Land Management Bureau – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 2(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by Section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, 90 Stat. 1083, 30 U.S.C. 201(b), and to the regulations adopted as 43 CFR part 3410, all interested qualified parties, as provided in 43 CFR 3472.1, are hereby invited to participate with PacifiCorp on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America immediately west of the Deer Creek Mine state lease (ML-48258) in the Mill Fork West Area, in the following-described lands of Emery County, Utah:

This notice is an invitation to participate in a Coal Exploration program. Ark Land Company has filed the application for the Muddy Canyon Tract. All qualified parties are invited to participate with Ark Land Company on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of certain Federal coal deposits in the following described lands in Sevier County, Utah:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that 2,808.67 acres of isolated public lands in Grand County, Utah, are suitable for lease pursuant to section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (90 Stat. 2762; 43 U.S.C. 1732) using noncompetitive (direct) lease procedures.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the ROD for the Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Sublette County, Wyoming.

This order revokes, in its entirety, a public land order which withdrew 120 acres of public land and reserved it for use by the Forest Service as an administrative site. The land was never used for the intended purpose and the withdrawal is no longer needed.

This notice amends the Notice of Realty Action for Direct Sale of Public Lands in Clark County, Nevada, published in 70 FR 77184- 77186. Under the section entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, the following correction is made. The Land Proposed for Sale is changed from:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell directly to Hollis and Dorothy Vaughn a parcel of public land in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, pursuant to sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), at not less than the appraised market value.

Notice is hereby given that approximately 80 acres of public lands have been temporarily closed to all public uses that could result in death or injury to nearby residents or private property damage through the use of firearms, ignition of a wildfire, and/or damaging or destroying vegetation and associated wildlife habitat. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to the use of firearms for target shooting or hunting, the operation of motorized vehicles or other internal combustion engines in any capacity, camping, or ignition of any open fires. This closure is made under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1 Closure and Restriction Orders. The closed area is in the vicinity of Lake Don Pedro in Tuolumne County, and is within T2S, R15E, Section 31, NE \1/4\, NE \1/4\, and Section 32, NW \1/4\, NW \1/4\, Mount Diablo Baseline and Meridian. All entry will be selectively restricted during this emergency closure to protect persons, property, public lands, and natural resources. Closure signs will be posted at main entry points to this area, and a fence will be constructed to exclude vehicle entry.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Dineega Corporation. The lands are located in T. 7 S., R.16 E.; T. 10 S., R. 17 E.; T. 11 S., R. 17 E.; and T. 8 S., R.18 E., Kateel River Meridian, in the vicinity of Ruby, Alaska, and aggregate 6,929.66 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Pilot Point Native Corporation. The lands are located in T. 32 S., R. 49 W.; T. 29 S., R. 50 W.; T. 29 S., R. 51 W.; and T. 32 S., R. 52 W., Seward Meridian, in the vicinity of Pilot Point, Alaska, and contain 9,502.05 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Bristol Bay Times.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Doyon, Limited. The lands are located in T. 14 N., R 8 W., and T. 13 N., R. 9 W., Fairbanks Meridian, in the vicinity of Stevens Village, Alaska, and aggregating 29,970.39 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC56695 from Encana Oil and Gas (USA) Inc., for lands in San Miguel County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS) request comments and suggestions to assist in the preparation of proposed regulations governing Gas Hydrate Production Incentives. The rule would provide incentives to promote natural gas production from the natural gas hydrate resources on Federal lands in Alaska and in Federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf. We encourage the public to provide comments and suggestions to help clarify and define the requirements for Gas Hydrate Production Incentives as described in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Nance Petroleum Corporation of noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW127411 for lands in Campbell County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

Under the provisions of 371(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the lessees: Carpenter and Sons, Inc.; Goolsby and Associates, LLC; North Finn, LLC; Tika Energy Inc.; and American Oil and Gas, Inc. timely filed a petition for reinstatement of noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW144810 in Johnson County, Wyoming. The lessees paid the required rental accruing from the date of termination, April 1, 2002. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessees have agreed to the new lease terms for rentals of $5.00 per acre and royalties of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing noncompetitive royalty rates. The lessees have paid the required $500 administrative fee for the reinstatement of the lease and $166 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessees have met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease per Sec. 31(e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188(e)). We are proposing to reinstate the lease, effective the date of termination subject to: The original terms and conditions of the lease; The increased rental of $5.00 per acre; and The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing noncompetitive royalty rates.

Under the provisions of 371(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the lessees: Carpenter and Sons, Inc.; Goolsby and Associates, LLC; North Finn, LLC; Tika Energy Inc., and American Oil and Gas, Inc. timely filed a petition for reinstatement of noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW144809 in Johnson County, Wyoming. The lessees paid the required rental accruing from the date of termination, April 1, 2002. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessees have agreed to the new lease terms for rentals of $5.00 per acre and royalties of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing noncompetitive royalty rates. The lessees have paid the required $500 administrative fee for the reinstatement of the lease and $166 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessees have met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease per Section 31(e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188(e)). We are proposing to reinstate the lease, effective the date of termination subject to: The original terms and conditions of the lease; The increased rental of $5.00 per acre; and The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing noncompetitive royalty rates.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from the general public interested in obtaining free vegetative or mineral material from public lands. BLM uses Form 5510-1, Free Use Application and Permit (Vegetative or Mineral Materials) to collect this information. This information allows BLM to properly manage and accurately track the disposal of these materials.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from any person, association, corporation, subsidiary, or affiliate interested in leasing or developing Federal coal. The BLM uses the information to determine if the applicant is qualified to hold a Federal coal lease.

Under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Rawlins Field Office, announces its intent to prepare an EIS on the potential impacts of a proposed natural gas development project consisting primarily of conventional natural gas well development with some coalbed natural gas wells. In April 2005, Devon Energy Corporation (Devon), representing itself and other lease holders, submitted to BLM a proposal to drill and develop up to 1,250 wells from an estimated 1,000 well pads and associated facilities. The Devon proposal was named ``Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Project.'' The BLM published its NOI to prepare an EIS for this project in the Federal Register on September 8, 2005. In November 2005, BP America Production Company (BP), representing itself and other lease holders, submitted a proposal to drill and develop up to 7,700 wells and associated facilities within a portion of the Continental Divide/Wamsutter II (CD/W2) Natural Gas Project area adjacent to the Creston/Blue Gap II EIS (CBC2) project area. Upon reviewing BP's proposal the BLM determined that the CD/W2 proposal and the CBC2 proposal were similar actions within the same geographic area, with similar timing. Based on these factors, the BLM has determined that the best way to analyze these actions and identify their cumulative impacts adequately is to treat them in a single impact statement. The combined proposals, henceforth known as the Continental DivideCreston (CDC) Natural Gas Project, will be considered in one EIS.

This final rule amends the regulations pertaining to execution and filing of forms in order to reflect that the Montana State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is removing its post office box from the list of State Office addresses and Areas of Jurisdiction included in the Code of Federal Regulations. The public will continue to direct personal, messenger, express mail, direct filing, and other delivery by the United States Postal Services to the same street address as before. This rule will have no impact or cost to the public.

The plat of survey of the following described lands was officially filed in the Oregon State office, Portland, Oregon, on August 23, 2005.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Deloy Ges Incorporated for lands located in the vicinity of Anvik, Alaska, within:

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Eastern Washington Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Roger E. Canter and CS Oil and Gas, Ltd. of noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW64845 for lands in Fremont County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.