[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28087]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 206

RIN 1010-AC09


Public Meeting on Proposed Rule; Establishing Oil Value for 
Royalty Due on Federal Leases

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop and reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has reopened the public 
comment period under a proposed rule published in the Federal Register 
on January 24, 1997 (62 FR 3742), amending the royalty valuation 
regulations for crude oil produced from Federal leases. In the July 3, 
1997, Federal Register (62 FR 36030), we published a supplementary 
notice of proposed rulemaking. We received a variety of comments on the 
proposed and supplementary proposed rules. In the September 22, 1997, 
Federal Register (62 FR 49460), we published a summary of these 
comments, outlined alternatives for proceeding with further rulemaking, 
and requested public comment on those or other suggested alternatives. 
MMS now extends the comment period to November 5, 1997.
    MMS will hold a public workshop to discuss alternatives for 
proceeding with the rulemaking. The purpose of this workshop is to 
obtain comments on the alternatives described in the September 22, 
1997, Federal Register notice, or any new alternatives or modifications 
to the proposed alternatives for MMS's consideration. We are not 
requesting comments on the original proposed rule or the supplemental 
proposed rule, nor on the summary of comments outlined in the September 
22, 1997, Federal Register notice. Interested parties are invited to 
attend and participate in this workshop.

DATES: The public workshop will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on 
October 27, 1997, Eastern time. MMS must receive comments on or before 
November 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Main Interior Building, 
Large Buffet Room, in the Cafeteria, Basement Floor, 1849 C Street, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, telephone (202) 208-3512. Mail written 
comments to: Minerals Management Service, Royalty Management Program, 
Rules and Publications Staff, P.O. Box 25165, MS 3021, Denver, Colorado 
80225-0165; courier address is Building 85, Denver Federal Center, 
Denver, Colorado 80225; or e:Mail to David__G[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David S. Guzy, Chief, Rules and 
Publications Staff, Minerals Management Service, Royalty Management 
Program, P.O. Box 25165, MS 3021, Denver, Colorado 80225-0165, 
telephone (303) 231-3432, fax number (303) 231-3385, e-Mail 
David__G[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MMS held public workshops and meetings in 
the oil producing areas of the U.S. where the issues and alternatives 
about oil valuation have been discussed. Participants at these earlier 
workshops and meetings requested more time to submit comments. Also, we 
received requests to hold an additional workshop in the Washington, 
D.C. area. Accordingly, a workshop is now scheduled for October 27 in 
Washington, D.C. The public is invited, without advance registration, 
to further discuss the alternatives. We encourage members of the public 
to participate in a discussion of the alternatives. For building 
security measures, each person will be required to present a picture 
identification to gain entry to the workshop. In order to allow for 
sufficient time to comment on the proposed alternatives, the comment 
period is extended to November 5, 1997.

    Dated October 17, 1997.
Lucy Querques Denett,
Associate Director for Royalty Management.
[FR Doc. 97-28087 Filed 10-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P