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Advance
Notice of Proposed Rules:
Summary: The MMS is seeking comments on the development of a regulatory
program to implement portions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section
388–Alternate Energy-Related Uses on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Specifically, MMS is seeking comments regarding energy development from
sources other than oil and gas and alternate uses of existing facilities.
Summary: MMS is proposing to develop regulations which impose new fees to cover
MMS’s costs of processing certain applications and permits. The purpose
of this proposed rulemaking would be to charge those who benefit from
the processing of applications and permits, rather than the general
public. This document solicits recommendations and comments on the
proposal to charge fees. Summary: Section 18 of the OCS
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) requires the Department of the Interior
to solicit information from interested and affected parties during
the preparation of a 5-year OCS oil and gas leasing program. The
current 5-year program covers the period July 2002 to July 2007. The
Department’s MMS intends to prepare a new 5-year program for July
2007 to July 2012 to succeed the current one. Section 18 requires completion of a lengthy,
multi-step process of public consultation and analysis before the
Secretary of the Interior may approve a new 5-year program. The
section 18 process includes the following required steps: This
initial solicitation of comments; development of a draft proposed
program, a proposed program, and a proposed final program; and
Secretarial approval. The MMS will also prepare an EIS that analyzes
the alternatives considered for the new 5-year program. This notice
announces the start of the EIS preparation process. The MMS will
consider comments received in response to this notice in developing
the draft proposed program and in determining the scope of the EIS.
The public will have additional opportunities to comment on the
draft proposed program, the draft EIS, and the proposed program.
Summary:
This notice provides a listing of civil penalties paid January 1, 2004,
through December 31, 2004, for violations of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA).
The goal of the MMS OCS Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and
clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and
collection of civil penalties and referrals for the consideration of
criminal penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with
OCS statutes and regulations. The purpose of publishing the penalties
summary is to provide information to the public on violations of special
concern in OCS operations and to provide an additional incentive for safe
and environmentally sound operations.
Public Comments (Public Connect)
Summary:
MMS is extending to January 6, 2006, the comment period of the proposed
rule titled, “Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS)—Plans and Information – Protection of Marine
Mammals and Threatened and Endangered Species” published on September 6,
2005 (70 FR 52953). The previous deadline for comments was November 7,
2005. This notice will extend the original 60-day comment period to 120
days. This extension is necessary because of damage caused in the New
Orleans area by Hurricane Katrina and the Louisiana/Texas area by
Hurricane Rita and subsequent flooding. The extension will provide
additional time to the oil and gas industry for reviewing and preparing
comments to the rule as it recovers from these disasters.
Summary: This proposed rule would require lessees
of federal oil and gas leases in the OCS to provide information on how
they will meet the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and
the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). It identifies environmental,
monitoring, and mitigation information that lessees must submit with
plans for exploration and development and production. This rulemaking
clarifies our regulations about what information MMS needs to ensure
compliance with the ESA and MMPA requirements. The proposed rule would
assure that lessees conduct their activities in a manner consistent with
the provisions of the ESA and MMPA.
Recovery of Costs Related to the
Regulation of Oil and Gas Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf
Summary: MMS is proposing to
develop regulations which impose new fees to cover MMS’s costs of
processing certain applications and permits. The purpose of this
proposed rulemaking would be to charge those who benefit from the
processing of applications and permits, rather than the general public.
This document solicits recommendations and comments on the proposal to
charge fees.
Public Comments (Public Connect)
Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); Data Release and Definitions
Summary: This proposed rulemaking would revise certain existing definitions, add
a first production notice requirement, and make some administrative
changes. MMS recently redesigned and renamed some of its forms to aid
submission and streamline data. MMS also discovered inconsistent
practices in first production reporting, which is a prime parameter in
determining inspection and testing schedules for safety system devices.
This proposed rulemaking would correspond to recently revised forms,
provide clarity and explanation of definitions and forms, and correct
form submittal with first production notices. It would also clarify the
basis upon which the Regional Director invokes the requirement for an
archaeological survey on a lease area.
Public Comments
(Public Connect)
Summary:
MMS proposes to modify its regulations to
change some existing fees and implement several new fees. The proposed
fees would offset MMS’s costs of performing certain services relating to
its minerals programs.
Public Comments
(Public Connect)
Summary: The MMS proposes to modify its
regulations at 30 CFR 250.175, which govern SOO’s for oil and gas leases
on the OCS. The proposed revision will allow MMS to grant SOO’s to
lessees or operators who plan to drill ultra-deep wells. MMS proposes
this revision because of the added complexity and costs associated with
planning and drilling an ultra-deep well. MMS expects that this revision
will lead to increased drilling of ultra-deep wells and increased
domestic production.
Summary:
This rule reorganizes and updates the requirements and processes for
submitting various plans and information for MMS review and approval
before a lessee or an operator may explore, develop, or produce oil and
gas and sulphur in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
Summary: MMS is changing some existing fees and implementing
several new fees to offset MMS’s costs of performing certain services
relating to its minerals programs.
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Last Updated:
11/18/2008,
05:07 PM |