Land Withdrawals; Removal of Regulations Covering Emergency Withdrawals, 60212-60216 [E8-23823]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management
• Land Management Bureau

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 198 (Friday, October 10, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60212-60216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23823]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 2300

[WO-350-08 1430 PN]
RIN 1004-AE05


Land Withdrawals; Removal of Regulations Covering Emergency 
Withdrawals

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would remove regulations that provide for 
emergency withdrawals. These regulations are redundant, since public 
lands can be protected without substantial delay via conventional 
withdrawal procedures, without recourse to the regulations providing 
for emergency withdrawals. Moreover, constitutional issues may arise 
whenever a Congressional committee directs the Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary) to withdraw lands immediately.

DATES: Send your comments on this proposed rule to the BLM on or before 
October 27, 2008. Comments received or postmarked after this date may 
not be considered in the decision-making process on the issuance of the 
proposed rule.

ADDRESSES: You may mail written comments to the Director (630), Bureau 
of Land Management, 1620 L Street, NW., Room 401, Washington, DC 20036, 
Attention: RIN 1004-AE05; or hand-deliver written comments to the 
Bureau of Land Management, Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036. Comments will be available for 
public review at the L Street address from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the substance of 
the proposed rule, please contact Jeff Holdren at 202-452-7779 or 
Vanessa Engle at 202-452-7776. For information on procedural matters, 
please contact Jean Sonneman at 202-785-6577. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individuals during business hours. FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individuals. 
You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Comment Procedures
II. Background
    A. Case Law
    B. 1991 Rulemaking
III. Discussion of the Proposed Rule
    A. The Two Processes
    B. The Constitutional Issue
IV. Procedural Matters

I. Public Comment Procedures

    Electronic Access and Filing Address: You may view an electronic 
version of this proposed rule at the BLM's Internet home page at http:/
/www.blm.gov or at https://www.regulations.gov. You may comment via the 
Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov. If you submit your comments 
electronically, please include your name and return address in your 
Internet message.
    Written Comments: You may mail your comments to: Director (630), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1620 L Street, NW., Room 401, Washington, DC 
20036, Attention: RIN 1004-AE05. You may deliver comments to: 1620 L 
Street, NW., Room 401, Washington, DC 20036.
    Please make your comments as specific as possible, confine them to 
issues pertinent to the proposed rule, and explain the reason for any 
changes you recommend. Where possible, your comments should reference 
the specific section or paragraph of the proposed rule that you are 
addressing.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in 
your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    The Department of the Interior (DOI) may not necessarily consider 
or include in the Administrative Record for the proposed rule comments 
that we receive after the close of the comments period (see DATES) or 
comments delivered to an address other than those listed above (see 
ADDRESSES).

II. Background

    This proposed rule would remove regulations that provide for 
emergency withdrawals. These regulations, including 43 CFR 2310.5, 
provide that the Secretary of the Interior shall withdraw lands 
immediately upon determining that an emergency exists and that 
extraordinary measures need to be taken to protect natural resources or

[[Page 60213]]

resource values that otherwise would be lost. Section 2310.5 also 
requires an immediate withdrawal when either of two committees of the 
Congress notifies the Secretary that it has made the same determination 
that would support an emergency withdrawal initiated by the Secretary. 
43 CFR 2310.5(a). Section 204(e) of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA) provides that this authority may be exercised by 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives or 
by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. 43 
U.S.C. 1714(e). (Before 1994, Section 204(e) referred to the House and 
Senate Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs.)

