[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 71187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9530]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-310-1310-PB-24 1A]


Oil and Gas Leasing: Onshore Oil and Gas Operations--Fees, 
Rentals, and Royalty

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of termination of the stripper well royalty reductions 
program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The termination of benefits for stripper well properties was 
effective February 1, 2006, and replaced by Section 343 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005, which was established a Marginal Property 
Production Incentives Program (MPPIP).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rudy Baier, Division of Fluid 
Minerals, BLM, (202) 452-5024. Persons who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 
1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except holidays, for 
assistance in reaching Mr. Baier.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Federal Register notice (70 FR 42093) 
dated July 21, 2005, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provided six-
month notification, as required by regulation, to terminate the 
benefits of the royalty rate reductions granted under the stripper well 
royalty reductions (see 43 CFR 3103.4-2) program. In that FR notice, 
the BLM requested comments specifically on the financial conditions 
under which the BLM would reestablish the benefits under that program. 
The BLM received five comments. The comments will be considered if BLM 
develops a stripper/marginal property replacement program.
    The BLM has determined that it will not establish the current 
program since the MPPIP was established by Congress to take its place 
until the Secretary of the Interior issues regulations prescribing 
different relief.
    The current regulations authorize royalty rate reduction on a case-
by-case basis (see 43 CFR 3103.4-1).

    Dated: October 19, 2006.
Thomas P. Lonnie,
Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty, and Resource Protection.
[FR Doc. 06-9530 Filed 12-07-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M