[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12710-12711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5626]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 2720

RIN 1004-AB86
[WO-690-02-4120-24 1A; Circular No. 2658]


Conveyance of Federally-Owned Mineral Interests

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends 43 CFR part 2720 in order to streamline 
and clarify the procedures for conveying Federally-owned mineral 
interests to the owner of the surface estate overlying the mineral 
interests. Section 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
(FLPMA) allows such conveyances when there are no known mineral values 
present, or when the reservation of the mineral rights is interfering 
with or precluding appropriate nonmineral development of the land that 
would be more beneficial than mineral development. The rule is 
necessary because the wording of the existing regulation has caused 
considerable confusion on the part of both the public and public land 
managers, and has been interpreted to require expensive mineral surveys 
in many cases where such surveys were unnecessary. The final rule will 
simplify the conveyance of Federally-owned mineral interests.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 7, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Suggestions or inquiries should be sent to: Director (690), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clyde Topping, (202) 452-0380.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Five sections of subpart 2720 are amended in 
this final rule. The amendments in two of these sections are 
substantive and are designed to meet the objectives stated above in the 
Summary, and are explained below in the discussion of the comments 
received on the rule. The remaining three sections--sections 2720.0-6, 
2720.1-3, and 2720.3--contain minor clarifications and corrections in 
language that were explained in the preamble to the proposed rule 
published in the Federal Register on September 28, 1993 (58 FR 50536). 
The rule allowed 60 days for public comment. During this public comment 
period, 1 public comment was received.
    The comment basically supported the rule. It also asked for a 
reaffirmation of BLM's policy regarding exchanges involving surface and 
mineral rights, which allows both parties to an exchange to reserve 
mineral rights or to convey other mineral rights in order to keep the 
exchange balanced. This final rule has no effect on this BLM policy.
    The statute that is implemented in these regulations allows 
conveyance of the mineral rights when the Secretary of the Interior 
finds that there are no known mineral values or that the mineral 
reservation is interfering with or precluding appropriate nonmineral 
development that is more beneficial than mineral development. It 
requires payment of administrative costs and the current fair market 
value of the minerals conveyed. It does not require the retention of 
non-valuable minerals in Federal ownership where there is a beneficial 
use of the surface with which mineral development would interfere. If 
the Secretary finds that mineral development in a particular case may 
be more beneficial than the surface use planned by the non-Federal 
owner, the conveyance would not be allowed.
    The definition of ``known mineral value'' has been amended in the 
final rule to make it clear that mineral values will be determined in 
light of the current market, and to refer to lands containing mineral 
formations rather than to lands with underlying formations.
    Minor changes in style have been made in the regulatory text to 
improve clarity and readability.
    The principal author of this final rule is Clyde Topping of the 
Biotic and Landscape Resource Team, assisted by the Regulatory 
Management Team, BLM.
    It is hereby determined that this final rule does not constitute a 
major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment, and that no detailed statement pursuant to Section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) is required. The BLM has determined that this final 
rule is categorically excluded from further environmental review. Under 
the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1508.4) and 
environmental policies and procedures of the Department of the 
Interior, ``categorical exclusions'' means a category of actions that 
do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the 
human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in 
procedures adopted by a Federal agency and for which neither an 
environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is 
required. The BLM has made this determination under 516 Departmental 
Manual (DM), Chapter 2, Appendix 1, Item 1.10, which includes 
``regulations * * * the environmental effects of which are too broad, 
speculative or conjectural to lend themselves to meaningful analysis 
and will be subject later to the NEPA process, either collectively or 
case-by-case,'' because the environmental effects of the transactions 
covered by this rule (a great variety of possible proposed uses of non-
Federal surface) are entirely speculative and conjectural, and the 
transactions covered by the regulations will be subject to the NEPA 
process on a case-by-case basis as they are proposed. The BLM further 
determined that the rule will not trigger any of the 10 exceptions 
disallowing categorical exclusions listed in 516 DM 2, Appendix 2. 
These 10 exceptions apply to individual actions, not broad regulations 
covering a multitude of possible individual actions.
    This rule was not subject to review by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Order 12866.
    The Department has determined under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that the final rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The rule, by 
clarifying provisions that have been misinterpreted in the past, 
obviates unneeded and expensive mineral exploration programs to prove 
the market value of reserved mineral rights that are not valuable in 
the market sense. The rule imposes no costs, and makes the regulatory 
process less cumbersome.
    The Department certifies that this final rule does not represent a 
governmental action capable of interference with constitutionally 
protected property rights. The rule does not require the taking of any 
property rights. Therefore, as required by Executive Order 12630, the 
Department [[Page 12711]] of the Interior has determined that the rule 
will not cause a taking of private property.
    The information collection requirements contained in part 2720 have 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq. and assigned clearance number 1004-0153.
    The Department has certified to the Office of Management and Budget 
that this rule meets the applicable standards provided in Sections 2(a) 
and 2(b)(2) of Executive Order 12778.

