[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 15, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12626-12631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4999]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Parts 250 and 256

RIN 1010-AD16


Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations and Leasing in the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS)--Cost Recovery

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: MMS proposes to modify its regulations to change some existing 
fees and implement several new fees. The proposed fees would offset 
MMS's costs of performing certain services relating to its minerals 
programs.

DATES: MMS will consider all comments received by April 14, 2005. MMS 
may not fully consider comments received after April 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the rulemaking by any of the 
following methods listed below. Please use 1010-AD16 as an identifier 
in your message. See also Public Comment Procedures under Procedural 
Matters.
     MMS's Public Connect on-line commenting system, https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. Follow the instructions on the Web site for 
submitting comments.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions on the Web site for submitting comments.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Identify the 
Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) in the subject line.
     Fax: (703) 787-1093. Identify the RIN.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden 
Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817; Attention: Rules Processing Team 
(RPT). Please reference ``Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations and Leasing 
in the Outer Continental Shelf--Cost Recovery--AD16'' in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Mazzullo, Offshore Minerals 
Management (OMM) Budget Office at (703) 787-1691.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Legal Authority and Policy Guidance: The Independent Offices 
Appropriation Act of 1952 (IOAA), 31 U.S.C. 9701, is a general law 
applicable Government-wide, that provides authority to MMS to recover 
the costs of providing services to the non-federal sector. It requires 
implementation through rulemaking. There are several policy documents 
that provide guidance on the process of charging applicants for service 
costs. These policy documents are found in the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Circular A-25, ``User Charges,'' and the Department of the 
Interior Departmental Manual (DM), 330 DM 1.3A & 6.4, ``Cost Recovery'' 
and ``User Charges.'' The general policy that

[[Page 12627]]

governs charges for services provided states that a charge ``will be 
assessed against each identifiable recipient for special benefits 
derived from Federal activities beyond those received by the general 
public'' (OMB Circular A-25). The Department of the Interior Manual 
mirrors this policy (330 DM 1.3 A.). Certain activities may be exempted 
from these fees under certain conditions set out at 330 DM 1.3A & 
6.4.4.
    Cost Recovery Definition: In this rulemaking, cost recovery means 
reimbursement to MMS for its costs of performing a service by charging 
a fee to the identifiable applicant/beneficiary of the service. Further 
guidance is provided by Solicitor's Opinion M-36987, ``BLM's Authority 
to Recover Costs of Mineral Document Processing'' (December 5, 1996). 
The Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General issued 
reports in 1988 and 1995 addressing BLM's cost recovery 
responsibilities.

Proposed Regulation

How Did MMS Determine What Services It Would Propose for Cost Recovery 
in This Proposed Rule?

    An MMS cost recovery team, drawn from both the Regional and 
Headquarters Offshore Minerals Management (OMM) offices, reviewed the 
statutory language found in the United States Code and OMB, 
Departmental, Bureau, and Solicitor Opinion guidance to evaluate what 
services were eligible for cost recovery. Since the authority is rather 
broad, the team chose to focus on whether the service provided results 
from compliance with a statutory requirement related to doing business 
on the Outer Continental Shelf (e.g., Initial Designation of Operator), 
or from an activity exercised at the option of the applicant/
beneficiary outside of a statutory requirement (e.g., Change of 
Designation of Operator). The services proposed for cost recovery 
action at this time are limited to those that fall into the latter 
category of activities exercised at the option of the applicant/
beneficiary.

Which MMS Services Would be Subject to a Cost Recovery Fee?

    The following table lists the services that are proposed to be 
subject to a cost recovery fee for the first time under this proposed 
rule and those services for which MMS proposes to revise existing fees.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Service                             Current fee        Proposed fee     30 CFR citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in Designation of Operator......................              (\1\)               $140     Sec.   250.143
Suspensions of Operations/Suspensions of Production                  (\1\)              1,700     Sec.   250.171
 (SOO/SOP) Request.....................................
Pipeline Right-of-Way (ROW) Grant Application..........             $2,350              1,100    Sec.   250.1015
Pipeline Conversion of Lease Term to ROW...............                300                180    Sec.   250.1015
Pipeline ROW Assignment................................                 60                160    Sec.   250.1018
500 feet from Lease/Unit Line Production Request.......              (\1\)              3,100    Sec.   250.1101
Gas Cap Production Request.............................              (\1\)              4,000    Sec.   250.1101
Downhole Commingling Request...........................              (\1\)              4,600    Sec.   250.1106
Voluntary Unitization Proposal or Unit Expansion.......              (\1\)             10,000    Sec.   250.1303
Unitization Revision and Modification..................              (\1\)                720    Sec.   250.1303
Record Title/Operating Rights (Transfer)...............                185                160      Sec.   256.64
Non-required Document Filing...........................                 25                170     Sec.   256.64
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 None.

