Oil and Gas Leasing: Fees, Rentals and Royalty, 21810-21811 [05-8362]

Download as PDF 21810 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 27, 2005 / Notices individual with a disability needing an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting, such as an interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format, must notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Although the BLM will attempt to meet a request received after that date, the requested auxiliary aid or service may not be available because of insufficient time to arrange it. The Federal Advisory Committee Management Regulations [41 CFR 101– 6.1015(b),] require BLM to publish in the Federal Register notice of a meeting 15 days prior to the meeting date. II. Public Comment Procedures Members of the public may make oral statements to the Advisory Board on May 23, 2005, at the appropriate point in the agenda. This opportunity is anticipated to occur at 4 p.m., local time. Persons wishing to make statements should register with the BLM by noon on May 23, 2005, at the meeting location. Depending on the number of speakers, the Advisory Board may limit the length of presentations. At previous meetings, presentations have been limited to three minutes in length. Speakers should address the specific wild horse and burro-related topics listed on the agenda. Speakers must submit a written copy of their statement to the address listed in the ADDRESSES section or bring a written copy to the meeting. Participation in the Advisory Board meeting is not a prerequisite for submission of written comments. The BLM invites written comments from all interested parties. Your written comments should be specific and explain the reason for any recommendation. The BLM appreciates any and all comments, but those most useful and likely to influence decisions on management and protection of wild horses and burros are those that are either supported by quantitative information or studies or those that include citations to and analysis of applicable laws and regulations. Except for comments provided in electronic format, speakers should submit two copies of their written comments where feasible. The BLM will not necessarily consider comments received after the time indicated under the DATES section or at locations other than that listed in the ADDRESSES section. In the event there is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for a copy of your comments, the BLM will make them available in their entirety, including your name and VerDate jul<14>2003 16:41 Apr 26, 2005 Jkt 205001 address. However, if you do not want the BLM to release your name and address in response to a FOIA request, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. The BLM will honor your request to the extent allowed by law. The BLM will release all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, in their entirety, including names and addresses. Electronic Access and Filing Address Speakers may transmit comments electronically via the Internet to: Janet_Neal@blm.gov. Please include the identifier ‘‘WH&B’’ in the subject of your message and your name and address in the body of your message. Dated: April 21, 2005. Edward W. Shepard, Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning. [FR Doc. 05–8358 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WO–310–1310–PB–24 1A] Oil and Gas Leasing: Fees, Rentals and Royalty Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notification to suspend all royalty reductions granted under the heavy oil program and termination of the availability of further heavy oil royalty relief and request for comment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing the sixmonth notification to suspend all royalty reductions for the production of heavy oil under the regulations at 43 CFR 3103.4–3(b)(6)(i) and of the termination of availability of further heavy oil relief. In addition, BLM is requesting comments on the conditions under which the suspension of the program should end. DATES: This suspension of royalty reductions for the production of heavy oil is effective on November 1, 2005. You should submit your comments on the suspension conditions to BLM at the address below on or before May 27, 2005. BLM may or may not consider any comments received after the above date in the decision-making process. ADDRESSES: Mail: Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Office, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153. Personal or messenger delivery: 1620 L Street, NW., Suite 401, Washington, DC 20036. Direct Internet: https:// www.blm.gov.nhp/news/regulatory/ index.html. Internet E-mail: WOComments@blm.gov. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www/regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rudy Baier, Fluid Minerals Group, Bureau of Land Management, (202) 452– 5024 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 800–877–8339, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except holidays, for assistance in reaching Mr. Baier. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 43 CFR 3103.4–3(b)(6)(i), BLM may suspend or terminate all heavy oil royalty reductions and terminate the availability of further heavy oil royalty relief ‘‘upon 6 month’s notice in the Federal Register when BLM determines that the average oil price has remained above $24 per barrel over a period of 6 consecutive months (based on the WTI Crude average posted prices and adjusted for inflation using the implicit price deflator for gross national product with 1991 as the base year).’’ The adjusted threshold for the third quarter of calendar year 2004 was $30.83 and for the fourth quarter $31.00. Based on our analysis, The WTI Crude average oil prices exceeded the adjusted threshold at all times during the last 6 months. Therefore, as authorized by 43 CFR 3103.4–3, this serves as notice that BLM will suspend the heavy oil royalty reduction program effective on November 1, 2005. Therefore, beginning on the effective date of the suspension, those properties currently receiving relief under section 3103.4–3 must pay royalty in accordance with the royalty rate in the lease or other BLM-approved royalty rate reductions, such as the royalty rate reductions available for certain stripper well properties under 43 CFR 3103.4–2. The regulations do not include any provisions addressing what action BLM must take to remove the suspension and re-initiate the heavy oil royalty rate reduction program. BLM proposes that the suspension be lifted upon notice in the Federal Register after BLM determines that the average oil price has remained