Minerals Management: Adjustment of Cost Recovery Fees, 58625-58630 [2015-24699]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
placing a site on the NPL does not mean
that any remedial or removal action
necessarily need be taken.
K. Congressional Review Act
This action is subject to the CRA, and
the EPA will submit a rule report to
each House of the Congress and to the
Comptroller General of the United
States. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Provisions of the Congressional
Review Act (CRA) or section 305 of
CERCLA may alter the effective date of
this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C.
801(b)(1), a rule shall not take effect, or
continue in effect, if Congress enacts
(and the President signs) a joint
resolution of disapproval, described
under section 802. Another statutory
provision that may affect this rule is
CERCLA section 305, which provides
for a legislative veto of regulations
promulgated under CERCLA. Although
INS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919,103 S. Ct.
2764 (1983), and Bd. of Regents of the
University of Washington v. EPA, 86
F.3d 1214,1222 (D.C. Cir. 1996), cast the
validity of the legislative veto into
question, the EPA has transmitted a
copy of this regulation to the Secretary
of the Senate and the Clerk of the House
of Representatives.
If action by Congress under either the
CRA or CERCLA section 305 calls the
effective date of this regulation into
question, the EPA will publish a
document of clarification in the Federal
Register.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous
substances, Hazardous waste,
Intergovernmental relations, Natural
resources, Oil pollution, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Superfund, Water
pollution control, Water supply.
Dated: September 21, 2015.
Mathy Stanislaus,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response.
PART 300—NATIONAL OIL AND
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLAN
1. The authority citation for part 300
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C.
9601–9657; E.O. 13626, 77 FR 56749, 3 CFR,
2013 Comp., p. 306; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757,
3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52
FR 2923, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.
2. Table 1 of Appendix B to Part 300
is amended by adding entries for
‘‘Estech General Chemical Company’’,
‘‘Colonial Creosote’’, ‘‘BJAT LLC’’,
‘‘Main Street Ground Water Plume’’ and
‘‘Grain Handling Facility at Freeman’’ in
alphabetical order by state to read as
follows:
■
Appendix B to Part 300—National
Priorities List
40 CFR part 300 is amended as
follows:
TABLE 1—GENERAL SUPERFUND SECTION
Site name
*
IL .......................
*
*
*
Estech General Chemical Company .....................................................
*
Calumet City.
*
*
*
LA .....................
*
*
*
Colonial Creosote ..................................................................................
*
Bogalusa.
*
*
*
MA ....................
*
*
*
BJAT LLC ..............................................................................................
*
Franklin.
*
*
*
TX .....................
*
*
*
Main Street Ground Water Plume .........................................................
*
Burnet.
*
*
*
WA ....................
*
*
*
Grain Handling Facility at Freeman ......................................................
*
Freeman.
*
*
*
*
*
*
City/County
Notes (a)
State
*
*
*
(a) A
= Based on issuance of health advisory by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (if scored, HRS score need not be greater
than or equal to 28.50).
*
*
*
*
*
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[FR Doc. 2015–24330 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]
Bureau of Land Management
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
43 CFR Part 3000
[L13100000 PP0000 LLWO310000]
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RIN 1004–AE44
mineral resources regulations to update
some fees that cover the BLM’s cost of
processing certain documents relating to
its minerals programs and some filing
fees for mineral-related documents.
These updated fees include those for
actions such as lease renewals and
mineral patent adjudications.
Minerals Management: Adjustment of
Cost Recovery Fees
DATES:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
ADDRESSES:
AGENCY:
This final rule amends the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
SUMMARY:
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This final rule is effective
October 1, 2015.
You may send inquiries or
suggestions to Director (630), Bureau of
Land Management, 2134LM, 1849 C
Street NW., Washington, DC 20240;
Attention: RIN 1004–AE44.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Wells, Chief, Division of Fluid
Minerals, 202–912–7143; Mitchell
Leverette, Chief, Division of Solid
Minerals, 202–912–7113; or Mark
Purdy, Regulatory Affairs, 202–912–
7635. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may leave a message for these
individuals with the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The BLM has specific authority to
charge fees for processing applications
and other documents relating to public
lands under section 304 of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1734. In 2005,
the BLM published a final cost recovery
rule (70 FR 58854) establishing or
revising certain fees and service charges,
and establishing the method it would
use to adjust those fees and service
charges on an annual basis.
At 43 CFR 3000.12(a), the regulations
provide that the BLM will annually
adjust fees established in Subchapter C
(43 CFR parts 3000–3900) according to
year to the 4th Quarter of the following
calendar year. This fee update rule is
based on the change in the IPD–GDP
from the 4th Quarter of 2013 to the 4th
Quarter of 2014, thus reflecting the rate
of inflation over four calendar quarters.
The fee is calculated by applying the
IPD–GDP to the base value from the
previous year’s rule, also known as the
‘‘existing value.’’ This calculation
results in an updated base value. The
updated base value is then rounded to
the closest multiple of $5 for fees equal
to or greater than $1, or to the nearest
cent for fees under $1, to establish the
new fee.
Under this rule, 34 fees will remain
the same and 14 fees will increase. Of
the fees that will be increased, 12 of the
fee increases will amount to $5 each.
The largest increase, $40, will be
applied to the fee for adjudicating a
mineral patent application containing
more than 10 claims, and will increase
the fee from $3,035 to $3,075. The fee
for adjudicating a patent application
containing 10 or fewer claims will
increase by $15, from $1,520 to $1,535.
The calculations that resulted in the
new fees are included in the table
below:
changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for
Gross Domestic Product (IPD–GDP),
which is published quarterly by the U.S.