What Type of Fees Does This Regulation Create?

    This rule establishes fixed fees for certain OMM services based on 
cost recovery principles. A fixed fee remains the same for each request 
of a particular type. We considered determining and charging fees on a 
case-by-case basis, but proposes to assess fixed fees because of the 
broad similarity of the work required to process each request of a 
particular type.
    Additionally, the fixed fee approach provides more objectivity and 
certainty as each applicant faces the same predetermined fee structure. 
Finally, a fixed fee is less administratively burdensome on both MMS 
and industry than an approach based on tracking ongoing processing 
costs of individual documents.

What Are the Fee Amounts Based On?

    We considered various factors in determining the proposed fee 
amounts. These factors included actual costs, the monetary worth of the 
services to the applicant, and whether the services provide a benefit 
to the general public. MMS determined that the monetary value of each 
of the eligible services was greater than the processing costs, while 
the public benefit of the services was small and speculative relative 
to the processing costs. MMS concluded that an actual cost method for 
calculating fee amounts is the most appropriate way to achieve the cost 
recovery objectives of the IOAA statute.
    The proposed cost methodology includes the sum of both direct costs 
and indirect costs. The direct costs are comprised of the salaries, 
benefits, and special materials or equipment (when applicable) 
attributed to processing each task-specific function of a request. The 
labor component is sub-divided by various steps in each process and by 
the hours spent for each employee involved in the task. The indirect 
costs include, but are not limited to, items such as office space, 
insurance, postage, computers, phones, fax machines, and general 
supplies not associated with a task specific request. To recover these 
types of costs, an indirect cost rate of 15 percent of the direct costs 
is applied.

How Did MMS Determine the Costs To Be Covered by the Proposed Fees?

    The team created a template for each service for which a fee is 
proposed. The template listed the sub-processes needed to provide each 
service. Next, the staff that provided the services filled in the 
specific direct cost information associated with each of these 
activities. This data was compiled into a cost matrix for all Regions, 
request types, and yearly number of transactions, and then consolidated 
to set the fees proposed in Sec.  250.125 and Sec.  256.63.

Were There Differences in the Processing Costs and Number of 
Transactions Among the Regional Offices?

    Yes. These differences were primarily attributable to the varying 
levels of offshore oil and gas activity across the Regions. We 
reconciled these differences with a weighted-average method that gives 
greater weight to costs from Regional offices with heavy workloads, and 
thus more expertise, in providing certain services. Using the number of 
yearly transactions in each

[[Page 12628]]

Region, we weighted each Region's costs to determine the average fixed 
fee that we propose to apply to all Regions. Since the Gulf of Mexico 
(GOM) Region has the majority of transactions, most of the proposed 
fixed fees are similar to the costs in the GOM Region.

Would the Proposed Fees be Adjusted for Inflation?

    Yes. Since we used current salary and expense levels, the cost 
estimates reflect current dollars. To keep the costs in line with 
inflation, we propose to adjust the fees every five years according to 
the Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 
starting in 2005 dollars. This inflation index, as published by the 
U.S. Department of Commerce, is generally accepted by economists as the 
most reliable general price index and used by MMS for other 
inflationary adjustments. We propose to escalate for inflation on a 
five year basis because we estimate that as a significant interval of 
time to reflect inflationary adjustments. Because we would establish 
the process for changing fees in this rule, and the application of that 
process is simply a mathematical calculation, we would adjust the fees 
without publishing a proposed rule for notice and comment, and post 
them on our Web site. We would also review our costs for administering 
each type of request every two years. If we decide to amend fees based 
on something other than the Implicit Price Deflator GDP, we would do so 
through proposed rulemaking with a comment period.

