Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Chukchi Sea Alaska, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193, 209-214 [07-6226]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 1 / Wednesday, January 2, 2008 / Notices
ACTION:
Notice of realty action.
Public Law 106–485 (Nov. 9,
2000; 114 Stat. 2199) directs the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through
the Bureau of Land Management, to
convey all right, title and interest
(excluding mineral interest) in a parcel
of public land in Big Horn County and
Washakie County, Wyoming. The parcel
of land to be conveyed comprises some
portion or portions of approximately
16,077.59 acres. Conveyance is to be
made to the Westside Irrigation District,
at appraised value. The sale will be
processed according to regulations at 43
CFR 2711.1–2.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments
concerning this Notice to Field
Manager, Bureau of Land Management,
Worland Field Office, P.O. Box 119,
Worland, WY 82401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Tkach, Interim Westside Project
Manager, at the above address or
telephone (307) 347–5100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
following-described public land in
Washakie and Big Horn Counties,
Wyoming, are under consideration for
conveyance by direct sale under Public
Law 106–485 (Nov. 9, 2000; 114 Stat.
2199):
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SUMMARY:
Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming
T. 48 N., R. 92 W.
Sec. 18, lots 2, 4;
Sec. 19, lot 1
T. 49 N., R. 92 W.
Sec. 18, lots 6–9;
Sec. 19, lots 5–13;
Sec. 30, lots 5–18;
Sec. 31, lots 5–15.
T. 48 N., R. 921⁄2 W.
Sec. 1, lots 1–6, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2 SE1⁄4;
Sec. 12, lots 1–4, W1⁄2E1⁄2;
Sec. 13, lots 1–4, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4 NE1⁄4,
SE1⁄4;
Sec. 24, lots 1–4, E1⁄2;
Sec. 25, lots 1–4, W1⁄2 E1⁄2.
T. 48 N., R. 93 W.
Sec. 1, lots 5–16, S1⁄2;
Sec. 2, lots 5–16, S1⁄2;
Sec. 3, lots 5–16, S1⁄2;
Sec. 10, Entire Section;
Sec. 11, Entire Section:
Sec. 12, Entire Section;
Sec. 13, Entire Section;
Sec. 14, Entire Section;
Sec. 15, Entire Section;
Sec. 22, N1⁄2, SE1⁄4;
Sec. 23, Entire Section;
Sec. 24, Entire Section;
Sec. 25, lots 1 and 2, N1⁄2 SW1⁄4, N1⁄2 SE1⁄4;
Sec. 26, N1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 36, lots 1 and 2, N1⁄2NW1⁄4.
T. 49 N., R. 93 W.
Sec. 1, SW1⁄4 SW1⁄4;
Sec. 2, lot 3, S1⁄2 NW1⁄4, S1⁄2;
Sec. 11, N1⁄2N1⁄2, SE1⁄4;
Sec. 12, W1⁄2NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4,
W1⁄2SE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
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Sec. 13, Entire Section;
Sec. 14, E1⁄2;
Sec. 23, E1⁄2;
Sec. 24, Entire Section;
Sec. 25, N1⁄2;
Sec. 26, NE1⁄4.
The area described contains 16,077.59
acres, more or less, in Washakie and Big
Horn Counties, Wyoming.
The law authorizing the transfer of the
land specifies that acreage may be
added to or subtracted from the land to
be conveyed to satisfy any mitigation
requirements resulting from the NEPA
analysis. The law provides that
proceeds from the sale are to be used
‘‘for acquisition of land and interests in
land in the Worland District of the
Bureau of Land Management that will
benefit public recreation, public access,
fish and wildlife habitat, or cultural
resources.’’
On publication in the Federal
Register the above-described land will
be segregated from appropriation under
the public land laws, including the
mining laws. Until completion of the
sale, the BLM is no longer accepting
land use applications affecting the
identified public land, except
applications for the amendment of
previously-filed right-of-way
applications or existing authorizations
to increase the term of the grants in
accordance with 43 CFR 2807.15. The
segregative effect will terminate upon
issuance of a patent or publication in
the Federal Register of a termination of
the segregation, or 2 years after the date
of publication in the Federal Register
unless extended by the BLM State
Director in accordance with 43 CFR
2711.1–2(d) prior to the termination
date.
Public Comments: Interested parties
and the general public may submit in
writing any comments concerning the
land being conveyed by direct sale,
including notification of any
encumbrances or other claims relating
to the identified land, to Field Manager,
BLM Worland Field Office, at the above
address. Before including your address,
phone number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made public at any time. While you
can ask us in your comment to withhold
your personal identifying information
from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
(Authority: Public Law 106–485 (Nov. 9,
2000; 114 Stat. 2199))
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Dated: December 19, 2007.
Bill Hill,
Field Manger.
[FR Doc. E7–25539 Filed 12–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service (MMS)
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Chukchi
Sea Alaska, Oil and Gas Lease Sale
193
Minerals Management Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Final Notice of Sale (FNOS),
OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193,
Chukchi Sea.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The MMS will hold OCS Oil
and Gas Lease Sale 193 on February 6,
2008, in accordance with provisions of
the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331–
1356, as amended), the implementing
regulations (30 CFR 256), and the OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2007–
2012.
DATES: Lease Sale 193 is scheduled to be
held on February 6, 2008, at the Wilda
Marston Theatre, Z. J. Loussac Public
Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage,
Alaska. Public reading will begin at 9
a.m. All times referenced in this
document are local Anchorage, Alaska,
times, unless otherwise specified.
ADDRESSES: A package containing the
FNOS and several supporting and
essential documents referenced herein
is available from: Alaska OCS Region,
Minerals Management Service, 3801
Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503–5823,
Telephone: (907) 334–5200 or 1–800–
764–2627.
These documents are also available on
the MMS Alaska OCS Region’s Web
page at https://www.mms.gov/alaska.
Bid Submission Deadline: Bidders
will be required to submit sealed bids to
MMS at the Alaska OCS Region Office,
3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503, by 10 a.m. on
the day before the sale, Tuesday,
February 5, 2008. If bids are mailed, the
envelope containing all of the sealed
bids must be marked as follows:
Attention: Mr. Fred King, Contains
Sealed Bids for Sale 193.