below $24 per barrel over a period of 6 consecutive months (based on the WTI Crude average posted prices and adjusted for inflation using the E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM 27APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 27, 2005 / Notices implicit price deflator for gross national products with 1991 as the base year). BLM proposes that the effective date of the end of the suspension be the first day of the month more than 6 months after publication of the notice of reinitiation in the Federal Register. In order to receive the benefits under the heavy oil royalty reduction program after the suspension ends, operators/ payors must follow the regulations at 43 CFR 3103.4–3, including the requirement to notify BLM under § 3103.4–3(b). BLM recognizes that the $24 per barrel trigger was instituted over 8 years ago and conditions since that time may have changed considerably. Therefore, BLM is requesting comments on the conditions under which a suspension should end. Specifically, BLM seeks comment on whether it should reinitiate relief sooner than 6 months after it publishes notice that the program is beginning again after 6 months of below-trigger prices. Please see the ADDRESSES section above for information on where to submit your comments. Dated: March 18, 2005. Rebecca W. Watson, Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management. [FR Doc. 05–8362 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [UTU 010063] Public Land Order No. 7632; Partial Revocation of Public Land Order No. 2354 and Revocation of Secretarial Order Dated January 27, 1908; Utah Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Public Land Order. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This order partially revokes a Public Land Order and revokes a Secretarial Order in its entirety insofar as they affect approximately 1,339 acres of National Forest System lands withdrawn for administrative and public service sites, recreation areas, and roadside zones. This order opens the lands to such forms of disposition as authorized by law on National Forest System lands and to mining. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 27, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha Fryer, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, 324–25th Street, Ogden, Utah 84401–2310, 801–625– 5802. VerDate jul<14>2003 16:41 Apr 26, 2005 Jkt 205001 The Forest Service has determined that these lands no longer need to be withdrawn and has requested the revocations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Order By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior by Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714 (2000), it is ordered as follows: 1. Public Land Order No. 2354, which withdrew National Forest System lands for administrative and public service sites, recreation areas, and roadside zones, is hereby revoked insofar as it affects the following described lands: Fishlake National Forest Salt Lake Meridian Christiansen Spring Administrative Site T. 25 S., R. 1 W., sec. 18, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4 lot 1, and NW1⁄4NW1⁄4 lot 2. T. 25 S., R. 2 W., sec. 13, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4 and NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4. Forshea Mountain Administrative Site T. 29 S., R. 21⁄2 W., sec. 13, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4 and N1⁄2N1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4. Lisonbee Spring Administrative Site T. 21 S., R. 4 E., sec. 34, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4. Meadow Creek Recreation Area T. 22 S., R. 4 W., sec. 20, E1⁄2E1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4 and NW1⁄4SE1⁄4. Meadow Gulch Administrative Site T. 23 S., R. 3 E., sec. 14, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4; sec. 23, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4. Mountain Ranch Administrative Site T. 22 S., R. 3 E., sec. 15, lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, and W1⁄2. Musinia Administrative Site T. 21 S., R. 3 E., sec. 4, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4. Pioneer Administrative Site T. 21 S., R. 3 W., partly unsurveyed, sec. 1, W1⁄2SE1⁄4; sec. 12, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4. Radford Administrative Site T. 17 S., R. 3 W., sec. 8, E1⁄2NW1⁄4 and W1⁄2NE1⁄4. Soldier Fork Administrative Site T. 22 S., R. 1 E., sec. 4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4. Solitude Administrative Site T. 22 S., R. 3 W., sec. 23, N1⁄2NW1⁄4. The areas described aggregate approximately 1,200 acres in Millard, Piute, and Sevier Counties. 2. The Secretarial Order dated January 27, 1908, which withdrew the following described National Forest System land PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21811 for the Redview Administrative Site, is hereby revoked in its entirety: Fishlake National Forest Salt Lake Meridian T. 23 S., R. 4 W., unsurveyed. A tract of land containing approximately 139 acres in Sevier County. 3. At 10 a.m. on May 27, 2005, all of the lands described in this order shall be opened to such forms of disposition as authorized by law on National Forest System lands, including location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, the provisions of existing withdrawals, other segregations of record, and the requirements of applicable law. Appropriation of lands described in this order under the general mining laws prior to the date and time of restoration is unauthorized. Any such attempted appropriation, including attempted adverse possession under 30 U.S.C. 38 (2000), shall vest no rights against the United States. Acts required to establish a location and to initiate a right of possession are governed by State law where not in conflict with Federal law. The Bureau of Land Management will not intervene in disputes between rival locators over possessory rights since Congress has provided for such determinations in local courts. Dated: April 1, 2005. Rebecca W. Watson, Assistant Secretary—Land and Minerals Management. [FR Doc. 05–8363 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029–0092 and 1029– 0107 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval for the collections of information under 30 CFR 745, State-Federal cooperative agreements; and 30 CFR 887, Subsidence Insurance Program Grants. DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM 27APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21810-21811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8362]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-310-1310-PB-24 1A]


