[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54739-54740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23858]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Delegation to States, State of Alaska

ACTION: Solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: The State of Alaska has requested a delegation of audit and 
investigation authority from the Minerals Management Service (MMS). 
This Notice gives the public an opportunity to review and comment on 
the State's proposal, which is posted on our Web site at http://www.mrm.mms.gov/Laws_R_D/FRNotices/FRNotices.htm.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before October 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Address your comments and suggestions regarding this 
proposal to Sharron L. Gebhardt, Regulatory Specialist by one of the 
following:
    [sbull] Regular U.S. mail: Center for Excellence, Minerals Revenue 
Management, Minerals Management Service, P.O. Box 25165, MS 320B2, 
Denver, Colorado 80225-0165; or
    [sbull] Overnight mail or courier: Attn: Sharron L. Gebhardt, 303-
231-3211, Center for Excellence, Minerals Revenue Management, Minerals 
Management Service, Building 85, Room A614, Denver Federal Center, 
Denver, Colorado 80225-0165; or
    [sbull] Email: [email protected]. Please submit Internet 
comments as an ASCII file and avoid the use of special characters and 
any form of encryption. Also, please include ``Attn: Delegation to 
States, State of Alaska; Solicitation of Comments'' and your name and 
return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a 
confirmation that we have received your Internet message, call the 
contact person listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Sharron L. Gebhardt at telephone 
(303) 231.3211, fax (303) 231.3781, email [email protected], or 
P.O. Box 25165, MS320B2, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225-
0165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Introduction: The Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior 
(DOI) is responsible for collecting royalties from lessees who produce 
minerals from leased Federal and Indian lands. The Secretary is 
required by various laws to manage mineral resources production on 
Federal and Indian lands; collect the royalties due; perform audits, 
inspections, and investigations related to mineral royalties; and 
distribute the funds in accordance with those laws. MMS performs the 
royalty management functions and assists the Secretary in carrying out 
DOI's Indian trust responsibility.
    The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (FOGRMA), 30 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq., and specifically section 205 of FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 
1735 provide for the delegation of audits, inspections, and 
investigations to States.
    The State of Alaska proposes to conduct audits and investigations 
for producing Federal oil and gas leases within the State, for 
producing Federal oil and gas leases in the Outer Continental Shelf 
subject to revenue sharing under 8(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1337 (g), and for other producing solid mineral or 
geothermal Federal leases within the State. The State requests 100 
percent funding of the delegated functions for a 3-year period. We 
anticipate beginning on October 1, 2003, with an option to extend for 
an additional 3-year period.
    Background: The State of Alaska had a cooperative agreement with 
MMS

[[Page 54740]]

from March 27, 1985, to June 30, 1989. Consequently, MMS has determined 
that a formal hearing for comments will not be held under 30 CFR 
Section 227.105. This Notice provides the opportunity for public 
comment on the State's proposal, which was initially submitted on May 
3, 1999. However, under the FOGRMA statutory requirements, MMS was 
prohibited from allowing the State to conduct audits on Alaskan Native 
Lands without the express written permission of Cook Inlet Regional, 
Inc. (CIRI), an Alaskan Native corporation that shares joint ownership 
interest in numerous leases with the Federal Government. On March 6, 
2003, MMS received written approval from CIRI for the Alaska Department 
of Natural Resources to audit these jointly owned leases, on the 
condition that MMS will continue to provide all information to CIRI as 
in the past. If this delegation proposal is approved, Alaska will join 
10 other States that have audit delegation agreements with MMS.

    Dated: August 28, 2003.
Lucy Querques Denett,
Associate Director for Minerals Revenue Management.
[FR Doc. 03-23858 Filed 9-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P