Notice of Crude Helium Auction and Sale for Fiscal Year 2019 Delivery, 37825-37827 [2018-16685]
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37825
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2018 / Notices
Meridian, in the County of San Diego, State
of California, according to official plat
thereof.
The above described lands contain a total
of 520 acres, more or less, which are subject
to all valid rights, reservations, rights-of-way,
and easements of record.
This proclamation does not affect title to
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and highways, public utilities, railroads,
pipelines, or any other valid easement or
rights-of-way or reservation of record.
Dated: July 9, 2018.
John Tahsuda,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs Exercising the Authority of the
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018–16584 Filed 8–1–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNM006200 L99110000.EK0000 XXX
L4053RV]
Notice of Crude Helium Auction and
Sale for Fiscal Year 2019 Delivery
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of auction and sale.
AGENCY:
The Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary), through the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) New Mexico State
Office, is issuing this Notice to conduct
an auction and sale from the Federal
Helium Program, administered by the
BLM New Mexico, Amarillo Field
Office. The Helium Stewardship Act of
2013 (HSA) requires the BLM to
conduct an annual auction and sale of
crude helium. Accordingly, the BLM
will once again use the auction and sale
process established in the Federal
Register dated June 20, 2017, for a
previous sale.
DATES: The schedule for the auction and
sale process is:
SUMMARY:
Helium Auction
August 31, 2018—FY 2019 helium
auction held in Amarillo, Texas
September 4, 2018—FY 2019 helium
auction results published on the
BLM website
September 5, 2018—Invoices for
auction sent on or before this date;
payments due 15 days from invoice
Helium Sale
August 31, 2018—Invitation for offers
(IFO) posted for helium sale
September 4, 2018—Bids due from
IFO
September 4, 2018—Award
announcements published on the
BLM website
September 5, 2018—Invoices for sale
sent on or before; payments due 15
days from invoice
Helium Delivery
September 30, 2018—Helium
transferred to buyers’ storage
accounts
If payment is not received by
September 20, 2018, volumes will be reoffered for sale to all over bidders,
proportionally, on September 21, 2018.
Subsequently, for these re-offered
volumes to count toward October 1,
2018 allocation percentages, payment
must be received by September 28,
2018.
ADDRESSES: The August 31, 2018,
helium auction will be held in the main
conference room of the Amarillo Field
Office, 801 South Fillmore, Suite 500,
Amarillo, TX 79101. The BLM’s Federal
Helium Program HSA Implementation
page website is located at https://
www.blm.gov/programs/energy-andminerals/helium/federal-heliumoperations. Questions related to the
auction can be submitted by phone to
the BLM at 806–356–1000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Samuel R.M. Burton, Amarillo Field
Manager, at telephone: 806–356–1000,
email: sburton@blm.gov. Persons who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339. The
FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, to leave a message. You will
receive a reply during normal business
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Purpose and Background
In October 2013, Congress passed the
HSA, which requires the Department of
the Interior, through the BLM Director,
to offer for auction and sale annually a
portion of the helium reserves owned by
the United States and stored
underground at the Cliffside Gas Field
near Amarillo, Texas.
On July 23, 2014, the BLM published
a ‘‘Final Notice for Implementation of
Helium Stewardship Act Sales and
Auctions’’ in the Federal Register (79
FR 42808) (2014 Final Notice). The 2014
Final Notice contained information
about the HSA, definitions of terms
used in the Notice, the reasons for the
action, and a process for conducting the
auctions and sales in FY 2014.
On August 24, 2015, the BLM
published a ‘‘Notice of Final Action:
Crude Helium Sale and Auction for
Fiscal Year 2016 Delivery’’ in the
Federal Register (80 FR 51304) (2015
Final Notice). The 2015 Final Notice
refined the process the BLM used in
2014 for conducting the auction and
sale of crude helium. The BLM will use
the process set forth in the 2015 Final
Notice for the auction and sale of crude
helium to occur in FY 2018 for FY 2019
delivery.
Both the 2014 and 2015 Final Notices
are available from the BLM’s HSA
Implementation Page website (see
ADDRESSES). Search under the
‘‘Documents and Reports’’ link.
