81 FR 24868 - 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 81 (April 27, 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 81 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24868-24869]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09852]


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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 27, 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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           State                 Department        Contact information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska.....................  Division of Oil     Monica French, 550 West
                              and Gas.            7th Avenue, Suite 800,
                                                  Anchorage, AK 99501-
                                                  5313.
California.................  State Controller's  Elizabeth Gonzalez, 300
                              Office.             Capitol Mall, Suite
                                                  518, Sacramento, CA
                                                  94250-5874.
Colorado...................  Colorado            Brenda Petersen, 720 S.
                              Department of       Colorado Blvd., Suite
                              Revenue, Mineral    400N, Denver, CO 80246-
                              Audit Section.      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 Land  Luke Decker, 1700 N.
                              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 Audit,  Steve Dilsaver, 122
                              Mineral Audit       West 25th Street,
                              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-

[[Page 24869]]

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

    Dated: April 22, 2016.
Gregory J. Gould,
Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
[FR Doc. 2016-09852 Filed 4-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4335-30-P