Notification To Terminate the Benefits of the Royalty Rate Reductions Granted Under the Stripper Well Royalty Reduction Program and Request for Comment, 42093-42094 [05-14100]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 139 / Thursday, July 21, 2005 / Notices Interested persons may submit written comments to the BLM at the address stated below. Comments must be received by not later than September 6, 2005. ADDRESSES: Bureau of Land Management, Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Hamilton, Realty Specialist, at the above address or at (307) 352–0334. DATES: The following described public land in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, has been examined and found suitable for classification for lease and/or conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 8890 et seq.) and is hereby classified accordingly: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sixth Meridian, Wyoming T. 20 N., R. 105 W. Sec. 20, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4 The land described contains 5.00 acres. In accordance with the R&PP Act, the Ten-Mile Water and Sewer District has filed a R&PP Act petition/application and plan of development in which it is proposed to use the above described public lands for office and warehouse space needed by the District. The lands are not needed for Federal purposes. Lease or conveyance pursuant to the R&PP Act is consistent with the Green River Resource Area Management Plan, dated August 8, 1987, and would be in the public interest. The lease/ conveyance, when issued, will be subject to the following terms, conditions, and reservations: 1. Provisions of the R&PP Act and to all applicable regulations, policy and including but not limited to the regulations stated in 43 CFR part 2740, guidance of the Secretary of the Interior. 2. Reservation of a right-of-way to the United States for ditches and canals pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1890, 43 U.S.C. 945. 3. All minerals shall be reserved to the United States, together with the right to prospect for mine, and remove the minerals under applicable laws and regulations established by the Secretary of the Interior. 4. Provided, that the land conveyed shall revert to the United States upon a finding, and after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the patentee has not substantially developed the lands in accordance with the approved plan of development on or before the date five years after the date of conveyance. No portion of the land shall under any circumstance revert to the United States if any such portion VerDate jul<14>2003 19:42 Jul 20, 2005 Jkt 205001 has been used for solid waste disposal or for any other purpose which may result in the disposal, placement, or release of any hazardous substance. 5. If, at any time, the patentee validly transfers to another party ownership of any portion of the land not used for the purpose(s) specified in the application and the plan of development, the patentee shall pay the Bureau of Land Management the fair market value, as determined by the authorized officer, of the transferred portion as of the date of transfer, including the value of any improvements thereon. 6. All valid existing rights of record, including those documented on the official public land records at the time of lease/patent issuance. Detailed information concerning the proposed action, including but not limited to documentation relating to compliance with applicable environmental and cultural resource laws, is available for review at the BLM, Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901, telephone: (307) 352–0334. On July 21, 2005, the above described lands will be segregated from all other forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the general mining laws, except for lease or conveyance under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act and leasing under the mineral leasing laws. Interested parties may submit written comments regarding the proposed lease/ conveyance or classification of the lands to the Field Manager, Rock Springs Field Office, at the address stated above in this notice for that purpose. Comments must be received by not later than September 6, 2005. Classification Comments: Interested parties may submit comments involving the suitability of the land for an office building and warehouse facility. Comments on the classification are restricted to whether the land is physically suited for the proposal, whether the use will maximize the future use or uses of the land, whether the use is consistent with local planning and zoning, or if the use is consistent with State and Federal programs. Application Comments: Interested parties may submit comments regarding the specific use proposed in the application and plan of development, whether the Bureau of Land Management followed proper administrative procedures in reaching the decision; or any other factor not directly related to the suitability of the land for an office building and warehouse. Any adverse comments will be reviewed by the State Director, who may PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 42093 sustain, vacate, or modify this realty action. In the absence of any adverse comments, the classification will become effective 60 days after July 21, 2005. (Authority: 43 CFR 2741.5) Dated: June 23, 2005. Michael R. Holbert, Field Manager. [FR Doc. 05–14314 Filed 7–20–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WO–310–1310–PB–24 1A] Notification To Terminate the Benefits of the Royalty Rate Reductions Granted Under the Stripper Well Royalty Reduction Program and Request for Comment AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing the sixmonth notification to terminate all royalty rate reductions for stripper well properties under the regulations at 43 CFR 3103.4–2(b)(4). In addition, BLM is requesting comments on the financial conditions under which BLM would reestablish the benefit. DATES: This termination of benefits for stripper well properties is effective for sales on or after February 1, 2006. Send your comments to reach BLM on or before August 22, 2005. The BLM will not necessarily consider comments received after the above date. 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/ index.html. Internet E-mail: Comments_Washington@blm.gov. