81 FR 23514 - Notice of Proposed Audit Delegation Renewal for the States of Alaska, California, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Natural Resources Revenue

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 77 (April 21, 2016)

The States of Alaska, California, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming are requesting that ONRR renew current delegations of audit and investigation authority. This notice gives members of the public an opportunity to review and comment on the States' proposals.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23514-23515]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09217]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Natural Resources Revenue

[Docket No. ONRR-2011-0018; DS63610000 DR2PS0000.CH7000 167D0102R2]


Notice of Proposed Audit Delegation Renewal for the States of 
Alaska, California, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of Natural Resources Revenue 
(ONRR), Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The States of Alaska, California, Colorado, North Dakota, 
Texas, Utah, and Wyoming are requesting that ONRR renew current 
delegations of audit and investigation authority. This notice gives 
members of the public an opportunity to review and comment on the 
States' proposals.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this notice by any of the 
following methods:
     Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter ONRR-2011-0018, and then 
click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments. ONRR 
will post all comments.
     Email comments to Luis Aguilar, Regulatory Specialist, at 
[email protected]. Please reference the Docket No. ONRR-2011-0018 
in your comments.
     Hand-carry comments or use an overnight courier service. 
Our courier address is Building 85, Room A-614, Denver Federal Center, 
West 6th Ave. and Kipling St., Denver, Colorado 80225. Please reference 
the Docket No. ONRR-2011-0018 in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Heidi Badaracco, State and Tribal 
Support, State and Indian Coordination, ONRR; telephone (303) 231-3434; 
or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following officials are the State 
contacts for their respective proposals:

[[Page 23515]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
            State                  Department       Contact information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska.......................  Division of Oil    Monica French, 550
                                and Gas.           West 7th Avenue,
                                                   Suite 800, Anchorage,
                                                   AK 99501-5313.
California...................  State              Elizabeth Gonzalez,
                                Controller's       300 Capitol Mall,
                                Office.            Suite 518,
                                                   Sacramento, CO 94250-
                                                   5874.
Colorado.....................  Colorado           Brenda Petersen, 720
                                Department of      S. Colorado Blvd.,
                                Revenue, Mineral   Suite 400N, Denver,
                                Audit Section.     CO 80246-1968.
North Dakota.................  State Auditor's    Dennis Roller, 425
                                Office, Royalty    North 5th Street, 3rd
                                Audit Section.     Floor, Bismarck, ND
                                                   58501-4033.
Texas........................  Texas General      Luke Decker, 1700 N.
                                Land Office.       Congress Ave., Suite
                                                   640, Austin, TX 78701-
                                                   1436.
Utah.........................  Utah State Tax     Jennifer Casady, 210
                                Commission.        North 1950 West, Salt
                                                   Lake City, Utah 64134-
                                                   9000.
Wyoming......................  WY Dept. of        Steve Dilsaver, 122
                                Audit, Mineral     West 25th Street,
                                Audit Division.    Cheyenne, WY 82001-
                                                   3004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The States' new agreement application, including proposed budget 
and work plan, are due April 1, 2016. In accordance with 30 CFR 
1227.101(b)(1), the States request that ONRR delegate the royalty 
management functions of conducting audits and investigations. The 
States request delegation of these functions for producing Federal oil 
and gas leases within the State boundaries, as applicable. This is for 
producing Federal oil and gas leases in the Outer Continental Shelf, 
subject to revenue sharing under 8(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1337(g); and for other producing solid mineral or 
geothermal Federal leases within the State. The States do not request 
delegation of royalty and production reporting functions. In addition 
to audit and investigation authority, the State of Wyoming also 
requests to renew its authority under 30 CFR 1227.101(b)(2) to issue 
Orders to Pay, Orders to Perform, and tolling agreements as a result of 
an audit or compliance review; it also requests to renew its subpoena 
authority under the Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act related to 
oil and gas revenues owed to the United States and shared with the 
State, which are attributable to leased Federal onshore property within 
the State.
    The States have asked ONRR to renew the delegations within the time 
required by 30 CFR 1227.110(b). The States of Alaska, California, and 
Utah request 100-percent funding of the delegated functions for a 3-
year period beginning July 1, 2016, with the opportunity to extend for 
an additional 3-year period. The States of Colorado, North Dakota, 
Texas, and Wyoming request 100-percent funding of the delegated 
functions for a 3-year period beginning October 1, 2016, with the 
opportunity to extend for an additional 3-year period. The States have 
a current audit delegation agreement with ONRR, as shown in the table 
below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            State                 Agreement No.             Term
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska......................  D12AC70003            7/01/2010-6/30/2013,
                                                     7/01/2013-6/30/
                                                     2016.
California..................  D12AC70004            7/01/2010-6/30/2013,
                                                     7/01/2013-6/30/
                                                     2016.
Colorado....................  D12AC70005            10/01/2010-9/30/
                                                     2013, 10/01/2013-9/
                                                     30/2016.
North Dakota................  D12AC70007            10/01/2010-9/30/
                                                     2013, 10/01/2013-9/
                                                     30/2016.
Texas.......................  D12AC70009            10/01/2010-9/30/
                                                     2013, 10/01/2013-9/
                                                     30/2016.
Utah........................  D12AC70010            7/01/2010-6/30/2013,
                                                     7/01/2013-6/30/
                                                     2016.
Wyoming.....................  D12AC70012            10/01/2010-9/30/
                                                     2013, 10/01/2013-9/
                                                     30/2016.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, ONRR has determined that we will not hold a formal 
hearing for comments under 30 CFR 1227.105.

    Dated: April 6, 2016.
Gregory J. Gould,
Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
[FR Doc. 2016-09217 Filed 4-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4335-30-P