If bids are received later than the time
and date specified above, they will be
returned unopened to the bidders.
Bidders may not modify or withdraw
their bids unless the Regional Director,
Alaska OCS Region, receives a written
modification or written withdrawal
request prior to 10 a.m., Tuesday,
February 5, 2008. Should an unexpected
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event such as an earthquake or travel
restrictions be significantly disruptive to
bid submission, the Alaska OCS Region
may extend the Bid Submission
Deadline. Bidders may call (907) 334–
5200 for information about the possible
extension of the Bid Submission
Deadline due to such an event.
Area Offered for Lease: The MMS is
offering for lease all whole and partial
blocks listed in the document ‘‘Blocks
Available for Leasing in OCS Oil and
Gas Lease Sale 193’’ included in the
FNOS 193 package. All of these blocks
are shown on OCS Official Protraction
Diagrams, and in some cases on
Supplemental Official OCS Block
Diagrams. The following OCS Official
Protraction Diagrams pertain to the Sale
193 area and are available at https://
www.mms.gov/ld/alaska.htm.
• NS 02–08, Unnamed, revised
December 31, 1994
• NS 03–07, Unnamed, revised
December 31, 1994
• NS 03–08, Unnamed, revised
December 31, 1994
• NS 04–07, Unnamed, revised
December 31, 1994
• NS 04–08, Unnamed, revised
December 31, 1994
• NR 02–02, Tison, revised December
31, 1994
• NR 03–01, Karo, revised December
31, 1994
• NR 03–02, Posey, revised December
31, 1994
• NR 04–01, Hanna Shoal, revised
September 30, 1997
• NR 04–02, Barrow, revised
September 30, 1997
• NR 02–04, Studds, revised
December 31, 1994
• NR 03–03, Colbert, revised
December 31, 1994
• NR 03–04, Solivik Island, revised
September 30, 1997
• NR 04–03, Wainwright, revised
September 30, 1997
• NR 02–06, Chukchi Sea, revised
December 31, 1994
• NR 03–05, Point Lay West, revised
September 30, 1997
A listing of blocks included in the
sale is available at the MMS office listed
above. The locator map (available at
https://www.mms.gov/alaska) may assist
you in locating a particular block, but it
should not be used for the official
description of blocks available for lease.
The OCS Official Protraction Diagrams
constitute the official descriptions of the
areas offered.
Note that block numbers may repeat
between OCS Official Protraction
Diagrams (OPD’s). To uniquely describe
a lease tract, you must reference both
the OPD number and name and the
block number.
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Statutes and Regulations: Each lease
issued in the lease sale is subject to the
OCS Lands Act of August 7, 1953, 67
Stat. 462; 43 U.S.C. 1331, et seq., as
amended (92 Stat. 629), hereinafter
called ‘‘the Act’’; all regulations issued
pursuant to the Act and in existence
upon the effective date of the lease; all
regulations issued pursuant to the
statute in the future which provide for
the prevention of waste and
conservation of the natural resources of
the OCS and the protection of
correlative rights therein; and all other
applicable statutes and regulations.
Lease Terms and Conditions: The
following lease terms and condition
apply:
Initial Period: 10 years.
Minimum Bonus Bid Amounts: $25.00
per hectare, or a fraction thereof, for all
blocks. Refer to the Final Notice of Sale,
Chukchi Sea Sale 193 map, and the
Summary Table of Minimum Bids,
Minimum Royalty Rates, and Rental
Rates shown below.
Rental Rates: The Lessee shall pay the
Lessor, on or before the first day of each
lease year which commences prior to a
discovery in paying quantities of oil or
gas on the leased area, a rental at the
rate shown below in the Summary Table
of Minimum Bids, Minimum Royalty
Rates, and Rental Rates. During the time
period in which a lease is classified as
producible, i.e., following a discovery in
paying quantities, but before royaltybearing production begins, a rental of
$13 per hectare or fraction thereof,
applies and is paid at the end of each
lease year until the start of royaltybearing production.
Minimum Royalty Rates: After the
start of royalty-bearing production and
notwithstanding any royalty suspension
which may apply, the Lessee shall pay
the Lessor a minimum royalty of $13 per
hectare, or fraction thereof, to be paid at
the expiration of each lease year with
credit applied for actual royalty paid
during the lease year. If actual royalty
paid exceeds the minimum royalty
requirement, then no minimum royalty
payment is due.
Royalty Rates: A 121⁄2 percent royalty
rate will apply for all blocks.
SUMMARY TABLE OF MINIMUM BIDS,
MINIMUM ROYALTY RATES, AND
RENTAL RATES—Continued
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
2 ............................
3 ............................
4 ............................
5 ............................
6 ............................
7 ............................
8 ............................
9 ............................
10 ..........................
3.75
5.00
6.25
7.50
10.00
12.00
15.00
17.00
20.00
Royalty Suspension: Royalty
suspension, prorated by lease acreage
and subject to price thresholds, will
apply to all blocks. In accordance with
applicable regulations at 30 CFR 260,
the following royalty suspension
provisions will apply to leases issued as
a result of Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas
Lease Sale 193. In addition to these
Royalty Suspension Provisions, please
refer to 30 CFR 218.151 and applicable
parts of 260.120–260.124 for regulations
on royalty suspensions and rental
obligations that will apply to your lease.
1. A lease in the Chukchi Sea,
depending on surface area, will receive
a royalty suspension volume (RSV) as
follows:
Lease size
(hectares)
Less than 771 .......................
771 to less than 1,541 ..........
1,541 or more .......................
RSV
(million barrels
of oil equivalent)
10
20
30
2. Natural gas must be measured in
accordance with 30 CFR 203.73.
3. Each lessee must pay royalty on
production that might otherwise receive
royalty relief (in 30 CFR 260) for any
calendar year during which the actual
New York Mercantile Exchange
(NYMEX) annual price for the light
sweet crude oil or natural gas exceeds
the threshold price ($39 per barrel of oil
or $6.50 per million British thermal
units (Btu) of gas, adjusted for inflation)
in that year. Such production will be
deducted from the remaining RSV. The
actual NYMEX annual price for the
commodity is defined as the arithmetic
average of the daily closing prices for
the ‘‘nearby delivery month’’ on the
SUMMARY TABLE OF MINIMUM BIDS,
NYMEX in a calendar year. The actual
MINIMUM ROYALTY RATES, AND NYMEX annual price for the commodity
RENTAL RATES
is calculated by averaging the
commodity daily closing prices for each
Terms (values per hectare or fraction
month in the year, and then averaging
thereof)
the 12 monthly averages.