Procedural Matters

Public Comment Procedures

    All submissions received must include the agency name and RIN for 
this rulemaking. Our practice is to make comments, including names and 
addresses of respondents, available for public review. E-mail address 
is considered a form of address. Individual respondents may request 
that we withhold their addresses from the rulemaking record, which we 
will honor to the extent allowable by law. There may be circumstances 
in which we would withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as 
allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. 
However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all 
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

    This document is not a significant rule as determined by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) and is not subject to review under 
Executive Order 12866.
    (1) This proposed rule would not have an annual effect of $100 
million or more on the economy. It would not adversely affect in a 
material way the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 
environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal 
governments or communities. This rule establishes fees based on cost 
recovery principles. Based on historical filings, we project the fees 
will raise revenue by approximately $2 million annually.
    (2) This proposed rule would not create a serious inconsistency or 
otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency 
because the costs incurred are for specific MMS services and other 
agencies are not involved in these aspects of the OCS program.
    (3) This proposed rule would not alter the budgetary effects of 
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights or 
obligations of their recipients. This change will have no effect on the 
rights of the recipients of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan 
programs. The fees proposed by this rule are service fees based on cost 
recovery, and not user fees.
    (4) This proposed rule will not raise novel legal or policy issues.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The Department certifies that this proposed rule would not have a 
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities 
under the RFA (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
    This proposed change would affect lessees and operators of leases 
in the OCS. This includes about 130 Federal oil and gas lessees and 115 
holders of pipeline rights-of-way. Small lessees that operate under 
this rule would fall under the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 
North American Industry Classification System Codes (NAICS) 211111, 
Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction and 213111, Drilling Oil and 
Gas Wells. For these NAICS code classifications, a small company is one 
with fewer than 500 employees. Based on these criteria, an estimated 70 
percent of these companies are considered small. This proposed rule, 
therefore, affects a substantial number of small entities.
    The fees proposed in the rule would not have a significant economic 
effect on a substantial number of small entities because the fees are 
very small compared to normal costs of doing business on the OCS. For 
example, depending on water depth and well depth, cost estimates for 
drilling a well range from $5 million to $23 million. Thus the proposed 
fees, ranging from $140 to $10,000, are dwarfed by the millions of 
dollars that industry already commits to exploration, development, and 
production.
    Additionally, the fees proposed in the rule would apply to both 
large and small firms in the same way. Also, applying for MMS services 
provides a benefit to the applicant (both large and small) if the 
applicant decides to operate in the OCS.
    Comments are important. The Small Business and Agriculture 
Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and 10 Regional Fairness Boards were 
established to receive comments from small business about Federal 
agency enforcement actions. The Ombudsman will annually evaluate the 
enforcement activities and rate each agency's responsiveness to small 
business. If you wish to comment on the actions of MMS, call 1-888-734-
3247. You may comment to the Small Business Administration without fear 
of retaliation. Disciplinary action for retaliation by an MMS employee 
may include suspension or termination from employment with the 
Department of the Interior.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)

    This is not a major rule under the SBREFA (5 U.S.C. 804(2)). This 
proposed rule:
    (a) Would not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more.
    (b) Would not cause a major increase in costs or prices for 
consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government 
agencies, or geographic regions.
    (c) Would not have significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of 
U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. 
Leasing on the U.S. OCS is limited to residents of the U.S. or 
companies incorporated in the United States. This rule does not change 
that requirement.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995

    The proposed rulemaking related to 30 CFR part 250, subparts A, J, 
K, and M, and to 30 CFR part 256, subpart J. The rulemaking affects the 
information collections for these regulations but will not change the 
approved burden hours, just the associated fees. Therefore, OMB

[[Page 12629]]

has ruled that there is no change in the information collection and 
that MMS does not need to make a formal submission by Form OMB 83-I for 
this rulemaking. When the rule is finalized, we will submit Form OMB 
83-C to modify the fees in each collection.
    OMB has approved the information collections for the affected 
regulations as 30 CFR part 250, subpart A, OMB Control Number 1010-0114 
(expiration 10/31/07); subpart J, 1010-0050 (expiration 1/31/06); 
subpart K, 1010-0041 (expiration 7/31/06); and subpart M, 1010-0068 
(expiration 8/31/05); and as 30 CFR part 256, subpart J, 1010-0006, 
(expiration 3/31/07).
    MMS will summarize written responses to this notice and address 
them in the final rule. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

Federalism (Executive Order 13132)

    With respect to Executive Order 13132, the proposed rule would not 
have federalism implications. It would not substantially and directly 
affect the relationship between the Federal and State Governments. To 
the extent that State and local governments have a role in OCS 
activities, this proposed change would not affect that role.