A. Case Law

    In the years since the enactment of section 204(e) in 1976, the 
emergency withdrawal provisions, whether by initiation of the Secretary 
or Congressional committee, have been used sparingly. Two previous 
committee notices (both from the House Committee on Interior and 
Insular Affairs) led to litigation in which the constitutionality of 
section 204(e) was challenged. See Pacific Legal Foundation v. Watt, 
529 F. Supp. 982 (D. Montana 1981); National Wildlife Federation v. 
Watt, 571 F. Supp. 1145 (D.D.C. 1983) (granting preliminary 
injunction); National Wildlife Federation v. Clark, 577 F. Supp. 825 
(D.D.C. 1984) (granting summary judgment).
    In Pacific Legal Foundation, the Secretary and other parties argued 
that FLPMA Section 204(e) was unconstitutional because its application 
through unilateral action by the committee: (a) Violated the separation 
of powers doctrine, (b) delegated executive power to the committee, (c) 
violated the requirement of bicameralism (i.e., legislation must be 
approved by both Houses of Congress), and (d) deprived the President of 
his veto power (known as the presentment requirement). At the time of 
that case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had set 
aside, as unconstitutional, a statutory provision that authorized 
either House of Congress to execute a legislative veto over decisions 
made by the Attorney General. Chadha v. Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, 634 F.2d 408 (9th Cir. 1980). Relying in part on that 
decision, the Federal district court in Montana held that, but for one 
distinguishing feature of section 204(e), the Ninth Circuit's ruling in 
Chadha would have ``compelled'' the district court to declare Section 
204(e) unconstitutional. Pacific Legal Foundation v. Watt, 529 F. Supp. 
982, 1002 (D. Montana 1981). According to the district court, the 
saving feature of Section 204(e) was Secretarial discretion to 
determine the scope and duration of an emergency withdrawal. Id. at 
1000.
    Subsequently, the Supreme Court affirmed the Ninth Circuit's 
decision in Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 
919 (1983). The breadth of the Supreme Court's ruling casts doubt on 
the validity of the Montana court's reasoning that the Secretary's 
discretion to set the scope and duration of the withdrawal saves the 
statute. For example, the Court stated, ``Congress' authority to 
delegate portions of its power to administrative agencies provides no 
support for the argument that Congress can constitutionally control 
administration of the laws by way of a congressional veto.'' 462 U.S. 
at 953 n.16.
    The second case in which the constitutionality of FLPMA section 
204(e) was at issue, National Wildlife Federation v. Watt, began when 
environmental organizations brought suit against the Secretary, seeking 
review of a notice to receive and accept bids for the sale of coal 
leases. The plaintiffs argued that the notice was in contravention of a 
resolution adopted by the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee of the 
House of Representatives, directing the Secretary to withdraw certain 
lands from coal leasing temporarily. The court held that a forced 
withdrawal, like the legislative veto that was invalidated by the 
Supreme Court in Chadha, would probably be held to be legislative in 
character, since it alters the legal rights and duties of the Secretary 
of the Interior. Accordingly, the court found that the plaintiffs' 
attempt to distinguish Section 204(e) from an invalid legislative-veto 
provision, on the grounds that the withdrawal was temporary, was 
unlikely to succeed. National Wildlife Federation v. Watt, 571 F. Supp. 
1145, 1155 (D.D.C. 1983). However, the court found that the plaintiffs 
were likely to prevail on the merits of their claim that the primary 
emergency-withdrawal regulation (43 CFR 2310.5) was binding on the 
Secretary irrespective of the validity of section 204(e), since no 
action had been taken to remove the regulation through notice-and-
comment procedures. 571 F. Supp. at 1158. In a subsequent decision 
granting the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, the court found 
that it was unnecessary to reach the constitutional question, and 
instead required that the Secretary ``honor his own regulation unless 
and until he has rescinded or amended it after an appropriate 
rulemaking proceeding, or until the Committee has vacated its 
Resolution.'' National Wildlife Federation v. Clark, 577 F. Supp. 825, 
828-29 (D.D.C. 1984).