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www/regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rudy Baier, 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. E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM 21JYN1 42094 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 139 / Thursday, July 21, 2005 / Notices Under 43 CFR 3103.4–2(b)(4), BLM may terminate the benefits under the stripper well royalty reduction program upon 6 month’s notice in the Federal Register when BLM determines that the average oil price has remained above $28 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 $35.97 and for the fourth quarter $36.16. Based on BLM analysis, the WTI Crude average oil prices exceeded the adjusted threshold during the last 6 months. Therefore, as authorized by 43 CFR 3103.4–2, this serves as notice that BLM will terminate the benefits of the stripper well royalty reduction program effective for sales on or after February 1, 2006. Therefore, beginning on the effective date, those properties currently receiving relief under section 3103.4–2 must pay royalty in accordance with the royalty rate in the lease or other BLMapproved royalty rate reductions. Inherent in our authority to terminate the benefits of the royalty reduction program for stripper wells at a price threshold is the authority to reinstate the program should prices later fall beneath such a threshold. In the event that the new stripper royalty reduction regulations are not in effect when prices again make production uneconomic, BLM proposes to reinstate the availability of benefits under the royalty reduction program for stripper wells after publication of notice in the Federal Register. It is BLM’s intention to propose new regulations to address situations in which prices again make marginal production uneconomic. In the time between when the benefits of the program terminate and when the new regulations are effective, BLM may reinstate the existing program. BLM proposes to reinstate the availability of benefits when it determines that the average oil price has remained below $28 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). BLM recognizes that the $28 per barrel trigger was instituted over 12 years ago and conditions since that time may have changed considerably. Therefore, BLM is requesting comment specifically on the financial conditions under which BLM would reestablish the benefit under the existing stripper well SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate jul<14>2003 19:42 Jul 20, 2005 Jkt 205001 royalty reduction program. Please see the ADDRESSES section above for information on where to submit your comments. Dated: May 13, 2005. J.O. Ratcliff, Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management. [FR Doc. 05–14100 Filed 7–20–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement\General Management Plan, Minidoka Internment National Monument, Jerome County, ID; Notice of Availability SUMMARY: Pursuant to 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91–190, as amended), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500–1508), the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a draft general management plan (GMP) and environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Minidoka Internment National Monument located in Jerome County, Idaho. In addition to a ‘‘no-action’’ alternative (which would maintain current management), the DEIS describes and analyzes three ‘‘action’’ alternatives which respond to the concerns and issues of the public identified during the extensive scoping process, as well as conservation planning requirements. These alternatives present varying management strategies for resource protection and preservation, education and interpretation, visitor use and facilities, land protection and boundaries, and long-term operations and management of the national monument. The potential environmental consequences of all the alternatives, and mitigation strategies, are identified and analyzed; a determination as to the ‘‘environmentally preferred’’ alternative is also provided in the DEIS. Scoping: A Notice of Intent announcing preparation of the DEIS and general management plan was published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2002. Extensive public involvement was deemed necessary for the success of this planning project, given the nature and sensitivity of the national monument’s history, the speed in which the national monument was established, as well as the national monument’s remote location. Public engagement and information measures PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 have included public meetings and workshops, presentations and meetings with interested stakeholders, briefings with the Congressional delegation and State and Jerome county officials, newsletter mailings, local and regional and press releases, and Web site postings. Preceding the formal GMP planning process, National Park Service (NPS) staff conducted informational meetings about the national monument with Japanese American organizations, community organizations, various governmental entities, potential stakeholder groups, and individuals during the spring, summer and early fall of 2002. Approximately 50 meetings were held in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska during this time, and approximately 2,000 people were contacted. The purpose of these initial meetings was to help characterize the scale and extent of the planning process. Thus far the NPS has encouraged the public to provide relevant information, issues and concerns during two formal public planning stages. The first stage, called Scoping, was intended to elicit issues, concerns, and suggestions to be addressed during the planning process. Nine public workshops were held in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon in November 2002; per Federal Register announcement dated November 19, 2002 the scoping period was extended an additional 30 days through December 31, 2002. Overall 250 people provided comments in workshops, and another 225 people provided written comments. The second stage, called Draft Alternatives, was intended to present the public with preliminary draft alternatives and invite comments on these alternatives. These draft alternatives were developed to address the specific issues and concerns that were raised by the public during the Scoping phase. Eleven public workshops were held in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon in July and August 2003 (215 people provided oral comments in the workshops, and another 50 people provided written comments). Proposed Plan and Alternatives: Alternative A is the ‘‘no-action’’ alternative and would continue current management practices. This alternative would provide general management guidance for incremental and minimal changes in park operations, staffing, visitor services, and facilities to accommodate visitors. While the historic resources of the site would continue to be protected, only minor additional site work would be anticipated under this alternative. The ‘‘no-action’’ alternative is the baseline E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM 21JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42093-42094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14100]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