B. Volumes Offered in the FY 2019
Helium Auction and Sale:
Table 1 identifies the volumes to be
offered for auction and sale in FY 2018
for FY 2019 delivery.
TABLE 1—PROJECTED VOLUMES FOR AUCTION AND SALES FOR FY 2019 DELIVERY
Forecasted
production
capability
(NITEC
study)
MMcf *
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Fiscal year (FY)
In-kind
sales
(sales to
federal
users)
Total
remaining
production
available
for sale/
auction or
delivery
Volume
available
for auction
MMcf
Volume
available
for nonallocated
sale
Volume
available
for sale
MMcf
MMcf
MMcf
MMcf
FY 2019 ...................................................
825
155
300 ***
210 **
9
81
* MMcf means one million cubic feet of gas measured at standard conditions of 14.65 per square inch atmosphere (psia) and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
** 70 percent of total production capacity after deducting in-kind (rounded).
*** Volumes offered fulfill the requirement of the HSA to reach Phase C.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2018 / Notices
C. FY 2019 Helium Auction
1.01 What is the minimum FY 2019
auction price and the FY 2019 sales
price? The minimum FY 2019 auction
price is $110 per Mcf (one thousand
cubic feet of gas measured at standard
conditions of 14.65 psia and 60 degrees
Fahrenheit). The BLM will announce
the FY 2019 sale price after the auction
has concluded, and the BLM completes
its analysis of the auction information.
The BLM will use this information to
publish the crude helium price for FY
2019.
1.02 What will happen to the helium
offered but not sold in the helium
auction? Any volume of helium offered,
but not sold in the FY 2019 auction, will
be added to the helium available for sale
and will be offered in the FY 2019 sale.
1.03 When will the auction and sale
take place? The BLM will offer helium
for FY 2019 according to the following
schedule:
Helium Auction
August 31, 2018—FY 2019 helium
auction held in Amarillo, Texas
September 4, 2018—FY 2019 helium
auction results published on the
BLM website
September 5, 2018—Invoices for
auction sent on or before this date;
payments due 15 days from invoice
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Helium Sale
August 31, 2018—Invitation for offers
(IFO) posted for helium sale
September 4, 2018—Bids due from
IFO
September 4, 2018—Award
announcements published on the
BLM website
September 5, 2018—Invoices for sale
sent on or before; payments due 15
days from invoice
Helium Transfer
September 30, 2018—Helium
transferred to buyers’ storage
accounts (in accordance with
Section 1.08)
If payment is not received by
September 20, 2018, volumes will be reoffered for sale to all over-bidders,
proportionally, on September 21, 2018.
Subsequently, for these re-offered
volumes to count toward October 1,
2018 allocation percentages, payment
must be received by September 28,
2018.
1.04 What is the auction format? The
auction will be a live auction, held in
the main conference room of the
Amarillo Field Office at 1:00 p.m.
Central Time, on August 31, 2018. The
address is 801 South Fillmore, Suite
500, Amarillo, TX 79101. Anyone
meeting the HSA definition of a
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Jkt 244001
qualified bidder may participate in the
auction. The logistics for the auction
and the pre-bid qualification form is
included in a document entitled, ‘‘FY
2019 Helium Auction Notice and
Guide’’ on the BLM’s HSA
Implementation Page website (see
ADDRESSES). Click on the ‘‘Federal
Register Notices’’ link.
1.05 Who is qualified to purchase
helium at the auction? Only qualified
bidders, as defined in 50 U.S.C. 167(9),
may participate in and purchase helium
at the auction. The BLM will make the
final determination of who is a qualified
bidder using the HSA’s definition of a
qualified bidder, regardless of whether
or not that person was previously
determined to be a qualified bidder.
Payment must be received not later than
the close of business September 20,
2018.
1.06 How many helium lots does the
BLM anticipate offering at the FY 2019
auction? The BLM anticipates
auctioning 210 MMcf in a total of 12 lots
for delivery in FY 2019. The lots would
be divided as follows:
5 lots of 25 MMcf each; and
5 lots of 15 MMcf each; and
2 lots of 5 MMcf each.
