[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9065-9066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4599]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Parts 250, 256, 270, 282


Outer Continental Shelf Regulations

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects various regulations that were published 
in several Federal Registers and are codified in the July 1, 1998, 
edition of Title 30--Mineral Resources, Parts 200-699, Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR). These regulations relate to operations, leasing, and 
nondiscrimination in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Many of the 
sections being corrected have been amended or redesignated several 
times. The primary dates of publication are: April 1, 1988 (53 FR 
10690); June 29, 1979 (44 FR 38276); May 22, 1985 (50 FR 21048); and 
January 18, 1989 (54 FR 2067). The CFR references all of the Federal 
Register publication dates and page numbers that amended or 
redesignated each section.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 24, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kumkum Ray (703) 787-1600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The final rules that are being corrected affect persons holding 
leases and operating in the OCS, or who have violated the OCS Lands 
Act. The corrections cover a variety of miscellaneous administrative 
amendments resulting from the following:
    (a) Recent redesignation of the entire 30 CFR 250 regulations (5/
29/98, 63 FR 29477) makes citation references in other parts of the CFR 
incorrect. In addition, several citation references in 30 CFR 250 were 
overlooked in the redesignation rulemaking. This document corrects the 
redesignated regulatory citations.
    (b) Changes to the 30 CFR 250, Subpart O, regulations on Training 
(2/5/97, 62 FR 5322), make obsolete the reference to a training 
standard in the Subpart D regulations on Drilling. This document 
deletes the reference to the obsolete training standard.
    (c) Elimination of the former MMS OCS Atlantic regional office 
requires the removal of references to that Region. The area offshore 
the Atlantic Coast is now included with the OCS Gulf of Mexico Region. 
This document corrects references to the OCS Regions.
    (d) Revised 30 CFR 250, Subpart N, regulations on OCS Civil 
Penalties (8/8/97, 62 FR 42688), contain typographical errors and an 
incorrect reference to ``alleged'' violations. This document corrects 
the errors and deletes the reference.
    (e) Revisions to 30 CFR 256.52(c) in 1997 changed the status of 
operators' areawide bonds to exclude coverage of lessees (5/22/97, 62 
FR 27955). This document returns the regulation to its historical 
position.

Need for Correction

    As published, the final regulations contain errors or incorrect 
references that are misleading and need to be clarified.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 250

    Continental shelf, Environmental impact statements, Environmental 
protection, Geological and geophysical data, Government contracts, 
Incorporation by reference, Investigations, Mineral royalties, Oil and 
gas development and production, Oil and gas exploration, Oil and gas 
reserves, Penalties, Pipelines, Public lands--mineral resources, public 
lands--rights-of-way, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulphur 
development and production, Sulphur exploration, Surety bonds.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 256

    Administrative practice and procedures, Continental shelf, 
Environmental Protection, Government contracts, Mineral royalties, Oil 
and gas exploration, Pipelines, Public lands--mineral resources, Public 
lands--rights-of-way, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surety 
bonds.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 270

    Civil rights, Continental shelf, Environmental Protection, 
Government contracts, Oil and gas exploration.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 282

    Continental shelf, Prospecting, Public lands--mineral resources, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Research.
    Accordingly, 30 CFR Parts 250, 256, 270, and 282 are revised by 
making the following correcting technical amendments:

PART 250--OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER 
CONTINENTAL SHELF

    1. The authority citation for Part 250 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.


Sec. 250.204  [Corrected]

    2. In Sec. 250.204(b)(1)(vii), the citation ``250.139'' is revised 
to read ``250.909''.


Sec. 250.413  [Corrected]

    3. In Sec. 250.413, the first sentence in paragraph (c) is revised 
to read as follows:


Sec. 250.413  Supervision, surveillance, and training.