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


Notification To Terminate the Benefits of the Royalty Rate 
Reductions Granted Under the Stripper Well Royalty Reduction Program 
and Request for Comment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing the six-month 
notification to terminate all royalty rate reductions for stripper well 
properties under the regulations at 43 CFR 3103.4-2(b)(4). In addition, 
BLM is requesting comments on the financial conditions under which BLM 
would reestablish the benefit.

DATES: This termination of benefits for stripper well properties is 
effective for sales on or after February 1, 2006. Send your comments to 
reach BLM on or before August 22, 2005. The BLM will not necessarily 
consider comments received after the above date.

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: Comments--Washington@blm.gov.
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www/regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rudy Baier, 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.

[[Page 42094]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 43 CFR 3103.4-2(b)(4), BLM may 
terminate the benefits under the stripper well royalty reduction 
program upon 6 month's notice in the Federal Register when BLM 
determines that the average oil price has remained above $28 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 
$35.97 and for the fourth quarter $36.16.
    Based on BLM analysis, the WTI Crude average oil prices exceeded 
the adjusted threshold during the last 6 months. Therefore, as 
authorized by 43 CFR 3103.4-2, this serves as notice that BLM will 
terminate the benefits of the stripper well royalty reduction program 
effective for sales on or after February 1, 2006. Therefore, beginning 
on the effective date, those properties currently receiving relief 
under section 3103.4-2 must pay royalty in accordance with the royalty 
rate in the lease or other BLM-approved royalty rate reductions.
    Inherent in our authority to terminate the benefits of the royalty 
reduction program for stripper wells at a price threshold is the 
authority to reinstate the program should prices later fall beneath 
such a threshold. In the event that the new stripper royalty reduction 
regulations are not in effect when prices again make production 
uneconomic, BLM proposes to reinstate the availability of benefits 
under the royalty reduction program for stripper wells after 
publication of notice in the Federal Register.
    It is BLM's intention to propose new regulations to address 
situations in which prices again make marginal production uneconomic. 
In the time between when the benefits of the program terminate and when 
the new regulations are effective, BLM may reinstate the existing 
program.
    BLM proposes to reinstate the availability of benefits when it 
determines that the average oil price has remained below $28 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).
    BLM recognizes that the $28 per barrel trigger was instituted over 
12 years ago and conditions since that time may have changed 
considerably. Therefore, BLM is requesting comment specifically on the 
financial conditions under which BLM would reestablish the benefit 
under the existing stripper well royalty reduction program. Please see 
the ADDRESSES section above for information on where to submit your 
comments.

    Dated: May 13, 2005.
J.O. Ratcliff,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 05-14100 Filed 7-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
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