(a) The threshold price in any year,
Royalty Rate .........................
121⁄2% fixed
Minimum Bonus Bid .............
$25.00 say year t, is determined by inflating the
Minimum Royalty Rate .........
13.00 base year 2004 price of $39 per barrel
of oil or $6.50 per million Btu of gas.
Rental Rates:
Year 1 ............................
2.50 This base year price is modified by the
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percentage change in the implicit price
deflator as reported by the U.S.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of
Economic Analysis, for the interval
between 2004 and year t, resulting in
the adjusted threshold price for year t.
For example, if the deflator indicates
that inflation is 1.6 percent in 2005, 2.1
percent in 2006, 2.5 percent in 2007,
and 2.5 percent for 2008, then the
threshold price in calendar year 2008
would become $42.50 per barrel of oil
and $7.08 per million Btu of gas.
Therefore, royalty on oil production in
calendar year 2008 would be due if the
2008 actual NYMEX oil price, as
calculated above, exceeds $42.50 per
barrel. The royalty on gas production in
calendar year 2008 would be due if the
2008 actual NYMEX gas price, as
calculated above, exceeds $7.08 per
million Btu.
(b) Royalties on production, when the
actual NYMEX annual price of the
commodity exceeds the threshold price
in any calendar year, must be paid no
later than 90 days after the end of that
calendar year. (See 30 CFR 260.122(b)).
Also, when the actual NYMEX annual
price of the commodity exceeds the
threshold price in any calendar year,
royalties on production must be
provisionally paid in the following
calendar year. (See 30 CFR 260.122(c)).
4. In the case of a Sale 193 lease that
is part of an approved unit agreement,
allocated production from the unit can
only apply against the lease’s RSV if
that lease is included in an approved
participating area. The RSV will be
applied to each lease consistent with the
production allocation schedule
approved by the MMS for the
participating area. Participating area
means all or parts of unit tracts
described and designated as a
Participating Area under the unit
agreement for the purposes of allocating
one or more unitized substances
produced from a reservoir.
5. A lessee must resume paying full
royalties on the first day of the month
following the month in which the RSV
is exhausted. Lessees do not owe
royalties for the remainder of the month
in which the RSV is exhausted, unless
the actual NYMEX annual price of the
commodity exceeds the threshold price
for that year.
6. The MMS will provide notice when
the actual NYMEX annual price of the
commodity is above the threshold price.
Information on actual and threshold
prices can be found at the MMS Web
site (www.mms.gov/econ).
Stipulations and Information to
Lessees: The documents entitled ‘‘Final
Lease Stipulations’’ and ‘‘Final
Information to Lessees’’ for Oil and Gas
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Lease Sale 193 contain the text of the
Final Stipulations and the Information
to Lessees clauses. These documents are
included in the FNOS 193 package.
As required by the MMS, each
company that has been awarded a lease
must execute all copies of the lease
(Form MMS–2005 (March 1986) as
amended), pay by electronic funds
transfer (EFT) the balance of the bonus
bid amount and the first year’s rental for
each lease issued in accordance with the
requirements of 30 CFR 218.155, and
satisfy the bonding requirements of 30
CFR 256, subpart I, as amended.
Debarment and Suspension
(Nonprocurement): In accordance with
regulations pursuant to 2 CFR, part 180,
and 2 CFR, part 1400, the lessee shall
comply with the U.S. Department of the
Interior’s nonprocurement debarment
and suspension requirements and agree
to communicate this requirement to
comply with these regulations to
persons with whom the lessee does
business as it relates to this lease by
including this term as a condition to
enter into their contracts and other
transactions. Execution of the lease,
which includes an Addendum specific
to debarment, by each lessee constitutes
notification to the MMS that each lessee
is not excluded, disqualified, or
convicted of a crime as described in 2
CFR 180.335, unless the lessee has
provided a statement disclosing
information as described in 2 CFR
180.335, and the MMS receives an
exception from the U.S. Department of
the Interior as described in 2 CFR
180.135 and 180.400.
Method of Bidding: For each block bid
upon, a bidder must submit a separate
signed bid in a sealed envelope labeled
‘‘Sealed Bid for Oil and Gas Lease Sale
193, not to be opened until 9 a.m.,
Wednesday, February 6, 2008.’’ The
total amount of the bid must be in
whole dollars; any cent amount above
the whole dollar will be ignored by
MMS. Details of the information
required on the bid(s) and the bid
envelope(s) are specified in the
document ‘‘Bid Form and Envelope’’
contained in the FNOS 193 package.
Restricted Joint Bidders: The MMS
published a list of restricted joint
bidders, which applies to this sale, in
the Federal Register at 72 FR 64088 on
November 14, 2007. Bidders submitting
joint bids must state on the bid form the
proportionate interest of each
participating bidder, in percent to a
maximum of five decimal places, i.e.
33.33333 percent. The MMS may
require bidders to submit additional
documents in accordance with 30 CFR
256.46. The MMS warns bidders against
violation of 18 U.S.C. 1860 prohibiting
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211
unlawful combination or intimidation of
bidders. Bidders must execute all
documents in conformance with
signatory authorizations on file in the
Alaska OCS Region. Partnerships also
must submit or have on file a list of
signatories authorized to bind the
partnership. Bidders are advised that
MMS considers the signed bid to be a
legally binding obligation on the part of
the bidder(s) to comply with all
applicable regulations, including paying
the one-fifth bonus bid amount on all
high bids. A statement to this effect
must be included on each bid (see the
document ‘‘Bid Form and Envelope’’
contained in the FNOS 193 package).
Bonus Bid Deposit: Each bidder
submitting an apparent high bid must
submit a bonus bid deposit to the MMS
equal to one-fifth of the bonus bid
amount for each such bid. Under the
authority granted by 30 CFR 256.46(b),
MMS will require bidders to use EFT
procedures for payment of the one-fifth
bonus bid deposits for Sale 193.
