[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9527-9528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3365]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Parts 3100, 3106, 3108, 3130, and 3160

[WO-310-1310-01-24 1A-PB]
RIN 1004-AC54


Oil and Gas Leasing: Onshore Oil and Gas Operations: Delay of 
Effective Date

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Review Plan,'' 66 FR 7701 (January 24, 2001), this 
document temporarily delays for 60 days the effective date of the rule 
entitled ``Oil and Gas Leasing: Onshore Oil and Gas Operations,'' 
published in the Federal Register on January 10,

[[Page 9528]]

2001 (66 FR 1883). The final rule will: clarify the responsibilities of 
oil and gas lessees and operating rights owners for protecting Federal 
and Indian oil and gas resources from drainage; specify when the 
obligations of the lessee or operating rights owner to protect against 
drainage begin and end; clarify what steps to take to determine if 
drainage is occurring; and specify the responsibilities of assignors 
and assignees for reclamation and other lease obligations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the Oil and Gas Leasing: Onshore 
Oil and Gas Operations Final Rule, amending 43 CFR 3100, 3106, 3108, 
3130, and 3160; published in the Federal Register on January 10, 2001. 
(66 FR 1883), is delayed for 60 days; from February 9, 2001 to a new 
effective date of April 10, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donnie Shaw, Fluid Minerals Group, 
Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 401LS, 1849 ``C'' Street, NW, 
Washington, D.C. 20240; telephone (202) 452-0382 (Commercial or FTS). 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Services at 1-800-877-8339, seven 
days a week, 24 hours a day, except holidays, for assistance in 
reaching Mr. Shaw.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To the extent that 5 U.S.C. 553 applies to 
this action, the action is exempt from notice and comment because it 
constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). 
Alternatively, the Department's implementation of this action without 
opportunity for public comment, effective immediately upon publication 
today in the Federal Register, is based on the good cause exceptions in 
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3), in that seeking public comment is 
impractical, unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The 
temporary 60-day delay in the effective date is necessary to give 
Department officials the opportunity for further review and 
consideration of new regulations, consistent with the Assistant to the 
President's memorandum of January 20, 2001. Given the imminence of the 
effective date, seeking prior public comment on this temporary delay 
would have been impractical, as well as contrary to the public interest 
in the orderly promulgation and implementation of regulations.

    Dated: January 31, 2001.
Piet deWitt,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 01-3365 Filed 2-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P