B. 1991 Rulemaking

    In 1991, the BLM published a proposal to remove all regulations in 
43 CFR part 2300 that are concerned with emergency withdrawals (56 FR 
59914 (Nov. 26, 1991)). That proposed rule was never finalized, and it 
was withdrawn from the Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda in 1993. In 
addition to raising the constitutional issue, the preamble for the 
proposed rule included an explanation that the first sentence of 
section 204(e) is redundant, since public lands can be protected 
rapidly through the normal exercise of the general withdrawal 
authority, without invoking FLPMA section 204(e).
    The BLM received five comments during a 30-day comment period. One 
comment supported the 1991 proposed rule as written. The other four 
comments opposed the proposed rule. One such comment expressed the 
opinion that the executive branch has the duty to ``faithfully execute 
the laws'' and should therefore not challenge the constitutionality of 
a statute. That comment also expressed the view that the Department 
should leave the emergency withdrawal provisions in place in order to 
maintain a ``harmonious relationship with Congress.'' Several comments 
expressed the opinion that the Department should not refuse to 
implement the portion of section 204(e) providing for a committee-
directed withdrawal as unconstitutional unless and until a court makes 
the determination that the statute is in fact unconstitutional. Those 
comments also expressed the view that the statute was not 
unconstitutional, with one comment arguing that although the committee 
notifies the Secretary of the emergency, the notification provision of 
section 204(e) is constitutional because the Secretary has the 
discretion to set the scope and duration of the withdrawal and because 
the limited purpose of that provision is to give Congress time to act 
legislatively. Thus, the comment argued that the committee notification 
was not a ``legislative act'' under Chadha. Two comments argued that 
the Property Clause of the Constitution gives Congress broad power over 
the public lands, including the power to require a withdrawal upon 
committee notification.
    Several comments voiced the belief that the statute was not 
redundant. One argued that the statute was not

[[Page 60214]]

redundant because the committee withdrawal provision was not available 
under the normal withdrawal authority conferred by FLPMA section 204 
and that the provision was necessary to force the Secretary to act in 
emergency situations.
    One comment argued that the proposed rule would create an 
inconsistency between the statute and the regulation and confuse 
Congress and the public. That comment also stated that, instead of 
proposing a rule, the BLM should request public input on how best to 
deal with the issue.

III. Discussion of the Proposed Rule

    As we proposed in 1991, we are now proposing that in the future the 
policy of the Department of the Interior will be to shield natural 
resource values, when immediate protection from the operation of the 
general land laws (including mining laws) is called for, by means of 
the conventional withdrawal process as prescribed in 43 CFR part 2300, 
and not through the issuance of emergency withdrawal orders. This 
proposed rule is in accordance with that policy.

A. The Two Processes

    The BLM's experience indicates that the procedures for issuing an 
emergency withdrawal order do not result in the protection of public 
lands more rapidly than the completion of a more conventional 
withdrawal process. Conventional procedures enable the BLM to protect 
public lands, without substantial delay, for as long as 2 years by 
publishing a Federal Register notice of the filing of a withdrawal 
application or proposal. Such publication temporarily segregates the 
public lands from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the public 
land laws, including the mining laws, to the extent specified in the 
notice. 43 CFR 2310.2(a). The notice is required to provide for a 
suitable period of at least 90 days after publication for public 
comment on the requested action. 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b)(2)(iv).
    If a petition seeks an emergency withdrawal, the petition is filed 
simultaneously with an application for withdrawal. 43 CFR 2310.1-3(d). 
If the Secretary approves a petition for an emergency withdrawal, the 
publication and notice provisions pertaining to emergency withdrawals 
are applicable. 43 CFR 2310.1-3(e). Those provisions, at 43 CFR 2310.5, 
include the immediate issuance of an order signed by the Secretary 
which is effective when signed, does not exceed 3 years in duration, 
and may not be extended by the Secretary. 43 CFR 2310.5(a). The 
Secretary also sends a notice of the emergency withdrawal to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate the same day it 
is signed, and sends a report to both committees within 90 days. 43 CFR 
2310.5(b) and (c).
    Initially, the 2-year segregation that occurs immediately upon 
notice of a conventional withdrawal proposal or application has the 
same effect as the first 2 years of a 3-year emergency withdrawal. 
However, the conventional process permits the extension of a withdrawal 
that is granted during the 2-year segregative period, if warranted by 
the purpose for which the withdrawal was first made. 43 CFR 2310.4(a). 
In contrast, an emergency withdrawal may not be extended by the 
Secretary. 43 CFR 2310.5(a). Lands involved in an emergency withdrawal 
may continue to be withdrawn past the expiration of the emergency 
withdrawal only via the conventional withdrawal procedures. Id.
    Public notice and opportunities for comment under conventional 
withdrawal procedures (43 CFR 2310.3-1(b)(2)(iv)-(v) and (c)) do not 
occur for emergency withdrawals. Unlike the emergency process, the 
conventional process ensures that the BLM casts a wide net for 
information. The conventional process takes appropriate account of and 
considers the interests of persons with ownership or other legally 
recognized interests in land or other natural resources. It also 
properly accommodates public participation in the Federal decision-
making process. In short, the emergency withdrawal process is 
unnecessary because of the segregative effect provided by the 
conventional withdrawal process.