1.07 What must I do to bid at auction?
The BLM has described the live auction
procedures, including detailed bidding
instructions and pre-bid registration
requirements, in a document entitled,
‘‘FY 2019 Auction Notice and Guide,’’
which is available on the BLM’s HSA
Implementation Page website (see
ADDRESSES). Click on the ‘‘Federal
Register Notices’’ link.
1.08 When will helium that is
purchased at sale or won at auction be
available in the purchaser’s storage
account? The BLM will transfer the
volumes purchased in the FY 2019
auction and sale to the buyer’s storage
accounts on September 30, 2018.
D. FY 2019 Helium Sale
2.01 Who will be allowed to purchase
helium in the FY 2019 sale? The crude
helium sale will be separated into two
distinct portions, a non-allocated
portion and an allocated portion. The
non-allocated portion will be ten
percent of the total amount offered for
sale for FY 2019, and will be available
to those storage contract holders who do
not have ability to accept delivery of
crude helium from the Federal Helium
Pipeline (as defined in 50 U.S.C. 167(2))
as of May 30, 2018. The allocated
portion will be 90 percent of the total
amount offered for sale for FY 2019, and
will be available to any person
(including individuals, corporations,
partnerships, or other entities) with the
ability to accept delivery of crude
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helium from the Federal Helium
Pipeline (as defined in 50 U.S.C.
167(2)).
2.02 How will helium sold in the FY
2019 sale be allocated among those
participating in the non-allocated sale?
The non-allocated sale will be made
available to all qualified offerors not
eligible to participate in the allocated
sales. The minimum volume that can be
requested is 1 MMcf. The total volume
available for the non-allocated portion
of the sale is 9 MMcf. Any volumes not
sold at auction will be distributed
between the non-allocated (10 percent)
and the allocated sale (90 percent). Any
volumes not purchased at the nonallocated sale will be sold in the
allocated portion.
2.03 How will the helium sold in the
FY 2019 sale be allocated among the
persons to accept delivery of crude
helium from the Federal Helium
Pipeline? Any person wishing to
participate in the allocated portion of
the FY 2019 sale needs to report its
excess refining capacity and operational
capacity a minimum of 14 calendar days
prior to the sale, using the Excess
Refining Capacity form. The form can be
downloaded from the BLM’s HSA
Implementation Page website (see
ADDRESSES). Click on the links for
‘‘Crude Helium Auctions & Sales’’ and
then ‘‘FY 2019 Refiner Estimated Excess
Capacity.’’ Each person participating in
the sale will then be allocated a
proportional share based upon that
person’s operational capacity.
2.04 How does a person apply for
access to the Federal Helium Pipeline
for the purpose of taking crude helium?
The steps for taking crude helium are
provided in the BLM’s HSA
Implementation Page website (see
ADDRESSES). The steps are contained in
a document entitled, ‘‘How to Establish
a Storage Contract and Pipeline
Connection Point.’’ Click on the link for
‘‘Helium Storage.’’ Reporting forms can
be downloaded from the same website
address, click on the link for
‘‘Documents and Reports.’’ The forms
show the requirements and due dates
for each report. The length of time
required to apply for and obtain access
to the Federal Helium Pipeline can vary
based on the person’s plans for plant
construction, pipeline metering
installation, and other variables. The
BLM is available to provide technical
assistance, including contact
information for applying for access and
meeting any applicable National
Environmental Policy Act requirements.
E. Delivery of Helium in FY 2019
3.01 When will I receive the helium
that I purchase in a sale or win based
E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2018 / Notices
on a successful auction bid? Helium
purchased at the FY 2019 sale or won
at the FY 2019 auction will be delivered
starting September 30, 2018, in
accordance with the crude helium
storage contract. The intent is to ensure
delivery of all helium purchased at sale
or auction up to the BLM’s production
capability for the year.
3.02 How will the BLM prioritize
delivery? The HSA gives priority to
Federal in-kind helium (i.e., helium sold
to Federal users) (50 U.S.C.
167d(b)(1)(D)) and (b)(3)). After meeting
that priority, the BLM will make
delivery on a reasonable basis, as
described in the crude helium storage
contract, to ensure storage contract
holders who have purchased or won
helium at auction have the opportunity
during the year to have that helium
produced or refined in monthly
increments.