* * * * *
    (c) Lessee and drilling contractor personnel must be trained and 
qualified according to Subpart O of this part. * * *


Sec. 250.604  [Corrected]

    4. In Sec. 250.604, the citation ``250.67'' is revised to read 
``250.417''.


Sec. 250.900  [Corrected]

    5. In Sec. 250.900(b), the citation ``250.131'' is revised to read 
``250.901''.


Sec. 250.901  [Corrected]

    6. In Sec. 250.901(b)(3)(iv), the citation ``250.139'' is revised 
to read ``250.909''.


Sec. 250.911  [Corrected]

    7. In Sec. 250.911(b)(4)(ii), the citation ``250.137(a)(4)'' is 
revised to read ``250.907(a)(4)''.


Sec. 250.1009  [Corrected]

    8. In Sec. 250.1009, paragraph (b)(2) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 250.1009  General Requirements for a pipeline right-of-way grant.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) For the purpose of this paragraph, there are three areas:
    (i) The areas offshore the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast;
    (ii) The area offshore the Pacific Coast States of California, 
Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii; and
    (iii) The area offshore the Coast of Alaska.
* * * * *


Sec. 250.1403  [Corrected]

    9. Section 250.1403 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 250.1403  What is the maximum civil penalty?

    The maximum civil penalty is $25,000 per day per violation.

[[Page 9066]]

Sec. 250.1404  [Corrected]

    10. In Sec. 250.1404, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 250.1404  Which violations will MMS review for potential civil 
penalties?

* * * * *
    (b) Violations that MMS determines may constitute, or constituted, 
a threat of serious, irreparable, or immediate harm or damage to life 
(including fish and other aquatic life), property, any mineral deposit, 
or the marine, coastal, or human environment; or
* * * * *


Sec. 250.1406  [Corrected]

    11. In Sec. 250.1406, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 250.1406  When will MMS notify me and provide penalty information?

* * * * *
    (b) Information on the violation(s); and
* * * * *

PART 256--LEASING OF SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER 
CONTINENTAL SHELF

    1. The authority citation for Part 256 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.


Sec. 256.52  [Corrected]

    2. In Sec. 256.52, paragraph (b) and the last sentence of paragraph 
(c) are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 256.52  Bond requirements for an oil and gas or sulphur lease.

* * * * *
    (b) For the purpose of this section, there are three areas. The 
area offshore the Atlantic Coast is included in the Gulf of Mexico. 
Areawide bonds issued in the Gulf of Mexico will cover oil and gas or 
sulphur operations offshore the Atlantic Coast. The three areas are:
    (1) The areas offshore the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast;
    (2) The area offshore the Pacific Coast States of California, 
Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii; and
    (3) The area offshore the Coast of Alaska.
    (c) * * * Your operator may use an areawide bond under this 
paragraph to satisfy your bond obligation.
* * * * *
    3. In paragraph 256.52(h)(2), the citation ``250.10'' is revised to 
read ``250.110.''


Sec. 256.56  [Corrected]

    4. In Sec. 256.56(a)(1), the citation ``250.110'' is revised to 
read ``250.700''.


Sec. 256.70  [Corrected]

    5. In Sec. 256.70, the citation ``250.13'' is revised to read 
``250.113''.


Sec. 256.73  [Corrected]

    6. In Sec. 256.73, in paragraphs (a) and (b), the citation 
``250.10'' is revised to read ``250.110''.


Sec. 256.76  [Corrected]

    7. In Sec. 256.76(a)(3), the citation ``250.12'' is revised to read 
``250.112''.

PART 270--NONDISCRIMINATION IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF

    1. The authority citation for Part 270 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 604, Pub. L. 95-372, 92 Stat 695 (43 U.S.C. 
1863).


Sec. 270.6  [Corrected]

    2. In Sec. 270.6, the citations ``250.70, 250.71, 250.72, and 
250.80'' are revised to read ``250.500, 250.501, 250.502, and 
250.510''.


Sec. 270.7  [Corrected]

    3. In Sec. 270.7, the citations ``Secs. 250.81-1 and 250.80-2'' are 
revised to read ``30 CFR 250, subpart N''.

PART 282--OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF FOR MINERALS 
OTHER THAN OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR

    1. The authority citation for Part 282 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.


Sec. 282.28  [Corrected]

    2. In Sec. 282.28(a), the citations ``250.26, 250.33(b)(19), 
250.34(b)(12), and 250.45'', are revised to read ``250.126, 
250.203(b)(19), 250.204(b)(12), and 250.303''.

    Dated: February 18, 1999.
E. P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 99-4599 Filed 2-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P