[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 43, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 43CFR3161.2]

[Page 415-416]
 
                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR
 
    CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 3160--ONSHORE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
              Subpart 3161--Jurisdiction and Responsibility
 
Sec. 3161.2  Responsibility of the authorized officer.

    The authorized officer is authorized and directed to approve 
unitization, communitization, gas storage and other contractual 
agreements for Federal lands; to assess compensatory royalty; to approve 
suspensions of operations or production, or both; to issue NTL's: to 
approve and monitor other operator proposals for drilling, development 
or production of oil and gas; to perform administrative reviews; to 
impose monetary assessments or penalties; to provide technical 
information and advice relative to oil and gas development and 
operations on Federal and Indian lands; to enter into cooperative 
agreements with States, Federal agencies and Indian tribes relative to 
oil and gas development and operations; to approve, inspect and regulate 
the operations that are subject to the regulations in this part; to 
require compliance with lease terms, with the regulations in this title 
and all other applicable regulations promulgated under the cited laws; 
and to require that all operations be conducted in a manner which 
protects other natural resources and the environmental quality, protects 
life and property and results in the maximum ultimate recovery of oil 
and gas with minimum waste

[[Page 416]]

and with minimum adverse effect on the ultimate recovery of other 
mineral resources. The authorized officer may issue written or oral 
orders to govern specific lease operations. Any such oral orders shall 
be confirmed in writing by the authorized officer within 10 working days 
from issuance thereof. Before approving operations on leasehold, the 
authorized officer shall determine that the lease is in effect, that 
acceptable bond coverage has been provided and that the proposed plan of 
operations is sound both from a technical and environmental standpoint.

[48 FR 36584, Aug. 12, 1983, as amended at 52 FR 5391, Feb. 20, 1987; 53 
FR 17362, May 16, 1988]