F. Background documents
Supplementary documents referenced
in this Notice are available at the BLM’s
HSA Implementation Page website (see
ADDRESSES) and include the following
documents:
a. This Federal Register Notice for
Fiscal year 2019 Delivery;
b. The HSA (50 U.S.C. 167);
c. FY 2019 Helium Auction Notice
and Guide;
d. 2016 Storage Contract (template for
information only);
e. Determination of Fair Market Value
Pricing of Crude Helium;
f. Storage Fees;
g. Required Forms for Helium
Reporting; and
h. FY 2014 through FY 2018 Federal
Register Notices for Helium Auctions
and Sales.
Authority: The HSA of 2013 (Pub. L. 113–
40) codified to various sections in 50 U.S.C.
167–167q.
Richard T. Cardinale,
Acting Deputy Director, Operations.
[FR Doc. 2018–16685 Filed 8–1–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Employee Benefits Security
Administration
Advisory Council on Employee Welfare
and Pension Benefit Plans;
Nominations for Vacancies
Section 512 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(ERISA), 88 Stat. 895, 29 U.S.C. 1142,
provides for the establishment of an
Advisory Council on Employee Welfare
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17:06 Aug 01, 2018
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and Pension Benefit Plans (the Council),
consisting of 15 members appointed by
the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) as
follows:
• Three representatives of employee
organizations (at least one of whom
shall be a representative of an
organization whose members are
participants in a multiemployer plan);
• three representatives of employers
(at least one of whom shall be a
representative of employers maintaining
or contributing to multiemployer plans);
• one representative each from the
fields of insurance, corporate trust,
actuarial counseling, investment
counseling, investment management,
and accounting; and
• three representatives from the
general public (one of whom shall be a
person representing those receiving
benefits from a pension plan).
No more than eight members of the
Council shall be members of the same
political party.
Council members must be qualified to
appraise the programs instituted under
ERISA. Appointments are for three-year
terms. The Council’s prescribed duties
are to advise the Secretary with respect
to carrying out his functions under
ERISA, and to submit to the Secretary,
or his designee, related
recommendations. The Council will
meet at least four times each year.
The terms of five Council members
expire at the end of this year. The
groups or fields they represent are as
follows:
(1) Employee organizations;
(2) employers;
(3) actuarial counseling;
(4) investment counseling; and
(5) the general public.
The Department of Labor is
committed to equal opportunity in the
workplace and seeks a broad-based and
diverse Council.
If you or your organization wants to
nominate one or more people for
appointment to the Council to represent
one of the groups or fields specified
above, submit nominations to Larry
Good, Council Executive Secretary,
Frances Perkins Building, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Ave. NW, Suite N–5623, Washington,
DC 20210, or as email attachments to
good.larry@dol.gov. Nominations must
be received on or before September 17,
2018. Please allow three weeks for
regular mail delivery to the Department
of Labor. If sending electronically,
please use an attachment in rich text,
Word, or pdf format. Nominations may
be in the form of a letter, resolution or
petition, signed by the person making
the nomination or, in the case of a
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37827
nomination by an organization, by an
authorized representative of the
organization. The Department
encourages you to include additional
supporting letters of nomination. It will
not consider self-nominees who have no
supporting letters.
Nominations, including supporting
letters, should:
• State the person’s qualifications to
serve on the Council (including any
particular specialized knowledge or
experience relevant to the nominee’s
proposed Council position);
• state that the candidate will accept
appointment to the Council if offered;
• include which of the five positions
(representing groups or fields) you are
nominating the candidate to fill;
• include the nominee’s full name,
work affiliation, mailing address, phone
number, and email address;
• include the nominator’s full name,
mailing address, phone number, and
email address;
• include the nominator’s signature,
whether sent by email or otherwise.
Please do not include any information
that you do not want publicly disclosed.
The Department will contact
nominees for information on their
political affiliation and their status as
registered lobbyists. Anyone currently
subject to federal registration
requirements as a lobbyist is not eligible
for appointment. Nominees should be
aware of the time commitment for
attending meetings and actively
participating in the work of the Council.
Historically, this has meant a
commitment of at least 20 days per year.