Oil and Gas Leasing: Fees, Rentals and Royalty

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notification to suspend all royalty reductions granted under 
the heavy oil program and termination of the availability of further 
heavy oil royalty relief and request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing the six-month 
notification to suspend all royalty reductions for the production of 
heavy oil under the regulations at 43 CFR 3103.4-3(b)(6)(i) and of the 
termination of availability of further heavy oil relief. In addition, 
BLM is requesting comments on the conditions under which the suspension 
of the program should end.

DATES: This suspension of royalty reductions for the production of 
heavy oil is effective on November 1, 2005. You should submit your 
comments on the suspension conditions to BLM at the address below on or 
before May 27, 2005. BLM may or may not consider any comments received 
after the above date in the decision-making process.

ADDRESSES: Mail: Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, Eastern 
States Office, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153.
    Personal or messenger delivery: 1620 L Street, NW., Suite 401, 
Washington, DC 20036.
    Direct Internet: https://www.blm.gov.nhp/news/regulatory/.
    Internet E-mail: WOComments@blm.gov.
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www/regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rudy Baier, Fluid Minerals Group, 
Bureau of Land Management, (202) 452-5024 (Commercial or FTS). Persons 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a 
day, seven days a week, except holidays, for assistance in reaching Mr. 
Baier.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 43 CFR 3103.4-3(b)(6)(i), BLM may 
suspend or terminate all heavy oil royalty reductions and terminate the 
availability of further heavy oil royalty relief ``upon 6 month's 
notice in the Federal Register when BLM determines that the average oil 
price has remained above $24 per barrel over a period of 6 consecutive 
months (based on the WTI Crude average posted prices and adjusted for 
inflation using the implicit price deflator for gross national product 
with 1991 as the base year).'' The adjusted threshold for the third 
quarter of calendar year 2004 was $30.83 and for the fourth quarter 
$31.00.
    Based on our analysis, The WTI Crude average oil prices exceeded 
the adjusted threshold at all times during the last 6 months. 
Therefore, as authorized by 43 CFR 3103.4-3, this serves as notice that 
BLM will suspend the heavy oil royalty reduction program effective on 
November 1, 2005.
    Therefore, beginning on the effective date of the suspension, those 
properties currently receiving relief under section 3103.4-3 must pay 
royalty in accordance with the royalty rate in the lease or other BLM-
approved royalty rate reductions, such as the royalty rate reductions 
available for certain stripper well properties under 43 CFR 3103.4-2.
    The regulations do not include any provisions addressing what 
action BLM must take to remove the suspension and re-initiate the heavy 
oil royalty rate reduction program. BLM proposes that the suspension be 
lifted upon notice in the Federal Register after BLM determines that 
the average oil price has remained below $24 per barrel over a period 
of 6 consecutive months (based on the WTI Crude average posted prices 
and adjusted for inflation using the

[[Page 21811]]

implicit price deflator for gross national products with 1991 as the 
base year). BLM proposes that the effective date of the end of the 
suspension be the first day of the month more than 6 months after 
publication of the notice of re-initiation in the Federal Register.
    In order to receive the benefits under the heavy oil royalty 
reduction program after the suspension ends, operators/payors must 
follow the regulations at 43 CFR 3103.4-3, including the requirement to 
notify BLM under Sec.  3103.4-3(b).
    BLM recognizes that the $24 per barrel trigger was instituted over 
8 years ago and conditions since that time may have changed 
considerably. Therefore, BLM is requesting comments on the conditions 
under which a suspension should end. Specifically, BLM seeks comment on 
whether it should re-initiate relief sooner than 6 months after it 
publishes notice that the program is beginning again after 6 months of 
below-trigger prices. Please see the ADDRESSES section above for 
information on where to submit your comments.

    Dated: March 18, 2005.
Rebecca W. Watson,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 05-8362 Filed 4-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P

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