Payment of the deposit will be due by
1:00 p.m. Eastern Time the day
following bid reading. Detailed bid
deposit procedures for Sale 193 will be
found within the ‘‘Instructions for
Making EFT Bonus Payments’’
document on the MMS Web site.
Note: Certain bid submitters [i.e., those that
are not currently an OCS mineral lease record
title holder or designated operator or those
that have ever defaulted on a one-fifth bonus
payment (EFT or otherwise)] are required to
guarantee (secure) their one-fifth bonus
payment prior to the submission of bids. For
those who must secure the EFT one-fifth
bonus payment, one of the following options
may be used: (1) Provide a third-party
guarantee; (2) Amend bond coverage; (3)
Provide a letter of credit; or (4) Provide a
lump sum payment in advance via EFT. The
EFT instructions specify the requirements for
each option.
Payment of the deposit does not
constitute and shall not be construed as
acceptance of any bid on behalf of the
United States. If a lease is awarded,
MMS requests that only one transaction
be used for payment of the four-fifths
bonus bid amount and the first year’s
rental.
Withdrawal of Blocks: The United
States reserves the right to withdraw
any block from this sale prior to
issuance of a written acceptance of a bid
for the block.
Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of
Bids: The United States reserves the
right to reject any and all bids. In any
case, no bid will be accepted, and no
lease for any block will be awarded to
any bidder, unless the bidder has
complied with all requirements of this
Notice, including the documents
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contained in the associated FNOS
package for Sale 193 and applicable
regulations; the bid is the highest valid
bid; and the amount of the bid has been
determined to be adequate by the
authorized officer. The Attorney General
of the United States may also review the
results of the lease sale prior to the
acceptance of bids and issuance of
leases. Any bid submitted that does not
conform to the requirements of this
Notice; the OCS Lands Act, as amended;
or applicable regulations may be
returned to the person submitting that
bid by the Regional Director and not
considered for acceptance. To ensure
that the Government receives a fair
return for the conveyance of lease rights
for this sale, high bids will be evaluated
in accordance with MMS bid adequacy
procedures.
Successful Bidders: As required by
MMS, each company that has been
awarded a lease must execute all 3
copies of the lease (Form MMS–2005
(March 1986) as amended), pay by EFT
the balance of the bonus bid amount
and the first year’s rental for each lease
issued in accordance with the
requirements of 30 CFR 218.155, and
satisfy the bonding requirements of 30
CFR 256, Subpart I.
Affirmative Action: MMS requests
that, prior to bidding, Equal
Opportunity Affirmative Action
Representation Form MMS 2032 (June
1985) and Equal Opportunity
Compliance Report Certification Form
MMS 2033 (June 1985) be on file in the
Alaska OCS Region. This certification is
required by 41 CFR 60 and Executive
Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965,
as amended by Executive Order Nos.
11375 (October 13, 1967), 12086
(October 5, 1978), and 13279 (December
12, 2002). In any event, prior to the
execution of any lease contract, both
forms are required to be on file in the
Alaska OCS Region.
Notice of Bidding Systems: Section
8(a)(8) (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(8)) of the OCS
Lands Act requires that, at least 30 days
before any lease sale, a Notice be
submitted to Congress and published in
the Federal Register. This Notice of
Bidding Systems is for OCS Lease Sale
193, Chukchi Sea, scheduled to be held
on February 6, 2008. In Sale 193, all
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blocks are being offered under a bidding
system that uses a cash bonus and a
fixed royalty of 121⁄2 percent with a
royalty suspension of up to 30 million
barrels of oil equivalent per lease. The
amount of royalty suspension available
on each lease is dependent on the area
of the lease and specified in the Sale
Notice. This bidding system is
authorized under 30 CFR 260.110(g),
which allows use of a cash bonus bid
with a royalty rate of not less than 12
1⁄2 percent and with suspension of
royalties for a period, volume, or value
of production, and an annual rental.
Analysis performed by MMS indicates
that use of this system provides an
incentive for development of this area
while ensuring that a fair sharing of
revenues will result if major discoveries
are made and produced.
Geophysical Data and Information
Statement: Pursuant to 30 CFR 251.12,
MMS has a right to access geophysical
data and information, as well as
reprocessed versions of the data,
collected under a permit in the OCS.
Every bidder submitting a bid on a block
in Sale 193, or participating as a joint
bidder in such a bid, must submit a
Geophysical Data and Information
Statement (GDIS) identifying any
processed or reprocessed pre- and poststack geophysical data and information
used as part of the decision to bid or
participate in a bid on the block. The
GDIS should clearly identify the survey
type (2–D or 3–D), survey extent (i.e.,
number of line miles for 2D or number
of blocks for 3D), and imaging type (prestack, post-stack and migration (time
and/or depth) algorithm) of the data and
information. The statement must also
include the name and phone number of
a contact person and an alternate, who
are both knowledgeable about the data
listed, the owner or controller of the
reprocessed data or information, the
survey from which the data were
reprocessed and the owner/controller of
the original data set, the date of
reprocessing and whether the data were
processed in-house or by a contractor. In
the event such data and information
include multiple data sets processed
from the same survey using different
velocity models or different processing
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parameters, you should identify only
the highest quality data set used for bid
preparation. The MMS reserves the right
to query about alternate data sets and to
quality check and compare the listed
and alternative data sets to determine
which data set most closely meets the
needs of the fair-market-value
determination process.
The statement must also identify each
block upon which a bidder participated
in a bid but for which it does not
possess or control such data and
information.
In the event your company supplies
any type of data to the MMS, in order
to get reimbursed, your company must
be registered with the Central Contractor
Registration (CCR) at https://
www.ccr.gov. This is a requirement that
was implemented on October 1, 2003,
and requires all entities doing business
with the Government to complete a
business profile in the CCR and update
it annually. Payments are made
electronically based on the information
contained in the CCR. Therefore, if your
company is not actively registered in the
CCR, MMS will not be able to reimburse
or pay your company for any data
supplied.
Protecting and disclosing data and
information listed on the GDIS to the
public is governed by 30 CFR 251.14.