The Department of Labor has a process
for vetting nominees under
consideration for appointment.
Signed at Washington, DC, on July 30,
2018.
Preston Rutledge,
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits
Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018–16571 Filed 8–1–18; 8:45 am]
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Advisory Committee for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences; Notice of
Meeting
In accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, as amended), the National Science
Foundation (NSF) announces the
following meeting:
NAME AND COMMITTEE CODE: Advisory
Committee for Mathematical and
Physical Sciences (#66).
E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37825-37827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16685]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNM006200 L99110000.EK0000 XXX L4053RV]
Notice of Crude Helium Auction and Sale for Fiscal Year 2019
Delivery
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of auction and sale.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Office, is issuing this
Notice to conduct an auction and sale from the Federal Helium Program,
administered by the BLM New Mexico, Amarillo Field Office. The Helium
Stewardship Act of 2013 (HSA) requires the BLM to conduct an annual
auction and sale of crude helium. Accordingly, the BLM will once again
use the auction and sale process established in the Federal Register
dated June 20, 2017, for a previous sale.
DATES: The schedule for the auction and sale process is:
Helium Auction
August 31, 2018--FY 2019 helium auction held in Amarillo, Texas
September 4, 2018--FY 2019 helium auction results published on the
BLM website
September 5, 2018--Invoices for auction sent on or before this
date; payments due 15 days from invoice
Helium Sale
August 31, 2018--Invitation for offers (IFO) posted for helium sale
September 4, 2018--Bids due from IFO
September 4, 2018--Award announcements published on the BLM website
September 5, 2018--Invoices for sale sent on or before; payments
due 15 days from invoice
Helium Delivery
September 30, 2018--Helium transferred to buyers' storage accounts
If payment is not received by September 20, 2018, volumes will be
re-offered for sale to all over bidders, proportionally, on September
21, 2018. Subsequently, for these re-offered volumes to count toward
October 1, 2018 allocation percentages, payment must be received by
September 28, 2018.
ADDRESSES: The August 31, 2018, helium auction will be held in the main
conference room of the Amarillo Field Office, 801 South Fillmore, Suite
500, Amarillo, TX 79101. The BLM's Federal Helium Program HSA
Implementation page website is located at https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/helium/federal-helium-operations. Questions related
to the auction can be submitted by phone to the BLM at 806-356-1000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel R.M. Burton, Amarillo Field
Manager, at telephone: 806-356-1000, email: [email protected]. Persons
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339. The FRS is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Purpose and Background
In October 2013, Congress passed the HSA, which requires the
Department of the Interior, through the BLM Director, to offer for
auction and sale annually a portion of the helium reserves owned by the
United States and stored underground at the Cliffside Gas Field near
Amarillo, Texas.
On July 23, 2014, the BLM published a ``Final Notice for
Implementation of Helium Stewardship Act Sales and Auctions'' in the
Federal Register (79 FR 42808) (2014 Final Notice). The 2014 Final
Notice contained information about the HSA, definitions of terms used
in the Notice, the reasons for the action, and a process for conducting
the auctions and sales in FY 2014.
On August 24, 2015, the BLM published a ``Notice of Final Action:
Crude Helium Sale and Auction for Fiscal Year 2016 Delivery'' in the
Federal Register (80 FR 51304) (2015 Final Notice). The 2015 Final
Notice refined the process the BLM used in 2014 for conducting the
auction and sale of crude helium. The BLM will use the process set
forth in the 2015 Final Notice for the auction and sale of crude helium
to occur in FY 2018 for FY 2019 delivery.
Both the 2014 and 2015 Final Notices are available from the BLM's
HSA Implementation Page website (see ADDRESSES). Search under the
``Documents and Reports'' link.
B. Volumes Offered in the FY 2019 Helium Auction and Sale:
Table 1 identifies the volumes to be offered for auction and sale
in FY 2018 for FY 2019 delivery.