Department of Commerce. See also 43
CFR 3000.10. This final rule will allow
the BLM to update these fees and
service charges by October 1 of this
year, as required by the 2005 regulation.
The fee recalculations are based on a
mathematical formula. The public had
an opportunity to comment on this
procedure during the comment period
on the 2005 cost recovery rule, and this
new rule administers the procedure set
forth in those regulations. Therefore, the
BLM has changed the fees in this final
rule without providing opportunity for
additional notice and comment. See 43
CFR 3000.10(c). Accordingly, the
Department of the Interior for good
cause finds under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and
(d)(3) that notice and public comment
procedures are unnecessary and that the
rule may be effective less than 30 days
after publication.
II. Discussion of Final Rule
The BLM publishes a fee update rule
each year, which becomes effective on
October 1 of that year. The fee updates
are based on the change in the IPD–GDP
from the 4th Quarter of one calendar
Fixed cost recovery fees FY16
Existing
fee 1
Document/action
Existing
value 2
IPD–GDP
Increase 3
New value 4
New fee 5
Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)
Noncompetitive lease application ......................................
Competitive lease application ............................................
Assignment and transfer of record title or operating rights
Overriding royalty transfer, payment out of production .....
Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devisee ..................................................................................
Lease consolidation ...........................................................
Lease renewal or exchange ..............................................
Lease reinstatement, Class I .............................................
Leasing under right-of-way ................................................
Geophysical exploration permit application—Alaska 6 ......
Renewal of exploration permit—Alaska 7 ..........................
$405
155
90
10
$403.6113
156.6327
90.3565
12.0454
$5.0451
1.9579
1.1295
0.1506
$408.6565
158.5906
91.4859
12.1960
$410
160
90
10
210
445
405
80
405
25
25
210.8318
445.7650
403.6113
78.3005
403.6113
........................
........................
2.6354
5.5721
5.0451
0.9788
5.0451
........................
........................
213.4672
451.3371
408.6565
79.2793
408.6565
........................
........................
215
450
410
80
410
25
25
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Geothermal (part 3200)
Noncompetitive lease application ......................................
Competitive lease application ............................................
Assignment and transfer of record title or operating right
Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devisee ..................................................................................
Lease consolidation ...........................................................
Lease reinstatement ..........................................................
Nomination of lands ...........................................................
Plus per acre nomination fee .............................................
Site license application ......................................................
Assignment or transfer of site license ...............................
405
155
90
403.6113
156.6327
90.3565
5.0451
1.9579
1.1295
408.6565
158.5906
91.4859
410
160
90
210
445
80
115
0.11
60
60
210.8318
445.7650
78.3005
112.7688
0.11277
60.2377
60.2377
2.6354
5.5721
0.9788
1.4096
0.00141
0.7530
0.7530
213.4672
451.3371
79.2793
114.1784
0.11418
60.9906
60.9906
215
450
80
115
0.11
60
60
0.1506
4.1415
0.8285
12.1960
335.4592
67.1047
10
335
65
Coal (parts 3400, 3470)
License to mine application ...............................................
Exploration license application ..........................................
Lease or lease interest transfer .........................................
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330
65
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12.0454
331.3177
66.2762
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Fixed cost recovery fees FY16
Existing
fee 1
Document/action
Existing
value 2
IPD–GDP
Increase 3
New value 4
58627
New fee 5
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580)
Applications other than those listed below ........................
Prospecting permit amendment .........................................
Extension of prospecting permit ........................................
Lease modification or fringe acreage lease ......................
Lease renewal ....................................................................
Assignment, sublease, or transfer of operating rights .......
Transfer of overriding royalty .............................................
Use permit ..........................................................................
Shasta and Trinity hardrock mineral lease ........................
Renewal of existing sand and gravel lease in Nevada .....
35
65
110
30
520
30
30
30
30
30
36.1468
66.2762
108.4299
30.1294
518.0692
30.1294
30.1294
30.1294
30.1294
30.1294
0.4518
0.8285
1.3554
0.3766
6.4759
0.3766
0.3766
0.3766
0.3766
0.3766
36.5987
67.1047
109.7853
30.5060
524.5451
30.5060
30.5060
30.5060
30.5060
30.5060
35
65
110
30
525
30
30
30
30
30
0.1506
12.1960
10
Multiple Use; Mining (Group 3700)
Notice of protest of placer mining operations ....................
10
12.0454
Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)
Application to open lands to location .................................
Notice of Location ..............................................................
Amendment of location ......................................................
Transfer of mining claim/site ..............................................
Recording an annual FLPMA filing ....................................
Deferment of assessment work .........................................
Recording a notice of intent to locate mining claims on
Stockraising Homestead Act lands ................................
Mineral Patent adjudication (more than ten claims) ..........
(ten or fewer claims) ..........................................................
Adverse claim ....................................................................
Protest ................................................................................
10
20
10
10
10
110
12.0454
18.0629
12.0454
12.0454
12.0454
108.4299
0.1506
0.2258
0.1506
0.1506
0.1506
1.3554
12.1960
18.2886
12.1960
12.1960
12.1960
109.7853
10
20
10
10
10
110
30
3,035
1,520
110
65
30.1294
3,036.1112
1,518.0398
108.4299
66.2762
0.3766
37.9514
18.9755
1.3554
0.8285
30.5060
3,074.0626
1,537.0153
109.7853
67.1047
30
3,075
1,535
110
65
Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)
Exploration License Application .........................................
Assignment or sublease of record title or overriding royalty ..................................................................................
320
317.7838
3.9723
321.7561
320
65
64.6399
0.8080
65.4479
65
Source for Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product data: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis (March 27,
2015).
1 The Existing Fee was established by the 2014 (Fiscal Year 2015) cost recovery fee update rule published September 25, 2014 (79 FR
57476), effective October 1, 2014.
