Management of Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights, 56575-56576 [2016-19519]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules oral statement he or she intends to make at the proceeding. The notification should identify the party the person represents, the particular subject(s) the person plans to address, and the time requested. The notification should also provide the participant’s mailing address and other contact information. FRA reserves the right to limit participation in the hearing of persons who fail to provide such notification. FRA also reserves the right to limit the duration of presentations if necessary to afford all persons with the opportunity to speak. For information on facilities or services for persons with disabilities, or to request special assistance at the hearing, contact FRA Program Analyst, Mr. Kenton Kilgore, by telephone, email, or in writing, at least at least 5 working days before the date of the hearing. 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[FR Doc. 2016–19910 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Parts 28 and 29 [Docket No. FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086; FXRS12610900000–167–FF09R24000] RIN 1018–AX36 Management of Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make available the final environmental impact statement (EIS) on regulations governing the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights outside of Alaska in order to improve our ability to protect refuge resources, visitors, and the general public’s health and safety from potential impacts associated with non-Federal oil and gas operations located within refuges. SUMMARY: The Service will execute a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days from the date of publication of the notice of availability of the FEIS by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS will be available for public review at https:// www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/ rulemaking.html and at www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Covington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Natural Resources and Planning, MS: NWRS, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041; telephone 703–358–2427. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. Further contact information can be found at https://www.fws.gov/refuges/oiland-gas/rulemaking.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior regulations that implement NEPA (part 46 of title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations) and the National Wildlife DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 56575 Refuge System Administration Act, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), we issue this supplementary document. The Environmental Protection Agency will publish similar notification of this action in the Federal Register. Background On February 24, 2014, we issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) (79 FR 10080) to assist us in developing a proposed rule on managing activities associated with nonFederal oil and gas development on lands and waters of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). NonFederal oil and gas development refers to oil and gas activities associated with any private, state, or tribally owned mineral interest where the surface estate is administered by the Service as part of the Refuge System. The ANPR had a 60day comment period, ending April 25, 2014. On June 9, 2014, we reopened the comment period for another 30 days, ending July 9, 2014 (79 FR 32903). The ANPR requested the public to focus their comments on seven topics identified as major areas of concern: (1) Plans of Operations and Special Use Permits; (2) Operating Standards; (3) Financial Assurances; (4) Access Fees; (5) Noncompliance; (6) Existing Operations; and (7) Impacts from the Proposed Rulemaking. We published a proposed rule on December 11, 2015 (80 FR 77200), to revise the regulations governing the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights located within NWRS units, and we announced the availability of a draft EIS. The comment period closed February 9, 2016. We now announce the availability of the FEIS. The FEIS evaluates the impacts of three alternatives, including the following alternative elements: • Requirement that oil operators proposing new oil and gas development (e.g., drilling a well) obtain an operations permit. • Requirement of financial assurance (bonding). Financial assurance would be equal to the reasonable estimated cost of site reclamation. • Requirement that all operations, regardless of status, obtain a reclamation permit (including bonding) once that operation ceases to be economically productive. • Improving enforcement authority by assimilating State oil and gas laws and regulations. Law enforcement staff would have authority to write citations for noncompliance with State regulations, primarily State regulations addressing surface impacts. E:\FR\FM\22AUP1.SGM 22AUP1 56576 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules • Clarifying our authority to permit an operator access on NWRS units outside the boundary of an operator’s mineral right. • Clarifying the regulations to make it easier to identify an operator’s information requirements and operating standards that apply to each type of operation. Dated: July 29, 2016. Michael J. Bean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. 2016–19519 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am] Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with PROPOSALS BILLING CODE 4333–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:13 Aug 19, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\22AUP1.SGM 22AUP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56575-56576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19519]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Parts 28 and 29

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086; FXRS12610900000-167-FF09R24000]
RIN 1018-AX36


Management of Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; availability of Final Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make 
available the final environmental impact statement (EIS) on regulations 
governing the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights outside of 
Alaska in order to improve our ability to protect refuge resources, 
visitors, and the general public's health and safety from potential 
impacts associated with non-Federal oil and gas operations located 
within refuges.

DATES: The Service will execute a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 
days from the date of publication of the notice of availability of the 
FEIS by the Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS will be available for public review at 
https://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/rulemaking.html and at 
www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Covington, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Division of Natural Resources and Planning, MS: NWRS, 
5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041; telephone 703-358-
2427. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339. Further 
contact information can be found at https://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/rulemaking.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the 
Department of the Interior regulations that implement NEPA (part 46 of 
title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations) and the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Administration Act, as amended by the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), we issue this 
supplementary document. The Environmental Protection Agency will 
publish similar notification of this action in the Federal Register.

Background

    On February 24, 2014, we issued an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPR) (79 FR 10080) to assist us in developing a proposed 
rule on managing activities associated with non-Federal oil and gas 
development on lands and waters of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
(NWRS). Non-Federal oil and gas development refers to oil and gas 
activities associated with any private, state, or tribally owned 
mineral interest where the surface estate is administered by the 
Service as part of the Refuge System. The ANPR had a 60-day comment 
period, ending April 25, 2014. On June 9, 2014, we reopened the comment 
period for another 30 days, ending July 9, 2014 (79 FR 32903). The ANPR 
requested the public to focus their comments on seven topics identified 
as major areas of concern: (1) Plans of Operations and Special Use 
Permits; (2) Operating Standards; (3) Financial Assurances; (4) Access 
Fees; (5) Noncompliance; (6) Existing Operations; and (7) Impacts from 
the Proposed Rulemaking.
    We published a proposed rule on December 11, 2015 (80 FR 77200), to 
revise the regulations governing the exercise of non-Federal oil and 
gas rights located within NWRS units, and we announced the availability 
of a draft EIS. The comment period closed February 9, 2016. We now 
announce the availability of the FEIS.
    The FEIS evaluates the impacts of three alternatives, including the 
following alternative elements:
     Requirement that oil operators proposing new oil and gas 
development (e.g., drilling a well) obtain an operations permit.
     Requirement of financial assurance (bonding). Financial 
assurance would be equal to the reasonable estimated cost of site 
reclamation.
     Requirement that all operations, regardless of status, 
obtain a reclamation permit (including bonding) once that operation 
ceases to be economically productive.
     Improving enforcement authority by assimilating State oil 
and gas laws and regulations. Law enforcement staff would have 
authority to write citations for noncompliance with State regulations, 
primarily State regulations addressing surface impacts.

[[Page 56576]]

     Clarifying our authority to permit an operator access on 
NWRS units outside the boundary of an operator's mineral right.
     Clarifying the regulations to make it easier to identify 
an operator's information requirements and operating standards that 
apply to each type of operation.

    Dated: July 29, 2016.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2016-19519 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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