Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service's (MMS) new rule on conforming regulations to the court decision regarding royalty relief for deepwater outer continental shelf oil and gas leases. GAO found that (1) the final rule amends MMS regulations to conform with Santa Fe Snyder Corp. v. Norton and the Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water Royalty Relief Act; and (2) MMS complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.