2 The Existing Value is the figure from the New Value column in the previous year’s rule.
3 From 4th Quarter 2013 to 4th Quarter 2014, the IPD–GDP increased by 1.25 percent. The value in the IPD–GDP Increase column is 1.25
percent of the Existing Value.
4 The sum of the Existing Value and the IPD–GDP Increase is the New Value.
5 The New Fee for Fiscal Year 2016 is the New Value rounded to the nearest $5 for values equal to or greater than $1, or to the nearest
penny for values under $1.
6 Section 365 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–58) directed in subsection (i) that ‘‘the Secretary shall not implement a rulemaking
that would enable an increase in fees to recover additional costs related to processing drilling-related permit applications and use authorizations.’’
In the 2005 cost recovery rule, the BLM interpreted this prohibition to apply to geophysical exploration permits. 70 FR 58854–58855. While the
$25 fees for geophysical exploration permit applications for Alaska and renewals of exploration permits for Alaska pre-dated the 2005 cost recovery rule and were not affected by the Energy Policy Act prohibition, the BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act provision as prohibiting it from increasing this $25 fee.
7 The BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act prohibition discussed in footnote 6, above, as prohibiting it from increasing this $25 fee, as well.
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III. How Fees Are Adjusted
Each year, the figures in the Existing
Value column in the table above (not
those in the Existing Fee column) are
used as the basis for calculating the
adjustment to these fees. The Existing
Value is the figure from the New Value
column in the previous year’s rule. In
the case of fees that were not in the table
the previous year, or that had no figure
in the New Value column the previous
year, the Existing Value is the same as
the Existing Fee. Because the new fees
are derived from the new values,
adjustments based on the figures in the
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Existing Fee column would lead to
significantly over- or under-valued fees
over time. Accordingly, fee adjustments
are made by multiplying the annual
change in the IPD–GDP by the figure in
the Existing Value column. This
calculation defines the New Value for
this year, which is then rounded to the
nearest $5 for fees equal to or greater
than $1 or the nearest penny for fees
under $1 to establish the New Fee.
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IV. Procedural Matters
Regulatory Planning and Review
(Executive Order 12866)
This document is not a significant
rule, and the Office of Management and
Budget has not reviewed this rule under
Executive Order 12866.
The BLM has determined that the rule
will not have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more. It 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
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communities. The changes in today’s
rule are much smaller than those in the
2005 final rule, which did not approach
the threshold in Executive Order 12866.
For instructions on how to view a copy
of the analysis prepared in conjunction
with the 2005 final rule, please contact
one of the persons listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
above.
This rule will not create
inconsistencies or otherwise interfere
with an action taken or planned by
another agency. This rule does not
change the relationships of the onshore
minerals programs with other agencies’
actions. These relationships are
included in agreements and memoranda
of understanding that would not change
with this rule.
In addition, this final rule does not
materially affect the budgetary impact of
entitlements, grants, or loan programs,
or the rights and obligations of their
recipients. This rule applies an inflation
factor that increases some existing user
fees for processing documents
associated with the onshore minerals
programs. However, most of these fee
increases are less than 2 percent, and
none of the increases materially affect
the budgetary impact of user fees.
Finally, this rule will not raise novel
legal or policy issues. As explained
above, this rule simply implements an
annual process to account for inflation
that was adopted by and explained in
the 2005 cost recovery rule.
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The Regulatory Flexibility Act
This final rule will not have a
significant economic effect on a
substantial number of small entities as
defined under the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). A Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis is not required. For
the purposes of this section, a small
entity is defined by the Small Business
Administration (SBA) for mining
(broadly inclusive of metal mining, coal
mining, oil and gas extraction, and the
mining and quarrying of nonmetallic
minerals) as an individual, limited
partnership, or small company
considered to be at arm’s length from
the control of any parent companies,
with fewer than 500 employees. The
SBA defines a small entity differently,
however, for leasing Federal land for
coal mining. A coal lessee is a small
entity if it employs not more than 250
people, including people working for its
affiliates.
The SBA would consider many, if not
most, of the operators the BLM works
with in the onshore minerals programs
to be small entities. The BLM notes that
this final rule does not affect service
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industries, for which the SBA has a
different definition of ‘‘small entity.’’
The final rule may affect a large
number of small entities since 14 fees
for activities on public lands will be
increased. However, the BLM has
concluded that the effects will not be
significant. Most of the fixed fee
increases will be less than 2 percent as
a result of this final rule. The
adjustments result in no increase in the
fee for the processing of 34 documents
relating to the BLM’s minerals
programs. The highest adjustment, in
dollar terms, is for adjudications of
mineral patent applications involving
more than 10 mining claims, which will
be increased by $40. For the 2005 final
rule, the BLM completed a Regulatory
Flexibility Act threshold analysis,
which is available for public review in
the administrative record for that rule.
For instructions on how to view a copy
of that analysis, please contact one of
the persons listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section above. The
analysis for the 2005 rule concluded
that the fees would not have a
significant economic effect on a
substantial number of small entities.
The fee increases implemented in
today’s rule are substantially smaller
than those provided for in the 2005 rule.
The Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act
This final rule is not a ‘‘major rule’’
as defined at 5 U.S.C. 804(2). The final
rule 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 U.S.-based enterprises to
compete with foreign-based enterprises.
For the 2005 final rule, which
established the fee adjustment
procedure that this rule implements, the
BLM completed a threshold analysis,
which is available for public review in
the administrative record for that rule.
The fee increases implemented in
today’s rule are substantially smaller
than those provided for in the 2005 rule.
Accordingly, a Small Entity Compliance
Guide is not required.
