[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 51822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26200]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Hearings and Appeals

43 CFR Part 4

RIN 1090-AA63


Department Hearings and Appeals Procedures

AGENCY: Office of Hearings and Appeals, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period an additional 60 days 
on the Department of the Interior's Office of Hearings and Appeals' 
proposal to amend its rules to provide that, except as otherwise 
provided by law or other regulation, a decision will be stayed, if it 
is appealed, until there is a dispositive decision on the appeal.

DATES: Comments are due to the agency on or before December 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Director, Office of Hearings and 
Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 4015 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, 
VA 22203. Comments received will be available for inspection during 
regular business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) in the Office of the 
Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, 11th Floor, 4015 Wilson 
Blvd., Arlington, VA. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested 
to call in advance at 703-235-3810 to make an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James L. Byrnes, Chief Administrative 
Judge, Interior Board of Land Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, 
U.S. Department of the Interior, 4015 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 
22203. Telephone: 703-235-3750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 19, 1997, the Department of the 
Interior proposed to amend the regulation contained at 43 CFR 4.21 
(August 28, 1997, 62 FR 45606.) Comments to this proposed rule were to 
be received on or before September 29, 1997.
    In a letter dated September 4, 1997, from the National Mining 
Association (NMA) to the Director of the Office of Hearings and Appeals 
(OHA), U.S. Department of the Interior, the NMA requested a 60-day 
extension of the comment period for this proposed amendment because the 
existing comment period did not allow adequate opportunity for comment, 
and it needed more time to present the views of its member companies. 
Also, in a letter dated September 12, 1997, from the Rocky Mountain Oil 
and Gas Association (RMOGA) to the Director, OHA, that organization 
requested a 60-day extension of the comment period. The RMOGA stated 
that the current 30-day comment period would not allow the industry 
adequate time to carefully analyze the proposed rule to determine the 
potential effects, if any, on oil and gas activities on public lands.
    The OHA has determined that an extension of time to obtain the 
comments on the proposed rule from NMA and RMOGA is warranted and 
therefore, the requested extension is granted. This notice announces 
that 60-day extension of the comment period.

    Dated: September 24, 1997.
Brooks B. Yeager,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Policy, Management and Budget.
[FR Doc. 97-26200 Filed 10-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-RK-M