Takings Implication Assessment (Executive Order 12630)

    With respect to Executive Order 12630, the proposed rule would not 
have significant takings implications. A Takings Implication Assessment 
is not required. The rulemaking is not a governmental action capable of 
interfering with constitutionally protected property rights.

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

    With respect to Executive Order 12988, the Office of the Solicitor 
has determined that this proposed rule would not unduly burden the 
judicial system, and meets the requirements of Sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of the Executive Order.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969

    MMS analyzed this proposed rule using the criteria of the NEPA and 
516 Departmental Manual, Chapter 2, and concluded that the preparation 
of an environmental analysis which would result in the issuance of a 
Finding of No Significant Impact or the preparation of an environmental 
impact statement would not be required.

Unfunded Mandate Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995 (Executive Order 12866)

    This proposed rule would not impose an unfunded mandate on State, 
local, or tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 
million per year. The proposed rule would not have a significant or 
unique effect on State, local, or tribal governments or the private 
sector. A statement containing the information required by the UMRA (2 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required. This is because the proposal 
would not affect State, local, or tribal governments, and the effect on 
the private sector is small.

Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments (Executive 
Order 13175)

    In accordance with Executive Order 13175, this proposed rule does 
not have tribal implications that impose substantial direct compliance 
costs on Indian tribal governments.

Effects on the Nation's Energy Supply (Executive Order 13211)

    Executive Order 13211 requires the agency to prepare a Statement of 
Energy Effects when it takes a regulatory action that is identified as 
a significant energy action. This proposed rule is not a significant 
energy action, and therefore does not require a Statement of Energy 
Effects, because it:
    (1) Is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 
12866,
    (2) Is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the 
supply, distribution, or use of energy, and
    (3) Has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, as 
a significant energy action.

List of Subjects

30 CFR Part 250

    Continental shelf, Environmental impact statements, Environmental 
protection, Government contracts, 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--right-of-way, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Sulphur development and production, Sulphur exploration, Surety bonds.

30 CFR Part 256

    Administrative practice and procedure, Continental shelf, 
Environmental protection, Government contracts, Intergovernmental 
relations, Minerals Management Service, Oil and gas exploration, Public 
lands-mineral resources, Public lands--rights-of-way, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Surety bonds.

    Dated: February 16, 2005.
Chad Calvert,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Minerals Management 
Service (MMS) proposes to amend 30 CFR parts 250 and 256 as follows:

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.

    2. In 30 CFR part 250, subpart A, a new Sec.  250.125 is added and 
a new undesignated center heading is added preceding the new Sec.  
250.125 to read as follows:

Subpart A--General

* * * * *

Fees


Sec.  250.125  Service fees.

    The table in this section shows the fees that you must pay to MMS 
for the services listed. All fees are nonrefundable. The fees will be 
adjusted every five years, or more frequently as needed, according to 
the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product, and the updated 
amounts will be posted on our Web site. MMS will re-examine the cost 
methodology of the fees every two years. If a significant adjustment is 
needed to arrive at the new actual cost, a proposed rule containing the 
new fees will be published for comment.

                        FY 2005 Service Fee Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Service                  Proposed fee     30 CFR citation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Change In Designation of                     $140     Sec.   250.143
 Operator.........................
(2) Suspension of Operations/                   1,700     Sec.   250.171
 Suspension of Production (SOO/
 SOP) Request.....................
(3) Pipeline Right-of-Way (ROW)                 1,100    Sec.   250.1015
 Grant Application................
(4) Pipeline Conversion of Lease                  180    Sec.   250.1015
 Term to ROW......................

[[Page 12630]]

 
(5) Pipeline ROW Assignment.......                160    Sec.   250.1018
(6) 500 feet from Lease/Unit Line               3,100    Sec.   250.1101
 Production Request...............
(7) Gas Cap Production Request....              4,000    Sec.   250.1101
(8) Downhole Commingling Request..              4,600    Sec.   250.1106
(9) Voluntary Unitization Proposal             10,000    Sec.   250.1303
 or Unit Expansion................
(10) Unitization Revision and                     720    Sec.   250.1303
 Modification.....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. In Sec.  250.143, add a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  250.143  How do I designate an operator?