Executive Order 13132, Federalism
This final 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 various
levels of government. In accordance
with Executive Order 13132, therefore,
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we find that the final rule does not have
federalism implications. A federalism
assessment is not required.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This rule does not contain
information collection requirements that
require a control number from the Office
of Management and Budget in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
3521). After the effective date of this
rule, the new fees may affect the nonhour burdens associated with the
following control numbers:
Oil and Gas
(1) 1004–0034 which expires July 31,
2018;
(2) 1004–0137 which expires January
31, 2018;
(3) 1004–0162 which expires
September 30, 2015;
(4) 1004–0185 which expires
December 31, 2015;
Geothermal
(5) 1004–0132 which expires
December 31, 2016;
Coal
(6) 1004–0073 which expires August
31, 2016;
Mining Claims
(7) 1004–0025 which expires March
31, 2016;
(8) 1004–0114 which expires October
31, 2016; and
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than
Oil Shale
(9) 1004–0121 which expires March
31, 2016.
Takings Implication Assessment
(Executive Order 12630)
As required by Executive Order
12630, the BLM has determined that
this rule will not cause a taking of
private property. No private property
rights will be affected by a rule that
merely updates fees. The BLM therefore
certifies that this final rule does not
represent a governmental action capable
of interference with constitutionally
protected property rights.
Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order
12988)
In accordance with Executive Order
12988, the BLM finds that this final rule
will not unduly burden the judicial
system and meets the requirements of
sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Executive
Order.
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The National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)
The BLM has determined that this
final rule qualifies as a routine financial
transaction and a regulation of an
administrative, financial, legal, or
procedural nature that is categorically
excluded from environmental review
under NEPA pursuant to 43 CFR 46.205
and 46.210(c) and (i). The final rule
does not meet any of the 12 criteria for
exceptions to categorical exclusions
listed at 43 CFR 46.215.
Pursuant to Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations, the term ‘‘categorical
exclusions’’ means categories of actions
‘‘which do not individually or
cumulatively have a significant effect on
the human environment and which
have been found to have no such effect
in procedures adopted by a federal
agency in implementation of [CEQ]
regulations (§ 1507.3) and for which,
therefore, neither an environmental
assessment nor an environmental
impact statement is required.’’ 40 CFR
1508.4.
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995
The BLM has determined that this
final rule is not significant under the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., because it
will not result in State, local, private
sector, or tribal government
expenditures of $100 million or more in
any one year, 2 U.S.C. 1532. This rule
will not significantly or uniquely affect
small governments. Therefore, the BLM
is not required to prepare a statement
containing the information required by
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Consultation and Coordination With
Indian Tribal Governments (Executive
Order 13175)
In accordance with Executive Order
13175, the BLM has determined that
this final rule does not include policies
that have tribal implications.
Specifically, the rule would not have
substantial direct effects on one or more
Indian tribes. Consequently, the BLM
did not utilize the consultation process
set forth in Section 5 of the Executive
Order.
List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 3000
Public lands—mineral resources,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Janice M. Schneider,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals
Management.
For reasons stated in the preamble,
the Bureau of Land Management
amends 43 CFR part 3000 as follows:
PART 3000—MINERALS
MANAGEMENT: GENERAL
Information Quality Act
■
In developing this rule, the BLM did
not conduct or use a study, experiment,
or survey requiring peer review under
the Information Quality Act (Pub. L.
106–554).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.; 30
U.S.C. 181 et seq., 301–306, 351–359, and
601 et seq.; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 40 U.S.C. 471 et
seq.; 42 U.S.C. 6508; 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.;
and Pub. L. 97–35, 95 Stat. 357.
Effects on the Nation’s Energy Supply
(Executive Order 13211)
In accordance with Executive Order
13211, the BLM has determined that
this final rule is not likely to have a
significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy. It merely
adjusts certain administrative cost
recovery fees to account for inflation.
Author
The principal author of this rule is
Mark Purdy of the Division of
Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Land
Management.
1. The authority citation for part 3000
continues to read as follows:
Subpart 3000—General
2. Amend § 3000.12 by revising
paragraph (a) to read as follows:
■
§ 3000.12 What is the fee schedule for
fixed fees?
(a) The table in this section shows the
fixed fees that you must pay to the BLM
for the services listed for Fiscal Year
2016. These fees are nonrefundable and
must be included with documents you
file under this chapter. Fees will be
adjusted annually according to the
change in the Implicit Price Deflator for
Gross Domestic Product (IPD–GDP) by
way of publication of a final rule in the
Federal Register and will subsequently
be posted on the BLM Web site (https://
www.blm.gov) before October 1 each
year. Revised fees are effective each year
on October 1.
FY 2016 PROCESSING AND FILING FEE TABLE
Document/action
FY 2016 fee
Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES
Noncompetitive lease application ..............................................................................................................................
Competitive lease application ...................................................................................................................................
Assignment and transfer of record title or operating rights ......................................................................................
Overriding royalty transfer, payment out of production ............................................................................................
Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devisee ...................................................................................
Lease consolidation ...................................................................................................................................................
Lease renewal or exchange ......................................................................................................................................
Lease reinstatement, Class I ....................................................................................................................................
Leasing under right-of-way ........................................................................................................................................
Geophysical exploration permit application—Alaska ................................................................................................
Renewal of exploration permit—Alaska ....................................................................................................................
$410
160
90
10
215
450
410
80
410
25
25
Geothermal (part 3200)
Noncompetitive lease application ..............................................................................................................................
Competitive lease application ...................................................................................................................................
Assignment and transfer of record title or operating rights ......................................................................................
Name change, corporate merger or transfer to heir/devisee ...................................................................................