Except as specified in that section or in
30 CFR 250 and 252, if the Regional
Director determines any data or
information are exempt from public
disclosure under 30 CFR 251.14(a),
MMS will not provide the data and
information to any State or to the
executive of any local government or to
the public unless the bidder and all
third parties agree to the disclosure. For
this reason, the bidder is instructed to
submit the GDIS in a separate, sealed
envelope at the time of bid submission.
An example of the GDIS and a sample
of the Geophysical Information
envelope are available at the MMS
Alaska OCS Region’s Web page at
https://www.mms.gov/alaska.
Dated: December 20, 2007.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
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BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 1 / Wednesday, January 2, 2008 / Notices
214
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 1 / Wednesday, January 2, 2008 / Notices
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[USITC SE–07–030]
Government in the Sunshine Act
Meeting Notice
United
States International Trade Commission.
TIME AND DATE: January 8, 2008 at 11
a.m.
PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20436, Telephone:
(202) 205–2000.
STATUS: Open to the public.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
1. Agenda for future meetings: None.
2. Minutes.
3. Ratification List.
4. Inv. Nos. 701–TA–413 and 731–
TA–913–916 and 918 (Review)
(Stainless Steel Bar from France,
Germany, Italy, Korea, and the United
Kingdom)—briefing and vote. (The
Commission is currently scheduled to
transmit its determinations and
Commissioners’ opinions to the
Secretary of Commerce on or before
January 23, 2008.)
5. Outstanding action jackets: (1.)
Document No. GC–07–225
(Administrative matter).
In accordance with Commission
policy, subject matter listed above, not
disposed of at the scheduled meeting,
may be carried over to the agenda of the
following meeting.
AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:
Issued: December 27, 2007.
By order of the Commission.
William R. Bishop,
Hearings and Meetings Coordinator.
[FR Doc. E7–25461 Filed 12–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC).
ACTION: Notice of pending NRC action to
submit an information collection
request to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) and solicitation of public
comment.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The NRC is preparing a
submittal to OMB for review of
continued approval of information
collections under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
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Information pertaining to the
requirement to be submitted:
1. The title of the information
collection: 10 CFR Part 73—‘‘Physical
Protection of Plants and Materials.’’
2. Current OMB approval number:
3150–0002.
3. How often the collection is
required: On occasion. Revised Security
Plans are submitted as required and
reports are submitted and evaluated as
events occur.
4. Who is required or asked to report:
Nuclear power reactor licensees,
licensed under 10 CFR Part 50 or 52.
5. The number of annual respondents:
384.
6. The number of annual responses:
78,094.
7. The number of hours needed
annually to complete the requirement or
request: 524,820 hours (50,212 reporting
[0.64 hours per response] and 474,608
recordkeeping [approximately 1,236
hours per record keeper]).
8. Abstract: NRC regulations in 10
CFR part 73 prescribe requirements to
establish and maintain a physical
protection system and security
organization. The objective is to ensure
that activities involving special nuclear
material are consistent with interests of
common defense and security and that
these activities do not constitute an
unreasonable risk to public health and
safety. The information in the reports
and records submitted by licensees is
used by the NRC staff to ensure that the
health and safety of the public and the
environment are protected.
Submit, by March 3, 2008, comments
that address the following questions:
1. Is the proposed collection of
information necessary for the NRC to
properly perform its functions? Does the
information have practical utility?
2. Is the burden estimate accurate?
3. Is there a way to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected?
4. How can the burden of the
information collection be minimized,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology?
A copy of the draft supporting
statement may be viewed free of charge
at the NRC Public Document Room, One
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike, Room O–1 F21, Rockville, MD
20852. OMB clearance requests are
available at the NRC worldwide Web
site: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/
doc-comment/omb/. The
document will be available on the NRC
home page site for 60 days after the
signature date of this notice.
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Comments and questions about the
information collection requirements
may be directed to the NRC Clearance
Officer, Margaret A. Janney (T–5 F52),
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555–0001, by
telephone at 301–415–7245, or by e-mail
to INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day
of December 2007.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Gregory Trussell,
Acting NRC Clearance Officer, Office of
Information Services.
[FR Doc. E7–25438 Filed 12–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
PEACE CORPS
Notice To Add a New System of
Records
SUMMARY: As required under the Privacy
Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as
amended, the Peace Corps is giving
notice of a new system of records titled
Shriver E.
This action will be effective
without further notice on February 19,
2008, unless comments are received by
February 1, 2008, that would result in
a contrary determination.
DATES:
You may submit comments
by e-mail to sglasow@peacecorps.gov.
Include Privacy Act System of Records
in the subject line of the message. You
may also submit comments by mail to
Suzanne Glasow, Office of the General
Counsel, Peace Corps, Suite 8200, 1111
20th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20526. Contact Suzanne Glasow for
copies of comments.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Suzanne Glasow, Associate General
Counsel, 202–692–2150,
sglasow@peacecorps.gov.
The
Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, provides that
the public will be given a 30-day period
in which to comment on the new
system. The Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), which has oversight
responsibility under the Act, requires a
40-day period in which to review the
proposed system. In accordance with 5
U.S.C. 552a, Peace Corps has provided
a report on this system to OMB and the
Congress.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SYSTEM NAME:
PC–30, Shriver E.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 209-214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6226]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service (MMS)
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Chukchi Sea Alaska, Oil and Gas
Lease Sale 193
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.
ACTION: Final Notice of Sale (FNOS), OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193,
Chukchi Sea.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The MMS will hold OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 on February
6, 2008, in accordance with provisions of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1331-1356, as amended), the implementing regulations (30 CFR 256), and
the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2007-2012.
DATES: Lease Sale 193 is scheduled to be held on February 6, 2008, at
the Wilda Marston Theatre, Z. J. Loussac Public Library, 3600 Denali
Street, Anchorage, Alaska. Public reading will begin at 9 a.m. All
times referenced in this document are local Anchorage, Alaska, times,
unless otherwise specified.
ADDRESSES: A package containing the FNOS and several supporting and
essential documents referenced herein is available from: Alaska OCS
Region, Minerals Management Service, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5823, Telephone: (907) 334-5200 or 1-800-764-
2627.
