 3400, 3470)

                                                License to mine application .......................................................................................................................................               10
                                                Exploration license application ..................................................................................................................................                335
                                                Lease or lease interest transfer ................................................................................................................................                 65

                                                                                                  Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580)

                                                Applications other than those listed below ...............................................................................................................                        35
                                                Prospecting permit application amendment ..............................................................................................................                           65
                                                Extension of prospecting permit ................................................................................................................................                  110
                                                Lease modification or fringe acreage lease ..............................................................................................................                         30
                                                Lease renewal ...........................................................................................................................................................         525
                                                Assignment, sublease, or transfer of operating rights ..............................................................................................                              30
                                                Transfer of overriding royalty ....................................................................................................................................               30
                                                Use permit .................................................................................................................................................................      30
                                                Shasta and Trinity hardrock mineral lease ...............................................................................................................                         30
                                                Renewal of existing sand and gravel lease in Nevada ............................................................................................                                  30

                                                                                                       Public Law 359; Mining in Powersite Withdrawals: General (part 3730)

                                                Notice of protest of placer mining operations ...........................................................................................................                         10

                                                                                                        Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)

                                                Application to open lands to location ........................................................................................................................                    10
                                                Notice of location * .....................................................................................................................................................        20
                                                Amendment of location .............................................................................................................................................               10
                                                Transfer of mining claim/site .....................................................................................................................................               10
                                                Recording an annual FLPMA filing ...........................................................................................................................                      10
                                                Deferment of assessment work ................................................................................................................................                     110
                                                Recording a notice of intent to locate mining claims on Stockraising Homestead Act lands ..................................                                                       30
                                                Mineral patent adjudication .......................................................................................................................................               3,075 (more than 10 claims)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1,535 (10 or fewer claims)
                                                Adverse claim ............................................................................................................................................................        110
                                                Protest .......................................................................................................................................................................   65

                                                                                                                          Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)

                                                Exploration license application ..................................................................................................................................                320
                                                Application for assignment or sublease of record title or overriding royalty ............................................................                                         65
                                                  * To record a mining claim or site location, you must pay this processing fee along with the initial maintenance fee and the one-time location
                                                fee required by statute. 43 CFR part 3833.


                                                *        *         *         *         *                                     DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                                        SUMMARY:   DoD is issuing a final rule
                                                [FR Doc. 2015–24699 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]                                                                                                               amending the Defense Federal
                                                BILLING CODE 4310–84–P                                                       Defense Acquisition Regulations                                              Acquisition Regulation Supplement
                                                                                                                             System                                                                       (DFARS) to establish that the Electronic
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Data Access system is the primary tool
                                                                                                                             48 CFR Parts 204 and 237                                                     for distributing contracts and contract
                                                                                                                                                                                                          data and to provide internal control
                                                                                                                             [Docket No. DARS 2015–0009]                                                  procedures for data verification to
                                                                                                                             RIN 0750–AI29
                                                                                                                                                                                                          ensure contract documents in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Electronic Data Access system are
                                                                                                                             Defense Federal Acquisition                                                  accurate representations of original
                                                                                                                             Regulation Supplement: Electronic                                            documents. This rule also removes
                                                                                                                                                                                                          outmoded language that is not
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                                                                                                                             Copies of Contractual Documents
                                                                                                                             (DFARS Case 2012–D056)                                                       consistent with electronic document
                                                                                                                                                                                                          processes.
                                                                                                                             AGENCY:  Defense Acquisition
                                                                                                                             Regulations System, Department of                                            DATES: Effective September 30, 2015.
                                                                                                                             Defense (DoD).                                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:   Ms.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tresa Sullivan, telephone 571–372–
                                                                                                                             ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          6089.


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Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:31:31
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:31:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis final rule is effective October 1, 2015.
ContactSteven Wells, Chief, Division of Fluid Minerals, 202-912-7143; Mitchell Leverette, Chief, Division of Solid Minerals, 202-912-7113; or Mark Purdy, Regulatory Affairs, 202-912- 7635. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may leave a message for these individuals with the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
FR Citation80 FR 58625 
RIN Number1004-AE44
CFR AssociatedPublic Lands-Mineral Resources and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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