81 FR 56575 - Management of Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 162 (August 22, 2016)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 162 (August 22, 2016)
| Page Range | 56575-56576 | |
| FR Document | 2016-19519 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 56575-56576] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-19519] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Parts 28 and 29 [Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086; FXRS12610900000-167-FF09R24000] RIN 1018-AX36 Management of Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make available the final environmental impact statement (EIS) on regulations governing the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights outside of Alaska in order to improve our ability to protect refuge resources, visitors, and the general public's health and safety from potential impacts associated with non-Federal oil and gas operations located within refuges. DATES: The Service will execute a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days from the date of publication of the notice of availability of the FEIS by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS will be available for public review at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/rulemaking.html and at www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Covington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Natural Resources and Planning, MS: NWRS, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041; telephone 703-358- 2427. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339. Further contact information can be found at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/rulemaking.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior regulations that implement NEPA (part 46 of title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations) and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), we issue this supplementary document. The Environmental Protection Agency will publish similar notification of this action in the Federal Register. Background On February 24, 2014, we issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) (79 FR 10080) to assist us in developing a proposed rule on managing activities associated with non-Federal oil and gas development on lands and waters of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). Non-Federal oil and gas development refers to oil and gas activities associated with any private, state, or tribally owned mineral interest where the surface estate is administered by the Service as part of the Refuge System. The ANPR had a 60-day comment period, ending April 25, 2014. On June 9, 2014, we reopened the comment period for another 30 days, ending July 9, 2014 (79 FR 32903). The ANPR requested the public to focus their comments on seven topics identified as major areas of concern: (1) Plans of Operations and Special Use Permits; (2) Operating Standards; (3) Financial Assurances; (4) Access Fees; (5) Noncompliance; (6) Existing Operations; and (7) Impacts from the Proposed Rulemaking. We published a proposed rule on December 11, 2015 (80 FR 77200), to revise the regulations governing the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights located within NWRS units, and we announced the availability of a draft EIS. The comment period closed February 9, 2016. We now announce the availability of the FEIS. The FEIS evaluates the impacts of three alternatives, including the following alternative elements:Requirement that oil operators proposing new oil and gas development (e.g., drilling a well) obtain an operations permit. Requirement of financial assurance (bonding). Financial assurance would be equal to the reasonable estimated cost of site reclamation. Requirement that all operations, regardless of status, obtain a reclamation permit (including bonding) once that operation ceases to be economically productive. Improving enforcement authority by assimilating State oil and gas laws and regulations. Law enforcement staff would have authority to write citations for noncompliance with State regulations, primarily State regulations addressing surface impacts. [[Page 56576]] Clarifying our authority to permit an operator access on NWRS units outside the boundary of an operator's mineral right. Clarifying the regulations to make it easier to identify an operator's information requirements and operating standards that apply to each type of operation. Dated: July 29, 2016. Michael J. Bean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. 2016-19519 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules 56575
oral statement he or she intends to make Issued in Washington, DC, on August 16, Refuge System Administration Act, as
at the proceeding. The notification 2016. amended by the National Wildlife
should identify the party the person Jamie Rennert, Refuge System Improvement Act (16
represents, the particular subject(s) the Office Director, Office of Program Delivery. U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), we issue this
person plans to address, and the time [FR Doc. 2016–19910 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am] supplementary document. The
requested. The notification should also BILLING CODE 4910–06–P Environmental Protection Agency will
provide the participant’s mailing publish similar notification of this
address and other contact information. action in the Federal Register.