These documents are also available on the MMS Alaska OCS Region's
Web page at https://www.mms.gov/alaska.
Bid Submission Deadline: Bidders will be required to submit sealed
bids to MMS at the Alaska OCS Region Office, 3801 Centerpoint Drive,
Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, by 10 a.m. on the day before the
sale, Tuesday, February 5, 2008. If bids are mailed, the envelope
containing all of the sealed bids must be marked as follows:
Attention: Mr. Fred King, Contains Sealed Bids for Sale 193.
If bids are received later than the time and date specified above,
they will be returned unopened to the bidders. Bidders may not modify
or withdraw their bids unless the Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region,
receives a written modification or written withdrawal request prior to
10 a.m., Tuesday, February 5, 2008. Should an unexpected
[[Page 210]]
event such as an earthquake or travel restrictions be significantly
disruptive to bid submission, the Alaska OCS Region may extend the Bid
Submission Deadline. Bidders may call (907) 334-5200 for information
about the possible extension of the Bid Submission Deadline due to such
an event.
Area Offered for Lease: The MMS is offering for lease all whole and
partial blocks listed in the document ``Blocks Available for Leasing in
OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193'' included in the FNOS 193 package. All
of these blocks are shown on OCS Official Protraction Diagrams, and in
some cases on Supplemental Official OCS Block Diagrams. The following
OCS Official Protraction Diagrams pertain to the Sale 193 area and are
available at https://www.mms.gov/ld/alaska.htm.
NS 02-08, Unnamed, revised December 31, 1994
NS 03-07, Unnamed, revised December 31, 1994
NS 03-08, Unnamed, revised December 31, 1994
NS 04-07, Unnamed, revised December 31, 1994
NS 04-08, Unnamed, revised December 31, 1994
NR 02-02, Tison, revised December 31, 1994
NR 03-01, Karo, revised December 31, 1994
NR 03-02, Posey, revised December 31, 1994
NR 04-01, Hanna Shoal, revised September 30, 1997
NR 04-02, Barrow, revised September 30, 1997
NR 02-04, Studds, revised December 31, 1994
NR 03-03, Colbert, revised December 31, 1994
NR 03-04, Solivik Island, revised September 30, 1997
NR 04-03, Wainwright, revised September 30, 1997
NR 02-06, Chukchi Sea, revised December 31, 1994
NR 03-05, Point Lay West, revised September 30, 1997
A listing of blocks included in the sale is available at the MMS
office listed above. The locator map (available at https://www.mms.gov/
alaska) may assist you in locating a particular block, but it should
not be used for the official description of blocks available for lease.
The OCS Official Protraction Diagrams constitute the official
descriptions of the areas offered.
Note that block numbers may repeat between OCS Official Protraction
Diagrams (OPD's). To uniquely describe a lease tract, you must
reference both the OPD number and name and the block number.
Statutes and Regulations: Each lease issued in the lease sale is
subject to the OCS Lands Act of August 7, 1953, 67 Stat. 462; 43 U.S.C.
1331, et seq., as amended (92 Stat. 629), hereinafter called ``the
Act''; all regulations issued pursuant to the Act and in existence upon
the effective date of the lease; all regulations issued pursuant to the
statute in the future which provide for the prevention of waste and
conservation of the natural resources of the OCS and the protection of
correlative rights therein; and all other applicable statutes and
regulations.
Lease Terms and Conditions: The following lease terms and condition
apply:
Initial Period: 10 years.
Minimum Bonus Bid Amounts: $25.00 per hectare, or a fraction
thereof, for all blocks. Refer to the Final Notice of Sale, Chukchi Sea
Sale 193 map, and the Summary Table of Minimum Bids, Minimum Royalty
Rates, and Rental Rates shown below.
Rental Rates: The Lessee shall pay the Lessor, on or before the
first day of each lease year which commences prior to a discovery in
paying quantities of oil or gas on the leased area, a rental at the
rate shown below in the Summary Table of Minimum Bids, Minimum Royalty
Rates, and Rental Rates. During the time period in which a lease is
classified as producible, i.e., following a discovery in paying
quantities, but before royalty-bearing production begins, a rental of
$13 per hectare or fraction thereof, applies and is paid at the end of
each lease year until the start of royalty-bearing production.
Minimum Royalty Rates: After the start of royalty-bearing
production and notwithstanding any royalty suspension which may apply,
the Lessee shall pay the Lessor a minimum royalty of $13 per hectare,
or fraction thereof, to be paid at the expiration of each lease year
with credit applied for actual royalty paid during the lease year. If
actual royalty paid exceeds the minimum royalty requirement, then no
minimum royalty payment is due.
Royalty Rates: A 12\1/2\ percent royalty rate will apply for all
blocks.
Summary Table of Minimum Bids, Minimum Royalty Rates, and Rental Rates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terms (values per hectare or fraction thereof)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royalty Rate............................................ 12\1/2\% fixed
Minimum Bonus Bid....................................... $25.00
Minimum Royalty Rate.................................... 13.00
Rental Rates:
Year 1.............................................. 2.50
Year 2.............................................. 3.75
Year 3.............................................. 5.00
Year 4.............................................. 6.25
Year 5.............................................. 7.50
Year 6.............................................. 10.00
Year 7.............................................. 12.00
Year 8.............................................. 15.00
Year 9.............................................. 17.00
Year 10............................................. 20.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royalty Suspension: Royalty suspension, prorated by lease acreage
and subject to price thresholds, will apply to all blocks. In
accordance with applicable regulations at 30 CFR 260, the following
royalty suspension provisions will apply to leases issued as a result
of Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193. In addition to these Royalty
Suspension Provisions, please refer to 30 CFR 218.151 and applicable
parts of 260.120-260.124 for regulations on royalty suspensions and
rental obligations that will apply to your lease.
1. A lease in the Chukchi Sea, depending on surface area, will
receive a royalty suspension volume (RSV) as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RSV (million
Lease size (hectares) barrels of oil
equivalent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 771........................................... 10
771 to less than 1,541.................................. 20
1,541 or more........................................... 30
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Natural gas must be measured in accordance with 30 CFR 203.73.