Lease consolidation ...................................................................................................................................................
Lease reinstatement ..................................................................................................................................................
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
FY 2016 PROCESSING AND FILING FEE TABLE—Continued
Document/action
FY 2016 fee
Nomination of lands ..................................................................................................................................................
plus per acre nomination fee .............................................................................................................................
Site license application ..............................................................................................................................................
Assignment or transfer of site license .......................................................................................................................
115
0.11
60
60
Coal (parts 3400, 3470)
License to mine application .......................................................................................................................................
Exploration license application ..................................................................................................................................
Lease or lease interest transfer ................................................................................................................................
10
335
65
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580)
Applications other than those listed below ...............................................................................................................
Prospecting permit application amendment ..............................................................................................................
Extension of prospecting permit ................................................................................................................................
Lease modification or fringe acreage lease ..............................................................................................................
Lease renewal ...........................................................................................................................................................
Assignment, sublease, or transfer of operating rights ..............................................................................................
Transfer of overriding royalty ....................................................................................................................................
Use permit .................................................................................................................................................................
Shasta and Trinity hardrock mineral lease ...............................................................................................................
Renewal of existing sand and gravel lease in Nevada ............................................................................................
35
65
110
30
525
30
30
30
30
30
Public Law 359; Mining in Powersite Withdrawals: General (part 3730)
Notice of protest of placer mining operations ...........................................................................................................
10
Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)
Application to open lands to location ........................................................................................................................
Notice of location * .....................................................................................................................................................
Amendment of location .............................................................................................................................................
Transfer of mining claim/site .....................................................................................................................................
Recording an annual FLPMA filing ...........................................................................................................................
Deferment of assessment work ................................................................................................................................
Recording a notice of intent to locate mining claims on Stockraising Homestead Act lands ..................................
Mineral patent adjudication .......................................................................................................................................
Adverse claim ............................................................................................................................................................
Protest .......................................................................................................................................................................
10
20
10
10
10
110
30
3,075 (more than 10 claims)
1,535 (10 or fewer claims)
110
65
Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)
Exploration license application ..................................................................................................................................
Application for assignment or sublease of record title or overriding royalty ............................................................
320
65
* To record a mining claim or site location, you must pay this processing fee along with the initial maintenance fee and the one-time location
fee required by statute. 43 CFR part 3833.
*
*
*
*
*
Defense Acquisition Regulations
System
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
48 CFR Parts 204 and 237
[Docket No. DARS 2015–0009]
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES
RIN 0750–AI29
Defense Federal Acquisition
Regulation Supplement: Electronic
Copies of Contractual Documents
(DFARS Case 2012–D056)
Defense Acquisition
Regulations System, Department of
Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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DoD is issuing a final rule
amending the Defense Federal
Acquisition Regulation Supplement
(DFARS) to establish that the Electronic
Data Access system is the primary tool
for distributing contracts and contract
data and to provide internal control
procedures for data verification to
ensure contract documents in the
Electronic Data Access system are
accurate representations of original
documents. This rule also removes
outmoded language that is not
consistent with electronic document
processes.
SUMMARY:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
[FR Doc. 2015–24699 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]
Effective September 30, 2015.
Ms.
Tresa Sullivan, telephone 571–372–
6089.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58625-58630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24699]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
43 CFR Part 3000
[L13100000 PP0000 LLWO310000]
RIN 1004-AE44
Minerals Management: Adjustment of Cost Recovery Fees
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
mineral resources regulations to update some fees that cover the BLM's
cost of processing certain documents relating to its minerals programs
and some filing fees for mineral-related documents. These updated fees
include those for actions such as lease renewals and mineral patent
adjudications.
DATES: This final rule is effective October 1, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may send inquiries or suggestions to Director (630),
Bureau of Land Management, 2134LM, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC
20240; Attention: RIN 1004-AE44.
[[Page 58626]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Wells, Chief, Division of Fluid
Minerals, 202-912-7143; Mitchell Leverette, Chief, Division of Solid
Minerals, 202-912-7113; or Mark Purdy, Regulatory Affairs, 202-912-
7635. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)
may leave a message for these individuals with the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The BLM has specific authority to charge fees for processing
applications and other documents relating to public lands under section
304 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43
U.S.C. 1734. In 2005, the BLM published a final cost recovery rule (70
FR 58854) establishing or revising certain fees and service charges,
and establishing the method it would use to adjust those fees and
service charges on an annual basis.
At 43 CFR 3000.12(a), the regulations provide that the BLM will
annually adjust fees established in Subchapter C (43 CFR parts 3000-
3900) according to changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross
Domestic Product (IPD-GDP), which is published quarterly by the U.S.
Department of Commerce. See also 43 CFR 3000.10. This final rule will
allow the BLM to update these fees and service charges by October 1 of
this year, as required by the 2005 regulation. The fee recalculations
are based on a mathematical formula. The public had an opportunity to
comment on this procedure during the comment period on the 2005 cost
recovery rule, and this new rule administers the procedure set forth in
those regulations. Therefore, the BLM has changed the fees in this
final rule without providing opportunity for additional notice and
comment. See 43 CFR 3000.10(c). Accordingly, the Department of the
Interior for good cause finds under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and (d)(3) that
notice and public comment procedures are unnecessary and that the rule
may be effective less than 30 days after publication.
II. Discussion of Final Rule
The BLM publishes a fee update rule each year, which becomes
effective on October 1 of that year. The fee updates are based on the
change in the IPD-GDP from the 4th Quarter of one calendar year to the
4th Quarter of the following calendar year. This fee update rule is
based on the change in the IPD-GDP from the 4th Quarter of 2013 to the
4th Quarter of 2014, thus reflecting the rate of inflation over four
calendar quarters.