FRA reserves the right to limit DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Background
participation in the hearing of persons On February 24, 2014, we issued an
who fail to provide such notification. Fish and Wildlife Service
advance notice of proposed rulemaking
FRA also reserves the right to limit the (ANPR) (79 FR 10080) to assist us in
duration of presentations if necessary to 50 CFR Parts 28 and 29
developing a proposed rule on
afford all persons with the opportunity [Docket No. FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086; managing activities associated with non-
to speak. For information on facilities or FXRS12610900000–167–FF09R24000] Federal oil and gas development on
services for persons with disabilities, or RIN 1018–AX36 lands and waters of the National
to request special assistance at the Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). Non-
hearing, contact FRA Program Analyst, Management of Non-Federal Oil and Federal oil and gas development refers
Mr. Kenton Kilgore, by telephone, Gas Rights to oil and gas activities associated with
email, or in writing, at least at least 5 any private, state, or tribally owned
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, mineral interest where the surface estate
working days before the date of the
Interior. is administered by the Service as part of
hearing. Mr. Kilgore can be reached at
ACTION: Proposed rule; availability of the Refuge System. The ANPR had a 60-
Federal Railroad Administration, Office
Final Environmental Impact Statement. day comment period, ending April 25,
of Railroad Safety, Mail Stop 25, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 2014. On June 9, 2014, we reopened the
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
DC 20590; (202) 493–6286; or comment period for another 30 days,
Wildlife Service (Service), make
Kenton.Kilgore@dot.gov. ending July 9, 2014 (79 FR 32903). The
available the final environmental impact
ANPR requested the public to focus
Extension of Comment Period. The statement (EIS) on regulations governing
their comments on seven topics
comment period for the NPRM is the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas
identified as major areas of concern: (1)
currently open through August 22, 2016. rights outside of Alaska in order to
Plans of Operations and Special Use
To accommodate the public hearing and improve our ability to protect refuge
Permits; (2) Operating Standards; (3)
afford interested parties the opportunity resources, visitors, and the general
Financial Assurances; (4) Access Fees;
to submit comments in response to public’s health and safety from potential
(5) Noncompliance; (6) Existing
views or information provided at the impacts associated with non-Federal oil
Operations; and (7) Impacts from the
and gas operations located within
public hearing, FRA will extend the Proposed Rulemaking.
refuges. We published a proposed rule on
comment period. FRA must receive
comments in response to views or DATES: The Service will execute a December 11, 2015 (80 FR 77200), to
information provided at the public Record of Decision no sooner than 30 revise the regulations governing the
hearing by October 7, 2016. days from the date of publication of the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas
notice of availability of the FEIS by the rights located within NWRS units, and
Privacy Act Environmental Protection Agency. we announced the availability of a draft
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS will be EIS. The comment period closed
Anyone can search the electronic
available for public review at http:// February 9, 2016. We now announce the
form of any written communications availability of the FEIS.
and comments received into any of our www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/
rulemaking.html and at The FEIS evaluates the impacts of
dockets by the name of the individual three alternatives, including the
www.regulations.gov at Docket No.
submitting the comment (or signing the following alternative elements:
FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086.
document, if submitted on behalf of an • Requirement that oil operators
association, business, labor union, etc.). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
proposing new oil and gas development
See http://www.regulations.gov/ Scott Covington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife (e.g., drilling a well) obtain an
#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice of Service, Division of Natural Resources operations permit.
and Planning, MS: NWRS, 5275 • Requirement of financial assurance
www.regulations.gov. Interested parties
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia (bonding). Financial assurance would be
may also review DOT’s complete
22041; telephone 703–358–2427. If you equal to the reasonable estimated cost of
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal use a telecommunications device for the
Register published on April 11, 2000 site reclamation.
deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information • Requirement that all operations,
(65 FR 19477). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.
DOT solicits comments from the public regardless of status, obtain a reclamation
Further contact information can be permit (including bonding) once that
to better inform its rulemaking process. found at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil- operation ceases to be economically
DOT posts these comments, without and-gas/rulemaking.html. productive.
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edit, including any personal information SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the • Improving enforcement authority by
the commenter provides, to authority of the National Environmental assimilating State oil and gas laws and
www.regulations.gov, as described in Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et regulations. Law enforcement staff
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– seq.) and the Department of the Interior would have authority to write citations
14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at regulations that implement NEPA (part for noncompliance with State
www.dot.gov/privacy. 46 of title 43 of the Code of Federal regulations, primarily State regulations
Regulations) and the National Wildlife addressing surface impacts.
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![56576 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules
• Clarifying our authority to permit • Clarifying the regulations to make it Dated: July 29, 2016.
an operator access on NWRS units easier to identify an operator’s Michael J. Bean,
outside the boundary of an operator’s information requirements and operating Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish
mineral right. standards that apply to each type of and Wildlife and Parks.
operation. [FR Doc. 2016–19519 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with PROPOSALS
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Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:38:20
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:38:20
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Proposed rule; availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement. | |
| Dates | The Service will execute a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days from the date of publication of the notice of availability of the FEIS by the Environmental Protection Agency. | |
| Contact | Scott Covington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Natural Resources and Planning, MS: NWRS, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041; telephone 703-358- 2427. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339. Further contact information can be found at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and- gas/rulemaking.html. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 56575 | |
| RIN Number | 1018-AX36 | |
| CFR Citation | 50
CFR
28 50 CFR 29 |
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