3. Each lessee must pay royalty on production that might otherwise
receive royalty relief (in 30 CFR 260) for any calendar year during
which the actual New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) annual price for
the light sweet crude oil or natural gas exceeds the threshold price
($39 per barrel of oil or $6.50 per million British thermal units (Btu)
of gas, adjusted for inflation) in that year. Such production will be
deducted from the remaining RSV. The actual NYMEX annual price for the
commodity is defined as the arithmetic average of the daily closing
prices for the ``nearby delivery month'' on the NYMEX in a calendar
year. The actual NYMEX annual price for the commodity is calculated by
averaging the commodity daily closing prices for each month in the
year, and then averaging the 12 monthly averages.
(a) The threshold price in any year, say year t, is determined by
inflating the base year 2004 price of $39 per barrel of oil or $6.50
per million Btu of gas. This base year price is modified by the
[[Page 211]]
percentage change in the implicit price deflator as reported by the
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, for the
interval between 2004 and year t, resulting in the adjusted threshold
price for year t. For example, if the deflator indicates that inflation
is 1.6 percent in 2005, 2.1 percent in 2006, 2.5 percent in 2007, and
2.5 percent for 2008, then the threshold price in calendar year 2008
would become $42.50 per barrel of oil and $7.08 per million Btu of gas.
Therefore, royalty on oil production in calendar year 2008 would be due
if the 2008 actual NYMEX oil price, as calculated above, exceeds $42.50
per barrel. The royalty on gas production in calendar year 2008 would
be due if the 2008 actual NYMEX gas price, as calculated above, exceeds
$7.08 per million Btu.
(b) Royalties on production, when the actual NYMEX annual price of
the commodity exceeds the threshold price in any calendar year, must be
paid no later than 90 days after the end of that calendar year. (See 30
CFR 260.122(b)). Also, when the actual NYMEX annual price of the
commodity exceeds the threshold price in any calendar year, royalties
on production must be provisionally paid in the following calendar
year. (See 30 CFR 260.122(c)).
4. In the case of a Sale 193 lease that is part of an approved unit
agreement, allocated production from the unit can only apply against
the lease's RSV if that lease is included in an approved participating
area. The RSV will be applied to each lease consistent with the
production allocation schedule approved by the MMS for the
participating area. Participating area means all or parts of unit
tracts described and designated as a Participating Area under the unit
agreement for the purposes of allocating one or more unitized
substances produced from a reservoir.
5. A lessee must resume paying full royalties on the first day of
the month following the month in which the RSV is exhausted. Lessees do
not owe royalties for the remainder of the month in which the RSV is
exhausted, unless the actual NYMEX annual price of the commodity
exceeds the threshold price for that year.
6. The MMS will provide notice when the actual NYMEX annual price
of the commodity is above the threshold price. Information on actual
and threshold prices can be found at the MMS Web site (www.mms.gov/
econ).
Stipulations and Information to Lessees: The documents entitled
``Final Lease Stipulations'' and ``Final Information to Lessees'' for
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 contain the text of the Final Stipulations
and the Information to Lessees clauses. These documents are included in
the FNOS 193 package.
As required by the MMS, each company that has been awarded a lease
must execute all copies of the lease (Form MMS-2005 (March 1986) as
amended), pay by electronic funds transfer (EFT) the balance of the
bonus bid amount and the first year's rental for each lease issued in
accordance with the requirements of 30 CFR 218.155, and satisfy the
bonding requirements of 30 CFR 256, subpart I, as amended.
Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement): In accordance with
regulations pursuant to 2 CFR, part 180, and 2 CFR, part 1400, the
lessee shall comply with the U.S. Department of the Interior's
nonprocurement debarment and suspension requirements and agree to
communicate this requirement to comply with these regulations to
persons with whom the lessee does business as it relates to this lease
by including this term as a condition to enter into their contracts and
other transactions. Execution of the lease, which includes an Addendum
specific to debarment, by each lessee constitutes notification to the
MMS that each lessee is not excluded, disqualified, or convicted of a
crime as described in 2 CFR 180.335, unless the lessee has provided a
statement disclosing information as described in 2 CFR 180.335, and the
MMS receives an exception from the U.S. Department of the Interior as
described in 2 CFR 180.135 and 180.400.
Method of Bidding: For each block bid upon, a bidder must submit a
separate signed bid in a sealed envelope labeled ``Sealed Bid for Oil
and Gas Lease Sale 193, not to be opened until 9 a.m., Wednesday,
February 6, 2008.'' The total amount of the bid must be in whole
dollars; any cent amount above the whole dollar will be ignored by MMS.
Details of the information required on the bid(s) and the bid
envelope(s) are specified in the document ``Bid Form and Envelope''
contained in the FNOS 193 package.
Restricted Joint Bidders: The MMS published a list of restricted
joint bidders, which applies to this sale, in the Federal Register at
72 FR 64088 on November 14, 2007. Bidders submitting joint bids must
state on the bid form the proportionate interest of each participating
bidder, in percent to a maximum of five decimal places, i.e. 33.33333
percent. The MMS may require bidders to submit additional documents in
accordance with 30 CFR 256.46. The MMS warns bidders against violation
of 18 U.S.C. 1860 prohibiting unlawful combination or intimidation of
bidders. Bidders must execute all documents in conformance with
signatory authorizations on file in the Alaska OCS Region. Partnerships
also must submit or have on file a list of signatories authorized to
bind the partnership. Bidders are advised that MMS considers the signed
bid to be a legally binding obligation on the part of the bidder(s) to
comply with all applicable regulations, including paying the one-fifth
bonus bid amount on all high bids. A statement to this effect must be
included on each bid (see the document ``Bid Form and Envelope''
contained in the FNOS 193 package).
Bonus Bid Deposit: Each bidder submitting an apparent high bid must
submit a bonus bid deposit to the MMS equal to one-fifth of the bonus
bid amount for each such bid. Under the authority granted by 30 CFR
256.46(b), MMS will require bidders to use EFT procedures for payment
of the one-fifth bonus bid deposits for Sale 193. Payment of the
deposit will be due by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time the day following bid
reading. Detailed bid deposit procedures for Sale 193 will be found
within the ``Instructions for Making EFT Bonus Payments'' document on
the MMS Web site.