List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 2720

    Administrative practice and procedure, Public lands-mineral 
resources, Public lands-sale.

    Dated: March 2, 1995.
Bob Armstrong,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, and under the authorities 
stated below, part 2720 of Group 2700, Subchapter B, Chapter II, Title 
43 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 2720--CONVEYANCE OF FEDERALLY-OWNED MINERAL INTERESTS

Subpart 2720--Conveyance of Federally-Owned Mineral Interests

    1. The authority citation for part 2720 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1719 and 1740.

    2. Section 2720.0-5(b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 2720.0-5  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) Known mineral values means mineral rights in lands containing 
geologic formations that are valuable in the monetary sense for 
exploring, developing, or producing natural mineral deposits. The 
presence of such mineral deposits with potential for mineral 
development may be known because of previous exploration, or may be 
inferred based on geologic information.
* * * * *
    3. Section 2720.0-6 is amended by revising the first sentence 
thereof to read as follows:


Sec. 2720.0-6  Policy.

    As required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the 
Bureau of Land Management may convey a federally owned mineral interest 
only when the authorized officer determines that it has no known 
mineral value, or that the mineral reservation is interfering with or 
precluding appropriate nonmineral development of the lands and that 
nonmineral development is a more beneficial use than mineral 
development. * * *
    4. Section 2720.0-9 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 2720.0-9  Information collection.

    (a) The Office of Management and Budget has approved under 44 
U.S.C. 3507 the information collection requirements contained in part 
2720 and assigned clearance number 1004-0153. The Bureau of Land 
Management is collecting the information to permit the authorized 
officer to determine whether the Bureau of Land Management should 
dispose of Federally-owned mineral interests. The Bureau of Land 
Management will use the information collected to make these 
determinations. A response is required to obtain a benefit.
    (b) The Bureau of Land Management estimates the public reporting 
burden for this information to average 8 hours per response, including 
the time for reviewing regulations, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden 
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Information 
Collection Clearance Officer (783), Bureau of Land Management, 
Washington, D.C. 20240, and the Office of Management and Budget, 
Paperwork Reduction Project, 1004-0153, Washington, D.C. 20503.
    5. Section 2720.1-3 is amended by revising the concluding text of 
paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec. 2720.1-3  Action on application.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    The authorized officer, in reaching a determination as to whether 
there are any known mineral values in the land and, if so, the 
estimated costs of an exploratory program, if one is needed, will rely 
upon reports on minerals prepared by or reviewed and approved by the 
Bureau of Land Management.
* * * * *
    6. Section 2720.2 is amended by revising paragraph (b) and adding 
paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec. 2720.2  Determination that an exploratory program is not required.

    (a) * * *
    (b) The authorized officer will not require an exploratory program 
to ascertain the presence of mineral values where the authorized 
officer determines that a reasonable person would not make exploration 
expenditures with expectations of deriving economic gain from the 
mineral production.
    (c) The authorized officer will not require an exploratory program 
if the authorized officer determines that, for the mineral interests 
covered by the application, sufficient information is available to 
determine their fair market value.
    7. Section 2720.3 is amended by revising the fourth sentence of 
paragraph (a), and paragraph (b) in its entirety, to read as follows:


Sec. 2720.3  Action upon determination of the fair market value of the 
mineral interests.

    (a) * * * The notice must require the applicant to pay both the 
fair market value of the Federal mineral interests and the remaining 
administrative costs owed within 90 days after the date the authorized 
officer mails the notice.
* * * * *
    (b) The Bureau of Land Management will convey mineral rights on 
lands for which this part does not require an exploratory program upon 
payment by the applicant of fair market value for those mineral 
interests and all administrative costs of processing the application to 
acquire the mineral rights.

[FR Doc. 95-5626 Filed 3-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P