[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19669]



[[Page 41149]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 3160

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


Oil and Gas Leasing: Onshore Oil and Gas Operations

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is further delaying the 
effective date to remove 43 CFR 3162.2(a) and to add 43 CFR 3162.2-7 
until November 6, 2001.

DATES: The effective date to remove 43 CFR 3162.2(a) and to add 43 CFR 
3162.2-7 was originally published in a final rule in the Federal 
Register on January 10, 2001 (66 FR 1883). The effective date was 
delayed in Federal Register documents published on February 8, 2001 (66 
FR 9527) and April 10, 2001 (66 FR 18569). This document further delays 
the effective date for 90 days to November 6, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donnie Shaw, Fluid Minerals Group, 
Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 401LS, 1849 ``C'' Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240; telephone (202) 452-0382 (Commercial or FTS). 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8330, 24 
hours a day, seven days a week, 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, we find pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(b) that the 
provision of an opportunity for public comment on whether to delay the 
effective date of the rule is impracticable and unnecessary inasmuch as 
the Department cannot adequately review the comments previously filed 
and reach a conclusion before August 8, 2001. The Department sought 
public comment on specific components of the rule in the Federal 
Register notice published on April 10, 2001. We received several highly 
technical comments and cannot complete the review before August 8, 
2001. The Department is further delaying the effective date to November 
6, 2001, to provide for continued review.

    Dated: July 31, 2001.
J. Steven Griles,
Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 01-19669 Filed 8-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P