B. The Constitutional Issue

    Whenever a Congressional committee directs the Secretary to 
withdraw lands immediately, issues with regard to the constitutionality 
of that action are likely to arise. Such issues do not arise upon the 
exercise of the Secretary's conventional withdrawal authority.
    This rulemaking is not a forum for resolving the validity of the 
Committee-directed withdrawal provision of section 204(e). However, in 
view of the district court's ruling in National Wildlife Federation v. 
Clark, we believe the existing emergency-withdrawal regulations may be 
an impediment to resolving that question in an appropriate forum.
    The substantive changes in this rule are the same as those proposed 
in 1991. In addition, we have made nonsubstantive stylistic changes in 
keeping with current format requirements of the CFR. In these 
circumstances, since the public has had an opportunity to comment on 
the 1991 proposed rule, a comment period of 15 days provides adequate 
opportunity for meaningful analysis, and reasonable time within which 
to formulate comments for submission.

IV. Procedural Matters

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review

    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this 
proposed rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' within the 
meaning of Executive Order 12866.
     This proposed rule will not have an annual effect on the 
economy of $100 million or more, and will not adversely affect in a 
material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, 
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, 
local, or tribal governments or communities.
     This proposed rule will not create any serious 
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with any action taken or planned 
by another agency.
     This proposed rule will not materially alter the budgetary 
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, or the 
rights and obligations of their recipients.
     This proposed rule will not raise novel legal or policy 
issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or 
the principles set forth in Executive Order 12866.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The BLM has determined that this proposed rule removing the 
provisions for emergency withdrawals is of a procedural nature. 
Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded from environmental 
review under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act, pursuant to 516 Departmental Manual (DM), Chapter 2, Appendix 1, 
CX 1.10. In addition, this rule does not present any of the 12 
extraordinary circumstances listed in 516 DM, Chapter 2, Appendix 2. 
Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 
1508.4) and the environmental policies and procedures of the Department 
of the Interior, the term ``categorical exclusions'' means a category 
of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant 
effect on the human environment and that have been found to have no 
such effect in procedures adopted by a Federal agency and for

[[Page 60215]]

which neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact 
statement is required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Congress enacted the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), as 
amended, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, to ensure that Government regulations do not 
unnecessarily or disproportionately burden small entities. The RFA 
requires a regulatory flexibility analysis if a rule would have a 
significant economic impact, either detrimental or beneficial, on a 
substantial number of small entities. The BLM has determined that this 
proposed rule removing the provisions for processing emergency 
withdrawals will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the RFA. As stated above in 
the preamble, the proposed rule would only remove the administrative 
process for processing emergency withdrawals.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This proposed rule is not a ``major rule''' as defined at 5 U.S.C. 
804(2) because it will not have an annual effect on the economy greater 
than $100 million; it will not result in major cost or price increases 
for consumers, industries, government agencies, or regions; and it will 
not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, 
investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of United States-
based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This proposed rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, 
local, or tribal governments or the private sector, in the aggregate, 
of $100 million or more per year; nor does the rule have a significant 
or unique effect on State, local, or tribal governments. The rule would 
impose no requirements on these entities. The changes in this proposed 
rule would not have effects approaching $100 million per year on the 
private sector. Therefore, the BLM is not required to prepare a 
statement containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Executive Order 12630, Government Action and Interference With 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights (Takings)

    This proposed rule is not a government action capable of 
interfering with constitutionally protected property rights. Therefore, 
the DOI has determined that the rule would not cause a taking of 
private property or require further discussion of takings implications 
under this Executive Order.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    This proposed rule will not have a substantial direct effect on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 
13132, the BLM has determined that this proposed rule does not have 
sufficient Federalism implications to warrant preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment.

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform

    The BLM has determined that this proposed rule does not unduly 
burden the judicial system and meets the requirements of sections 3(a) 
and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments

    In accordance with Executive Order 13175, the BLM has determined 
that this proposed rule will not result in significant changes to BLM 
policy and that tribal Governments will not be unduly affected by this 
rule. This rule has no bearing on trust lands, or on lands for which 
title is held in fee status by Indian tribes or U.S. Government-owned 
lands managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Information Quality Act

    In developing this proposed rule, the BLM did not conduct or use a 
study, experiment or survey requiring peer review under the Information 
Quality Act (Section 515 of Pub. L. 106-554.).

Executive Order 13211, Effects on the Nation's Energy Supply

    This proposed rule has no implications under Executive Order 13211.

Executive Order 13352, Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation

    In accordance with Executive Order 13352, the BLM has determined 
that this proposed rule is administrative in content, involving only 
changes affecting issuance of emergency withdrawals. The regulatory 
provisions governing the conventional withdrawal process, unlike those 
governing the emergency withdrawal process, provide for public 
participation. In proposing a policy of using the conventional 
withdrawal process instead of the emergency withdrawal process, we are 
facilitating cooperative conservation. Thus, this proposed rule does 
not impede the facilitation of cooperative conservation; takes 
appropriate account of and considers the interests of persons with 
ownership or other legally recognized interests in land or other 
natural resources; properly accommodates local participation in the 
Federal decision-making process; and provides that the programs, 
projects, and activities are consistent with protecting public health 
and safety.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The BLM has determined that this proposed rule does not contain 
information collection requirements that the Office of Management and 
Budget must approve under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

Executive Order 12866, Clarity of Regulations

    Executive Order 12866 requires each agency to write regulations 
that are simple and easy to understand. We invite your comments on how 
to make this rule easier to understand, including answers to questions 
such as the following:
    1. Are the requirements in the proposed rule clearly stated?
    2. Does the proposed rule contain technical language or jargon that 
interferes with its clarity?
    3. Does the format of the proposed rule (grouping and order of 
sections, use of headings, paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce its 
clarity?
    4. Would the proposed rule be easier to understand if it were 
divided into more (but shorter) sections?
    5. Is the description of the proposed rule in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this preamble helpful? How could this 
description be more helpful in making the proposed rule easier to 
understand?
    Please send any comments you have on the clarity of the proposed 
rule to the address specified above in the ADDRESSES section.

Authors

    The principal authors of this proposed rule are Jeff Holdren and 
Vanessa Engle of the Division of Lands, Realty, and Cadastral Survey, 
BLM Washington Office (WO), with assistance from the Division of 
Regulatory Affairs (WO) and the Office of the Solicitor, Department of 
the Interior.

