[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 185 (Monday, September 26, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19223]


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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: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: MMS is delaying until January 1, 2006, the effective date of a 
rule that will implement fees to offset MMS's costs of providing 
certain services related to its mineral programs. This delay is 
necessary because of damage caused in the New Orleans area by Hurricane 
Katrina and subsequent flooding. The delay will provide relief to the 
government and the oil and gas industry as they recover from this 
disaster.

DATES: The effective date of the rule amending 30 CFR Parts 250 and 256 
published at 70 FR 49871, August 25, 2005 is delayed until January 1, 
2006.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The rule published August 25, 2005, requires 
MMS to develop additional procedures that MMS will provide to the oil 
and gas industry in the form of a Notice to Lessees. The primary office 
responsible for developing those procedures, the MMS Gulf of Mexico 
Regional Office in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been closed since 
Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed that disaster. 
Moreover, many of the lessees and operators subject to the rule are 
similarly engaged in the restoration of normal operations following 
Hurricane Katrina. Lessees and operators will be making changes in 
their own procedures to comply with the rule. Lessees and operators 
whose operations have been interrupted as a result of the hurricane may 
not be able to make these changes until normal operations resume. 
Accordingly, the Department of the Interior is postponing the effective 
date of the final rule until January 1, 2006.

    Dated: September 20, 2005.
Rebecca W. Watson,
Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 05-19223 Filed 9-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P