The fee is calculated by applying the IPD-GDP to the base value
from the previous year's rule, also known as the ``existing value.''
This calculation results in an updated base value. The updated base
value is then rounded to the closest multiple of $5 for fees equal to
or greater than $1, or to the nearest cent for fees under $1, to
establish the new fee.
Under this rule, 34 fees will remain the same and 14 fees will
increase. Of the fees that will be increased, 12 of the fee increases
will amount to $5 each. The largest increase, $40, will be applied to
the fee for adjudicating a mineral patent application containing more
than 10 claims, and will increase the fee from $3,035 to $3,075. The
fee for adjudicating a patent application containing 10 or fewer claims
will increase by $15, from $1,520 to $1,535.
The calculations that resulted in the new fees are included in the
table below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed cost recovery fees FY16
--------------------------------- Existing fee Existing value IPD-GDP New value \4\ New fee \5\
Document/action \1\ \2\ Increase \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease application $405 $403.6113 $5.0451 $408.6565 $410
Competitive lease application... 155 156.6327 1.9579 158.5906 160
Assignment and transfer of 90 90.3565 1.1295 91.4859 90
record title or operating
rights.........................
Overriding royalty transfer, 10 12.0454 0.1506 12.1960 10
payment out of production......
Name change, corporate merger or 210 210.8318 2.6354 213.4672 215
transfer to heir/devisee.......
Lease consolidation............. 445 445.7650 5.5721 451.3371 450
Lease renewal or exchange....... 405 403.6113 5.0451 408.6565 410
Lease reinstatement, Class I.... 80 78.3005 0.9788 79.2793 80
Leasing under right-of-way...... 405 403.6113 5.0451 408.6565 410
Geophysical exploration permit 25 .............. .............. .............. 25
application--Alaska \6\........
Renewal of exploration permit-- 25 .............. .............. .............. 25
Alaska \7\.....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geothermal (part 3200)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease application 405 403.6113 5.0451 408.6565 410
Competitive lease application... 155 156.6327 1.9579 158.5906 160
Assignment and transfer of 90 90.3565 1.1295 91.4859 90
record title or operating right
Name change, corporate merger or 210 210.8318 2.6354 213.4672 215
transfer to heir/devisee.......
Lease consolidation............. 445 445.7650 5.5721 451.3371 450
Lease reinstatement............. 80 78.3005 0.9788 79.2793 80
Nomination of lands............. 115 112.7688 1.4096 114.1784 115
Plus per acre nomination fee.... 0.11 0.11277 0.00141 0.11418 0.11
Site license application........ 60 60.2377 0.7530 60.9906 60
Assignment or transfer of site 60 60.2377 0.7530 60.9906 60
license........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coal (parts 3400, 3470)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
License to mine application..... 10 12.0454 0.1506 12.1960 10
Exploration license application. 330 331.3177 4.1415 335.4592 335
Lease or lease interest transfer 65 66.2762 0.8285 67.1047 65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 58627]]
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications other than those 35 36.1468 0.4518 36.5987 35
listed below...................
Prospecting permit amendment.... 65 66.2762 0.8285 67.1047 65
Extension of prospecting permit. 110 108.4299 1.3554 109.7853 110
Lease modification or fringe 30 30.1294 0.3766 30.5060 30
acreage lease..................
Lease renewal................... 520 518.0692 6.4759 524.5451 525
Assignment, sublease, or 30 30.1294 0.3766 30.5060 30
transfer of operating rights...
Transfer of overriding royalty.. 30 30.1294 0.3766 30.5060 30
Use permit...................... 30 30.1294 0.3766 30.5060 30
Shasta and Trinity hardrock 30 30.1294 0.3766 30.5060 30
mineral lease..................
Renewal of existing sand and 30 30.1294 0.3766 30.5060 30
gravel lease in Nevada.........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Multiple Use; Mining (Group 3700)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of protest of placer 10 12.0454 0.1506 12.1960 10
mining operations..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application to open lands to 10 12.0454 0.1506 12.1960 10
location.......................
Notice of Location.............. 20 18.0629 0.2258 18.2886 20
Amendment of location........... 10 12.0454 0.1506 12.1960 10
Transfer of mining claim/site... 10 12.0454 0.1506 12.1960 10
Recording an annual FLPMA filing 10 12.0454 0.1506 12.1960 10
Deferment of assessment work.... 110 108.4299 1.3554 109.7853 110
Recording a notice of intent to 30 30.1294 0.3766 30.5060 30
locate mining claims on
Stockraising Homestead Act
lands..........................
Mineral Patent adjudication 3,035 3,036.1112 37.9514 3,074.0626 3,075
(more than ten claims).........
(ten or fewer claims)........... 1,520 1,518.0398 18.9755 1,537.0153 1,535
Adverse claim................... 110 108.4299 1.3554 109.7853 110
Protest......................... 65 66.2762 0.8285 67.1047 65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration License Application. 320 317.7838 3.9723 321.7561 320
Assignment or sublease of record 65 64.6399 0.8080 65.4479 65
title or overriding royalty....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source for Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product data: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of
Economic Analysis (March 27, 2015).
\1\ The Existing Fee was established by the 2014 (Fiscal Year 2015) cost recovery fee update rule published
September 25, 2014 (79 FR 57476), effective October 1, 2014.
\2\ The Existing Value is the figure from the New Value column in the previous year's rule.
\3\ From 4th Quarter 2013 to 4th Quarter 2014, the IPD-GDP increased by 1.25 percent. The value in the IPD-GDP
Increase column is 1.25 percent of the Existing Value.
\4\ The sum of the Existing Value and the IPD-GDP Increase is the New Value.