Note: Certain bid submitters [i.e., those that are not currently
an OCS mineral lease record title holder or designated operator or
those that have ever defaulted on a one-fifth bonus payment (EFT or
otherwise)] are required to guarantee (secure) their one-fifth bonus
payment prior to the submission of bids. For those who must secure
the EFT one-fifth bonus payment, one of the following options may be
used: (1) Provide a third-party guarantee; (2) Amend bond coverage;
(3) Provide a letter of credit; or (4) Provide a lump sum payment in
advance via EFT. The EFT instructions specify the requirements for
each option.
Payment of the deposit does not constitute and shall not be
construed as acceptance of any bid on behalf of the United States. If a
lease is awarded, MMS requests that only one transaction be used for
payment of the four-fifths bonus bid amount and the first year's
rental.
Withdrawal of Blocks: The United States reserves the right to
withdraw any block from this sale prior to issuance of a written
acceptance of a bid for the block.
Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids: The United States
reserves the right to reject any and all bids. In any case, no bid will
be accepted, and no lease for any block will be awarded to any bidder,
unless the bidder has complied with all requirements of this Notice,
including the documents
[[Page 212]]
contained in the associated FNOS package for Sale 193 and applicable
regulations; the bid is the highest valid bid; and the amount of the
bid has been determined to be adequate by the authorized officer. The
Attorney General of the United States may also review the results of
the lease sale prior to the acceptance of bids and issuance of leases.
Any bid submitted that does not conform to the requirements of this
Notice; the OCS Lands Act, as amended; or applicable regulations may be
returned to the person submitting that bid by the Regional Director and
not considered for acceptance. To ensure that the Government receives a
fair return for the conveyance of lease rights for this sale, high bids
will be evaluated in accordance with MMS bid adequacy procedures.
Successful Bidders: As required by MMS, each company that has been
awarded a lease must execute all 3 copies of the lease (Form MMS-2005
(March 1986) as amended), pay by EFT the balance of the bonus bid
amount and the first year's rental for each lease issued in accordance
with the requirements of 30 CFR 218.155, and satisfy the bonding
requirements of 30 CFR 256, Subpart I.
Affirmative Action: MMS requests that, prior to bidding, Equal
Opportunity Affirmative Action Representation Form MMS 2032 (June 1985)
and Equal Opportunity Compliance Report Certification Form MMS 2033
(June 1985) be on file in the Alaska OCS Region. This certification is
required by 41 CFR 60 and Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24,
1965, as amended by Executive Order Nos. 11375 (October 13, 1967),
12086 (October 5, 1978), and 13279 (December 12, 2002). In any event,
prior to the execution of any lease contract, both forms are required
to be on file in the Alaska OCS Region.
Notice of Bidding Systems: Section 8(a)(8) (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(8))
of the OCS Lands Act requires that, at least 30 days before any lease
sale, a Notice be submitted to Congress and published in the Federal
Register. This Notice of Bidding Systems is for OCS Lease Sale 193,
Chukchi Sea, scheduled to be held on February 6, 2008. In Sale 193, all
blocks are being offered under a bidding system that uses a cash bonus
and a fixed royalty of 12\1/2\ percent with a royalty suspension of up
to 30 million barrels of oil equivalent per lease. The amount of
royalty suspension available on each lease is dependent on the area of
the lease and specified in the Sale Notice. This bidding system is
authorized under 30 CFR 260.110(g), which allows use of a cash bonus
bid with a royalty rate of not less than 12 \1/2\ percent and with
suspension of royalties for a period, volume, or value of production,
and an annual rental. Analysis performed by MMS indicates that use of
this system provides an incentive for development of this area while
ensuring that a fair sharing of revenues will result if major
discoveries are made and produced.
Geophysical Data and Information Statement: Pursuant to 30 CFR
251.12, MMS has a right to access geophysical data and information, as
well as reprocessed versions of the data, collected under a permit in
the OCS. Every bidder submitting a bid on a block in Sale 193, or
participating as a joint bidder in such a bid, must submit a
Geophysical Data and Information Statement (GDIS) identifying any
processed or reprocessed pre- and post-stack geophysical data and
information used as part of the decision to bid or participate in a bid
on the block. The GDIS should clearly identify the survey type (2-D or
3-D), survey extent (i.e., number of line miles for 2D or number of
blocks for 3D), and imaging type (pre-stack, post-stack and migration
(time and/or depth) algorithm) of the data and information. The
statement must also include the name and phone number of a contact
person and an alternate, who are both knowledgeable about the data
listed, the owner or controller of the reprocessed data or information,
the survey from which the data were reprocessed and the owner/
controller of the original data set, the date of reprocessing and
whether the data were processed in-house or by a contractor. In the
event such data and information include multiple data sets processed
from the same survey using different velocity models or different
processing parameters, you should identify only the highest quality
data set used for bid preparation. The MMS reserves the right to query
about alternate data sets and to quality check and compare the listed
and alternative data sets to determine which data set most closely
meets the needs of the fair-market-value determination process.
The statement must also identify each block upon which a bidder
participated in a bid but for which it does not possess or control such
data and information.
In the event your company supplies any type of data to the MMS, in
order to get reimbursed, your company must be registered with the
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at https://www.ccr.gov. This is a
requirement that was implemented on October 1, 2003, and requires all
entities doing business with the Government to complete a business
profile in the CCR and update it annually. Payments are made
electronically based on the information contained in the CCR.
Therefore, if your company is not actively registered in the CCR, MMS
will not be able to reimburse or pay your company for any data
supplied.
Protecting and disclosing data and information listed on the GDIS
to the public is governed by 30 CFR 251.14. Except as specified in that
section or in 30 CFR 250 and 252, if the Regional Director determines
any data or information are exempt from public disclosure under 30 CFR
251.14(a), MMS will not provide the data and information to any State
or to the executive of any local government or to the public unless the
bidder and all third parties agree to the disclosure. For this reason,
the bidder is instructed to submit the GDIS in a separate, sealed
envelope at the time of bid submission. An example of the GDIS and a
sample of the Geophysical Information envelope are available at the MMS
Alaska OCS Region's Web page at https://www.mms.gov/alaska.
Dated: December 20, 2007.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
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[FR Doc. 07-6226 Filed 12-31-07; 8:45 am]
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