Table 1--Projected Volumes for Auction and Sales for FY 2019 Delivery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forecasted In-kind sales Total Volume Volume Volume
production (sales to remaining available for available for available for
capability federal users) production auction non- allocated sale
(NITEC study) ---------------- available for ---------------- sale ---------------
Fiscal year (FY) ---------------- sale/ auction ----------------
or delivery
MMcf * MMcf ---------------- MMcf MMcf MMcf
MMcf
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2019................................................. 825 155 300 *** 210 ** 9 81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* MMcf means one million cubic feet of gas measured at standard conditions of 14.65 per square inch atmosphere (psia) and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
** 70 percent of total production capacity after deducting in-kind (rounded).
*** Volumes offered fulfill the requirement of the HSA to reach Phase C.
[[Page 37826]]
C. FY 2019 Helium Auction
1.01 What is the minimum FY 2019 auction price and the FY 2019
sales price? The minimum FY 2019 auction price is $110 per Mcf (one
thousand cubic feet of gas measured at standard conditions of 14.65
psia and 60 degrees Fahrenheit). The BLM will announce the FY 2019 sale
price after the auction has concluded, and the BLM completes its
analysis of the auction information. The BLM will use this information
to publish the crude helium price for FY 2019.
1.02 What will happen to the helium offered but not sold in the
helium auction? Any volume of helium offered, but not sold in the FY
2019 auction, will be added to the helium available for sale and will
be offered in the FY 2019 sale.
1.03 When will the auction and sale take place? The BLM will offer
helium for FY 2019 according to the following schedule:
Helium Auction
August 31, 2018--FY 2019 helium auction held in Amarillo, Texas
September 4, 2018--FY 2019 helium auction results published on the
BLM website
September 5, 2018--Invoices for auction sent on or before this
date; payments due 15 days from invoice
Helium Sale
August 31, 2018--Invitation for offers (IFO) posted for helium sale
September 4, 2018--Bids due from IFO
September 4, 2018--Award announcements published on the BLM website
September 5, 2018--Invoices for sale sent on or before; payments
due 15 days from invoice
Helium Transfer
September 30, 2018--Helium transferred to buyers' storage accounts
(in accordance with Section 1.08)
If payment is not received by September 20, 2018, volumes will be
re-offered for sale to all over-bidders, proportionally, on September
21, 2018. Subsequently, for these re-offered volumes to count toward
October 1, 2018 allocation percentages, payment must be received by
September 28, 2018.
1.04 What is the auction format? The auction will be a live
auction, held in the main conference room of the Amarillo Field Office
at 1:00 p.m. Central Time, on August 31, 2018. The address is 801 South
Fillmore, Suite 500, Amarillo, TX 79101. Anyone meeting the HSA
definition of a qualified bidder may participate in the auction. The
logistics for the auction and the pre-bid qualification form is
included in a document entitled, ``FY 2019 Helium Auction Notice and
Guide'' on the BLM's HSA Implementation Page website (see ADDRESSES).
Click on the ``Federal Register Notices'' link.
1.05 Who is qualified to purchase helium at the auction? Only
qualified bidders, as defined in 50 U.S.C. 167(9), may participate in
and purchase helium at the auction. The BLM will make the final
determination of who is a qualified bidder using the HSA's definition
of a qualified bidder, regardless of whether or not that person was
previously determined to be a qualified bidder. Payment must be
received not later than the close of business September 20, 2018.
1.06 How many helium lots does the BLM anticipate offering at the
FY 2019 auction? The BLM anticipates auctioning 210 MMcf in a total of
12 lots for delivery in FY 2019. The lots would be divided as follows:
5 lots of 25 MMcf each; and
5 lots of 15 MMcf each; and
2 lots of 5 MMcf each.
1.07 What must I do to bid at auction? The BLM has described the
live auction procedures, including detailed bidding instructions and
pre-bid registration requirements, in a document entitled, ``FY 2019
Auction Notice and Guide,'' which is available on the BLM's HSA
Implementation Page website (see ADDRESSES). Click on the ``Federal
Register Notices'' link.
1.08 When will helium that is purchased at sale or won at auction
be available in the purchaser's storage account? The BLM will transfer
the volumes purchased in the FY 2019 auction and sale to the buyer's
storage accounts on September 30, 2018.