\5\ The New Fee for Fiscal Year 2016 is the New Value rounded to the nearest $5 for values equal to or greater
than $1, or to the nearest penny for values under $1.
\6\ Section 365 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) directed in subsection (i) that ``the
Secretary shall not implement a rulemaking that would enable an increase in fees to recover additional costs
related to processing drilling-related permit applications and use authorizations.'' In the 2005 cost recovery
rule, the BLM interpreted this prohibition to apply to geophysical exploration permits. 70 FR 58854-58855.
While the $25 fees for geophysical exploration permit applications for Alaska and renewals of exploration
permits for Alaska pre-dated the 2005 cost recovery rule and were not affected by the Energy Policy Act
prohibition, the BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act provision as prohibiting it from increasing this $25
fee.
\7\ The BLM interprets the Energy Policy Act prohibition discussed in footnote 6, above, as prohibiting it from
increasing this $25 fee, as well.
III. How Fees Are Adjusted
Each year, the figures in the Existing Value column in the table
above (not those in the Existing Fee column) are used as the basis for
calculating the adjustment to these fees. The Existing Value is the
figure from the New Value column in the previous year's rule. In the
case of fees that were not in the table the previous year, or that had
no figure in the New Value column the previous year, the Existing Value
is the same as the Existing Fee. Because the new fees are derived from
the new values, adjustments based on the figures in the Existing Fee
column would lead to significantly over- or under-valued fees over
time. Accordingly, fee adjustments are made by multiplying the annual
change in the IPD-GDP by the figure in the Existing Value column. This
calculation defines the New Value for this year, which is then rounded
to the nearest $5 for fees equal to or greater than $1 or the nearest
penny for fees under $1 to establish the New Fee.
IV. Procedural Matters
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)
This document is not a significant rule, and the Office of
Management and Budget has not reviewed this rule under Executive Order
12866.
The BLM has determined that the rule will not have an annual effect
on the economy of $100 million or more. It 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
[[Page 58628]]
communities. The changes in today's rule are much smaller than those in
the 2005 final rule, which did not approach the threshold in Executive
Order 12866. For instructions on how to view a copy of the analysis
prepared in conjunction with the 2005 final rule, please contact one of
the persons listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
above.
This rule will not create inconsistencies or otherwise interfere
with an action taken or planned by another agency. This rule does not
change the relationships of the onshore minerals programs with other
agencies' actions. These relationships are included in agreements and
memoranda of understanding that would not change with this rule.
In addition, this final rule does not materially affect the
budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, or loan programs, or the
rights and obligations of their recipients. This rule applies an
inflation factor that increases some existing user fees for processing
documents associated with the onshore minerals programs. However, most
of these fee increases are less than 2 percent, and none of the
increases materially affect the budgetary impact of user fees.
Finally, this rule will not raise novel legal or policy issues. As
explained above, this rule simply implements an annual process to
account for inflation that was adopted by and explained in the 2005
cost recovery rule.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act
This final rule will not have a significant economic effect on a
substantial number of small entities as defined under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). A Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis is not required. For the purposes of this section, a small
entity is defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for mining
(broadly inclusive of metal mining, coal mining, oil and gas
extraction, and the mining and quarrying of nonmetallic minerals) as an
individual, limited partnership, or small company considered to be at
arm's length from the control of any parent companies, with fewer than
500 employees. The SBA defines a small entity differently, however, for
leasing Federal land for coal mining. A coal lessee is a small entity
if it employs not more than 250 people, including people working for
its affiliates.
The SBA would consider many, if not most, of the operators the BLM
works with in the onshore minerals programs to be small entities. The
BLM notes that this final rule does not affect service industries, for
which the SBA has a different definition of ``small entity.''
The final rule may affect a large number of small entities since 14
fees for activities on public lands will be increased. However, the BLM
has concluded that the effects will not be significant. Most of the
fixed fee increases will be less than 2 percent as a result of this
final rule. The adjustments result in no increase in the fee for the
processing of 34 documents relating to the BLM's minerals programs. The
highest adjustment, in dollar terms, is for adjudications of mineral
patent applications involving more than 10 mining claims, which will be
increased by $40. For the 2005 final rule, the BLM completed a
Regulatory Flexibility Act threshold analysis, which is available for
public review in the administrative record for that rule. For
instructions on how to view a copy of that analysis, please contact one
of the persons listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
above. The analysis for the 2005 rule concluded that the fees would not
have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small
entities. The fee increases implemented in today's rule are
substantially smaller than those provided for in the 2005 rule.
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
This final rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined at 5 U.S.C.
804(2). The final rule 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
U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. For
the 2005 final rule, which established the fee adjustment procedure
that this rule implements, the BLM completed a threshold analysis,
which is available for public review in the administrative record for
that rule. The fee increases implemented in today's rule are
substantially smaller than those provided for in the 2005 rule.
Accordingly, a Small Entity Compliance Guide is not required.
Executive Order 13132, Federalism
This final 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
various levels of government. In accordance with Executive Order 13132,
therefore, we find that the final rule does not have federalism
implications. A federalism assessment is not required.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This rule does not contain information collection requirements that
require a control number from the Office of Management and Budget in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521). After the effective date of this rule, the new fees may affect
the non-hour burdens associated with the following control numbers:
Oil and Gas
(1) 1004-0034 which expires July 31, 2018;
(2) 1004-0137 which expires January 31, 2018;
(3) 1004-0162 which expires September 30, 2015;
(4) 1004-0185 which expires December 31, 2015;
Geothermal
(5) 1004-0132 which expires December 31, 2016;
Coal
(6) 1004-0073 which expires August 31, 2016;
Mining Claims
(7) 1004-0025 which expires March 31, 2016;
(8) 1004-0114 which expires October 31, 2016; and
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Oil Shale
(9) 1004-0121 which expires March 31, 2016.
