[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 61589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21282]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 250

RIN 1010-AD10


Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS)--Plans and Information--Protection of Marine Mammals and 
Threatened and Endangered Species

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: MMS is extending to January 6, 2006, the comment period of the 
proposed rule titled, ``Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS)--Plans and Information--Protection of Marine 
Mammals and Threatened and Endangered Species'' published on September 
6, 2005 (70 FR 52953). The previous deadline for comments was November 
7, 2005. This notice will extend the original 60-day comment period to 
120 days. This extension is necessary because of damage caused in the 
New Orleans area by Hurricane Katrina and the Louisiana/Texas area by 
Hurricane Rita and subsequent flooding. The extension will provide 
additional time to the oil and gas industry for reviewing and preparing 
comments to the rule as it recovers from these disasters.

DATES: MMS will consider all comments received by January 6, 2006. MMS 
will begin reviewing comments then and may not fully consider comments 
received after January 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the rulemaking by any of the 
following methods listed below. Please use the Regulation Identifier 
Number (RIN) 1010-AD10 in your message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions on the website for submitting comments.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Use 1010-AD10 in the 
subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1546. Identify with 1010-AD10.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Processing Team 
(RPT); 381 Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please 
reference ``Plans and Information--Protection of Marine Mammals and 
Threatened and Endangered Species--1010-AD10'' in your comments.
    You may also send comments on the information collection aspects of 
this rule directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-10) via OMB e-mail: ([email protected]); or by fax (202) 395-6566; identify with 1010-AD10. 
Please also send a copy to MMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kumkum Ray, Regulations and Standards 
Branch at (703) 787-1604.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Lessees and operators with operations in the 
Gulf of Mexico Region are engaged in the restoration of normal 
operations following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The extension of the 
comment period will allow them, and the public, additional time to 
review the proposed rule and to comment on it. Accordingly, the 
Department of the Interior is extending the comment period date by 60 
days to end on January 6, 2006.

    Dated: October 17, 2005.
Chad Calvert,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 05-21282 Filed 10-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P