D. FY 2019 Helium Sale
2.01 Who will be allowed to purchase helium in the FY 2019 sale?
The crude helium sale will be separated into two distinct portions, a
non-allocated portion and an allocated portion. The non-allocated
portion will be ten percent of the total amount offered for sale for FY
2019, and will be available to those storage contract holders who do
not have ability to accept delivery of crude helium from the Federal
Helium Pipeline (as defined in 50 U.S.C. 167(2)) as of May 30, 2018.
The allocated portion will be 90 percent of the total amount offered
for sale for FY 2019, and will be available to any person (including
individuals, corporations, partnerships, or other entities) with the
ability to accept delivery of crude helium from the Federal Helium
Pipeline (as defined in 50 U.S.C. 167(2)).
2.02 How will helium sold in the FY 2019 sale be allocated among
those participating in the non-allocated sale? The non-allocated sale
will be made available to all qualified offerors not eligible to
participate in the allocated sales. The minimum volume that can be
requested is 1 MMcf. The total volume available for the non-allocated
portion of the sale is 9 MMcf. Any volumes not sold at auction will be
distributed between the non-allocated (10 percent) and the allocated
sale (90 percent). Any volumes not purchased at the non-allocated sale
will be sold in the allocated portion.
2.03 How will the helium sold in the FY 2019 sale be allocated
among the persons to accept delivery of crude helium from the Federal
Helium Pipeline? Any person wishing to participate in the allocated
portion of the FY 2019 sale needs to report its excess refining
capacity and operational capacity a minimum of 14 calendar days prior
to the sale, using the Excess Refining Capacity form. The form can be
downloaded from the BLM's HSA Implementation Page website (see
ADDRESSES). Click on the links for ``Crude Helium Auctions & Sales''
and then ``FY 2019 Refiner Estimated Excess Capacity.'' Each person
participating in the sale will then be allocated a proportional share
based upon that person's operational capacity.
2.04 How does a person apply for access to the Federal Helium
Pipeline for the purpose of taking crude helium? The steps for taking
crude helium are provided in the BLM's HSA Implementation Page website
(see ADDRESSES). The steps are contained in a document entitled, ``How
to Establish a Storage Contract and Pipeline Connection Point.'' Click
on the link for ``Helium Storage.'' Reporting forms can be downloaded
from the same website address, click on the link for ``Documents and
Reports.'' The forms show the requirements and due dates for each
report. The length of time required to apply for and obtain access to
the Federal Helium Pipeline can vary based on the person's plans for
plant construction, pipeline metering installation, and other
variables. The BLM is available to provide technical assistance,
including contact information for applying for access and meeting any
applicable National Environmental Policy Act requirements.
E. Delivery of Helium in FY 2019
3.01 When will I receive the helium that I purchase in a sale or
win based
[[Page 37827]]
on a successful auction bid? Helium purchased at the FY 2019 sale or
won at the FY 2019 auction will be delivered starting September 30,
2018, in accordance with the crude helium storage contract. The intent
is to ensure delivery of all helium purchased at sale or auction up to
the BLM's production capability for the year.
3.02 How will the BLM prioritize delivery? The HSA gives priority
to Federal in-kind helium (i.e., helium sold to Federal users) (50
U.S.C. 167d(b)(1)(D)) and (b)(3)). After meeting that priority, the BLM
will make delivery on a reasonable basis, as described in the crude
helium storage contract, to ensure storage contract holders who have
purchased or won helium at auction have the opportunity during the year
to have that helium produced or refined in monthly increments.
F. Background documents
Supplementary documents referenced in this Notice are available at
the BLM's HSA Implementation Page website (see ADDRESSES) and include
the following documents:
a. This Federal Register Notice for Fiscal year 2019 Delivery;
b. The HSA (50 U.S.C. 167);
c. FY 2019 Helium Auction Notice and Guide;
d. 2016 Storage Contract (template for information only);
e. Determination of Fair Market Value Pricing of Crude Helium;
f. Storage Fees;
g. Required Forms for Helium Reporting; and
h. FY 2014 through FY 2018 Federal Register Notices for Helium
Auctions and Sales.
Authority: The HSA of 2013 (Pub. L. 113-40) codified to various
sections in 50 U.S.C. 167-167q.
Richard T. Cardinale,
Acting Deputy Director, Operations.
[FR Doc. 2018-16685 Filed 8-1-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