Takings Implication Assessment (Executive Order 12630)
As required by Executive Order 12630, the BLM has determined that
this rule will not cause a taking of private property. No private
property rights will be affected by a rule that merely updates fees.
The BLM therefore certifies that this final rule does not represent a
governmental action capable of interference with constitutionally
protected property rights.
Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)
In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the BLM finds that this
final rule will not unduly burden the judicial system and meets the
requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Executive Order.
[[Page 58629]]
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The BLM has determined that this final rule qualifies as a routine
financial transaction and a regulation of an administrative, financial,
legal, or procedural nature that is categorically excluded from
environmental review under NEPA pursuant to 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210(c)
and (i). The final rule does not meet any of the 12 criteria for
exceptions to categorical exclusions listed at 43 CFR 46.215.
Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, the
term ``categorical exclusions'' means categories of actions ``which do
not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human
environment and which have been found to have no such effect in
procedures adopted by a federal agency in implementation of [CEQ]
regulations (Sec. 1507.3) and for which, therefore, neither an
environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is
required.'' 40 CFR 1508.4.
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
The BLM has determined that this final rule is not significant
under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.,
because it will not result in State, local, private sector, or tribal
government expenditures of $100 million or more in any one year, 2
U.S.C. 1532. This rule will not significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. Therefore, the BLM is not required to prepare a statement
containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments (Executive
Order 13175)
In accordance with Executive Order 13175, the BLM has determined
that this final rule does not include policies that have tribal
implications. Specifically, the rule would not have substantial direct
effects on one or more Indian tribes. Consequently, the BLM did not
utilize the consultation process set forth in Section 5 of the
Executive Order.
Information Quality Act
In developing this rule, the BLM did not conduct or use a study,
experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Information
Quality Act (Pub. L. 106-554).
Effects on the Nation's Energy Supply (Executive Order 13211)
In accordance with Executive Order 13211, the BLM has determined
that this final rule is not likely to have a significant adverse effect
on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It merely adjusts
certain administrative cost recovery fees to account for inflation.
Author
The principal author of this rule is Mark Purdy of the Division of
Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Land Management.
List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 3000
Public lands--mineral resources, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Janice M. Schneider,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
For reasons stated in the preamble, the Bureau of Land Management
amends 43 CFR part 3000 as follows:
PART 3000--MINERALS MANAGEMENT: GENERAL
0
1. The authority citation for part 3000 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.; 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq., 301-
306, 351-359, and 601 et seq.; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 40 U.S.C. 471 et
seq.; 42 U.S.C. 6508; 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; and Pub. L. 97-35, 95
Stat. 357.
Subpart 3000--General
0
2. Amend Sec. 3000.12 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 3000.12 What is the fee schedule for fixed fees?
(a) The table in this section shows the fixed fees that you must
pay to the BLM for the services listed for Fiscal Year 2016. These fees
are nonrefundable and must be included with documents you file under
this chapter. Fees will be adjusted annually according to the change in
the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product (IPD-GDP) by way
of publication of a final rule in the Federal Register and will
subsequently be posted on the BLM Web site (https://www.blm.gov) before
October 1 each year. Revised fees are effective each year on October 1.
FY 2016 Processing and Filing Fee Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document/action FY 2016 fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease $410
application.
Competitive lease application.. 160
Assignment and transfer of 90
record title or operating
rights.
Overriding royalty transfer, 10
payment out of production.
Name change, corporate merger 215
or transfer to heir/devisee.
Lease consolidation............ 450
Lease renewal or exchange...... 410
Lease reinstatement, Class I... 80
Leasing under right-of-way..... 410
Geophysical exploration permit 25
application--Alaska.
Renewal of exploration permit-- 25
Alaska.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geothermal (part 3200)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noncompetitive lease 410
application.
Competitive lease application.. 160
Assignment and transfer of 90
record title or operating
rights.
Name change, corporate merger 215
or transfer to heir/devisee.
Lease consolidation............ 450
Lease reinstatement............ 80
[[Page 58630]]
Nomination of lands............ 115
plus per acre nomination 0.11
fee.
Site license application....... 60
Assignment or transfer of site 60
license.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coal (parts 3400, 3470)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
License to mine application.... 10
Exploration license application 335
Lease or lease interest 65
transfer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts 3500,
3580)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications other than those 35
listed below.
Prospecting permit application 65
amendment.
Extension of prospecting permit 110
Lease modification or fringe 30
acreage lease.
Lease renewal.................. 525
Assignment, sublease, or 30
transfer of operating rights.
Transfer of overriding royalty. 30
Use permit..................... 30
Shasta and Trinity hardrock 30
mineral lease.
Renewal of existing sand and 30
gravel lease in Nevada.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Law 359; Mining in Powersite Withdrawals: General (part 3730)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of protest of placer 10
mining operations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application to open lands to 10
location.
Notice of location *........... 20
Amendment of location.......... 10
Transfer of mining claim/site.. 10
Recording an annual FLPMA 10
filing.
Deferment of assessment work... 110
Recording a notice of intent to 30
locate mining claims on
Stockraising Homestead Act
lands.
Mineral patent adjudication.... 3,075 (more than 10 claims)
1,535 (10 or fewer claims)
Adverse claim.................. 110
Protest........................ 65
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration license application 320
Application for assignment or 65
sublease of record title or
overriding royalty.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* To record a mining claim or site location, you must pay this
processing fee along with the initial maintenance fee and the one-time
location fee required by statute. 43 CFR part 3833.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-24699 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