[[Page 60216]]

List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 2300

    Administrative practice and procedure, electric power, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, public lands-withdrawal.
    Under the authorities cited below, part 2300, group 2300, 
subchapter B, chapter II of title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
is proposed to be amended as follows:

C. Stephen Allred,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Land and Minerals Management.

PART 2300--LAND WITHDRAWALS

    1. The authority citation for part 2300 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1201; 43 U.S.C. 1740; Executive Order No. 
10355 (17 FR 4831, 4833).

Subpart 2300--Withdrawals, General


Sec.  2300.0-1  [Amended]

    2. Section 2300.0-1 is amended by removing the last sentence in 
paragraph (a).

Subpart 2310--Withdrawals, General--Procedure

    3. Section 2310.1 is amended by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  2310.1  Procedures--general.

    (a) The basic steps leading up to the making, modification, or 
extension of a withdrawal are:
* * * * *
    4. Section 2310.1-2 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (c)(3), 
and (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  2310.1-2  Submission of applications.

    (a) Applications for the making, modification, or extension of a 
withdrawal shall be submitted for filing, in duplicate, in the proper 
Bureau of Land Management office, as set forth in Sec.  1821.2-1 of 
this chapter, except for applications that are classified for national 
security reasons. Applications that are classified for national 
security reasons shall be submitted, in duplicate, to the Office of the 
Secretary, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) If the lands that are subject to an application are wholly or 
partially under the administration of any department or agency other 
than the Department of the Interior, the Secretary must make or modify 
a withdrawal only with the consent of the head of the department or 
agency concerned. In such case, a copy of the written consent must 
accompany the application. The requirements of section (e) of Executive 
Order 10355 (17 FR 4831) must be complied with in those instances where 
the Order applies.
* * * * *
    (d) If the preceding application requirements have not been met, or 
if an application seeks an action that is not within the scope of the 
Secretary's authority, the authorized officer may reject the 
application as a defective application.
    5. Section 2310.1-3 is amended by revising paragraph (c), removing 
paragraph (d), redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (d), and 
revising newly redesignated paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  2310.1-3  Submission of withdrawal petitions.

* * * * *
    (c) If a petition is submitted simultaneously with a withdrawal 
application, the information requirements pertaining to withdrawal 
applications (See Sec.  2310.1-2) shall supersede the requirements of 
this section.
    (d) Upon the approval by the Secretary of a petition for 
withdrawal, the petition will be considered as a Secretarial proposal 
for withdrawal, and notice of the withdrawal proposal shall be 
published immediately in the Federal Register in accordance with Sec.  
2310.3-1(a).
    6. Section 2310.3, which consists solely of a heading, is revised 
to read as follows:


Sec.  2310.3  Action on withdrawal applications and withdrawal 
proposals.

    7. Section 2310.3-1 is amended by revising the first sentence in 
paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  2310.3-1  Publication and public meeting requirements.

* * * * *
    (b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a) of this 
section, within 30 days of the submission for filing of a withdrawal, 
extension, or modification application, the authorized officer must 
publish in the Federal Register a notice to that effect. * * *
* * * * *
    8. Section 2310.3-3 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  2310.3-3  Action by the Secretary: Public land orders and notices 
of denial.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) On the same day an order withdrawing 5,000 or more acres in the 
aggregate is signed, the Secretary must advise each House of the 
Congress, in writing, of the withdrawal action taken. Under the 
Secretary's authority in the Act, the notices that are sent to Congress 
must be accompanied by the information required by section 204(c)(2) of 
the Act (43 U.S.C. 1714(c)(2)).
* * * * *
    9. Section 2310.3-4 is amended by removing paragraph (c), 
redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (c), and revising newly 
redesignated paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  2310.3-4  Duration of withdrawals.

* * * * *
    (c) Withdrawals of specific duration may be extended, as provided 
for in Sec.  2310.4.


Sec.  2310.5  [Removed]

    10. Section 2310.5 is removed.

 [FR Doc. E8-23823 Filed 10-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P