Department of the Interior September 14, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rulemaking proposes to amend BOEMRE regulations to require operators to develop and implement additional provisions in their Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) programs for oil, gas, and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These revisions pertain to developing and implementing stop work authority and ultimate work authority, requiring employee participation in the development and implementation of SEMS programs, and establishing requirements for reporting unsafe working conditions. In addition, this proposed rule requires independent third parties to conduct audits of operators' SEMS programs and establishes further requirements relating to conducting job safety analysis (JSA) for activities identified in an operator's SEMS program. We believe that these new requirements will further reduce the likelihood of accidents, injuries, and spills in connection with OCS activities that are regulated under BOEMRE jurisdiction, by requiring OCS operators to specifically address issues associated with human behavior as it applies to their SEMS program.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Tropic to Hatch (Garkane) 138 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Approved Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan (MMP) Amendment located in Garfield County, Utah. The Utah State Director signed the ROD on September 8, 2011, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved MMP Amendment effective immediately. The ROD also indicates the BLM's intent to issue a right-of-way to Garkane Energy, Inc. (Applicant) to construct and maintain the transmission line.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bakersfield Field Office, Bakersfield, California, intends to prepare an amendment to the 1997 Caliente Resource Management Plan (RMP) and an Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify three parcels of public land totaling 83.02 acres for possible direct sale. By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for Law and Order on Indian ReservationsMarriage & Dissolution Applications, which concerns marriage and dissolution of a marriage in a Court of Indian Offenses. The information collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0094, which expires December 31, 2011.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is issuing a public notice of its intent to amend Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Privacy Act system of records, ``Indian Social Services Case FilesInterior, BIA-8'' to change the name of the system to the ``Financial Assistance and Social ServicesCase Management System, Interior/BIA-8,'' and update the categories of individuals and records in the system, the authorities, routine uses, and policies and practices for records storage and disposition. This system is used to provide services to individual Indians who apply for and receive social services and direct assistance from the BIA.