* * * * *
    (d) If you change the designated operator on your lease, you must 
pay the service fee listed in Sec.  250.125 of this subpart with your 
request for a change in designation of operator.
    4. In Sec.  250.171, add a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  250.171  How do I request a suspension?

* * * * *
    (e) You must pay the service fee listed in Sec.  250.125 of this 
subpart with your request for a SOO or SOP.
    5. In Sec.  250.1015, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  250.1015  Applications for pipeline right-of-way grants.

    (a) You must submit an original and three copies of an application 
for a new or modified pipeline ROW grant to the Regional Supervisor. 
The application must address those items required by Sec.  250.1007 (a) 
or (b) of this subpart, as applicable. It must also state the primary 
purpose for which you will use the ROW grant. If the ROW has been used 
before the application is made, the application must state the date 
such use began, by whom, and the date the applicant obtained control of 
the improvement. When you file your application, you must pay the 
rental required under Sec.  250.1012 of this subpart, as well as the 
service fees listed in Sec.  250.125 of this part for a pipeline ROW 
grant to install a new pipeline, or to convert an existing lease term 
pipeline into a ROW pipeline. An application to modify an approved ROW 
grant must be accompanied by the additional rental required under Sec.  
250.1012 of this subpart if applicable. You must file a separate 
application for each ROW.
* * * * *
    6. In Sec.  250.1018, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  250.1018  Assignment of pipeline right-of-way grants.

* * * * *
    (b) Any application for approval for an assignment, in whole or in 
part, of any right, title, or interest in a right-of-way grant must be 
accompanied by the same showing of qualifications of the assignees as 
is required of an applicant for a ROW in Sec.  250.1015 of this subpart 
and must be supported by a statement that the assignee agrees to comply 
with and to be bound by the terms and conditions of the ROW grant. The 
assignee must satisfy the bonding requirements in Sec.  250.1011 of 
this part. No transfer will be recognized unless and until it is first 
approved, in writing, by the Regional Supervisor. The assignee must pay 
the service fee listed in Sec.  250.125 of this part for a pipeline ROW 
assignment request.
    7. In Sec.  250.1101, add a new paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  250.1101  General requirements and classification of reservoirs.

* * * * *
    (f) You must pay the service fee listed in Sec.  250.125 of this 
part with your request for either a 500 feet from lease/unit line 
production interval or to produce from a completion in an associated 
gas cap of a sensitive reservoir under this section.
    8. In Sec.  250.1106, add a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  250.1106  Downhole commingling.

* * * * *
    (d) You must pay the service fee listed in Sec.  250.125 of this 
part with your request for downhole commingling.
    9. In Sec.  250.1303, add a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  250.1303  How do I apply for voluntary unitization?

* * * * *
    (d) You must pay the service fee listed in Sec.  250.125 of this 
part with your request for a voluntary unitization proposal or unit 
expansion. Additionally, you must pay the non-refundable service fee 
listed in Sec.  250.125 with your request for unitization revision and 
modification.

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

    10. The authority citation for 30 CFR part 256 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 6213.

    11. Add a new Sec.  256.63 to read as follows:


Sec.  256. 63  Service fees.

    The table in this section shows the fees that you must pay to MMS 
for the services listed. All fees are nonrefundable. The fees will be 
adjusted every five years, or more frequently as needed, according to 
the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product, and the updated 
amounts will be posted on our Web site. MMS will re-examine the cost 
methodology of the fees every two years. If a significant adjustment is 
needed to arrive at the new actual cost, a proposed rule containing the 
new fees will be published for comment.

                        FY 2005 Service Fee Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Service                  Proposed fee     30 CFR citation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Record Title/Operating Rights                $160      Sec.   256.64
 (Transfer).......................
(2) Non-required Document Filing..                170      Sec.   256.64
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    12. In Sec.  256.64, paragraph (a)(8) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  256.64  How to file transfers.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *

[[Page 12631]]

    (8) You must pay the service fee listed in Sec.  256.63 of this 
subpart with your application for approval of any instrument of 
transfer you are required to file (Record Title/Operating Rights 
(Transfer) Fee). Where multiple transfers of interest are included in a 
single instrument, a separate fee applies to each individual transfer 
of interest. For any document you are not required to file by these 
regulations but which you submit for record purposes per lease 
affected, you must also pay the service fee listed in Sec.  256.63 
(Non-required Document Filing Fee). Such documents may be rejected at 
the discretion of the authorized officer.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 05-4999 Filed 3-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P