[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11151-11152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4316]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Docket No. ONRR-2012-002]


Notice Seeking Comment on the Extractive Industries Transparency 
Initiative

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (Department) requests comments 
and suggestions from affected parties and the interested public prior 
to convening a multi-stakeholder group tasked to implement the 
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). This notice 
solicits comments and suggestions for review by a third party neutral 
facilitator for possible stakeholders who should be considered for 
inclusion in the multi-stakeholder group. Getting feedback upfront and 
involving all affected stakeholders in the EITI process are the 
hallmarks of good government and smart business practice. Additionally, 
this notice seeks comments for the facilitator on effective and 
productive processes for convening the multi-stakeholder group. 
Finally, this notice seeks comments and suggestions for the facilitator 
for effective collaboration by the multi-stakeholder group in order to 
implement EITI. The Department will announce any public listening 
sessions in a future Federal Register notice.

DATES: You must submit your comments by April 9, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this notice by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In 
the entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter ONRR-2012-002, then 
click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related

[[Page 11152]]

materials available for this. The Department will post all comments.
     Mail, overnight courier, or hand-carry comments to: EITI 
Comments; c/o U.S. Department of the Interior; 1801 Pennsylvania Ave. 
NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Senhadji; Senior Advisor to the 
Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget; 1849 C Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20240, telephone (202) 254-5573, fax number (202) 
254-5589, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In September 2011, President Barack Obama 
announced the United States' commitment to participate in the 
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). EITI is a 
signature initiative of the U.S. national action plan for the 
international Open Government Partnership. On October 25, concurrent 
with the EITI board meeting in Jakarta, President Obama named Secretary 
of the Interior Ken Salazar as the U.S. Senior Official responsible for 
implementing USEITI. In response, Secretary Salazar posted a White 
House blog the same day, committing to work with industry and civil 
society to implement USEITI.
    Thirty-five countries are in various stages of implementing EITI, 
most of them developing countries who have been encouraged to join by 
industry, civil society and the World Bank. EITI offers a voluntary 
framework for governments and companies to publicly disclose in 
parallel the revenues paid and received for extraction of oil, gas and 
minerals owned by the state. The design of each framework is country-
specific, and is developed through a multi-year, consensus based 
process by a multi-stakeholder group comprised of government, industry 
and civil society.
    EITI will strengthen relationships among the U.S. government, 
industry, and civil society; deliver a more transparent, participatory, 
and collaborative government; ensure the full and fair return to the 
American people for the use of its public resources; and enable the 
U.S. to lead by example internationally on transparency and good 
governance. For further information on EITI, please visit the 
Department of the Interior's EITI Web page at http://www.doi.gov/EITI.
    Accordingly, the Department of the Interior is seeking public 
comment and recommendations on the following specific issues:
     The EITI requires a multi-stakeholder group to be formed 
to oversee implementation. Who are the key sectors or stakeholders that 
need to be involved in the multi-stakeholder group?
     How best can a balance, with regards to interests and 
perspectives, be achieved in the formation of the multi-stakeholder 
group?
     In your opinion, what are the key attributes of both a 
successful multi-stakeholder group and the successful implementation of 
USEITI?
     What key concerns, if any, do you have about implementing 
the USEITI process?
    Executive Order 13175 requires the Federal Government to consult 
and collaborate with the Indian community (tribes and individual Indian 
mineral owners) in the development of Federal policies that impact the 
Indian community. The locations of the public listening sessions will 
be chosen to allow for increased participation by the Indian community.
    We encourage stakeholders and members of the public to participate. 
The listening session will be open to the public without advance 
registration; however, attendance may be limited to the space available 
at each venue. For building security measures, each person may be 
required to present a picture identification to gain entry to the 
meetings.

    Dated: February 16, 2012.
Amy Holley,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy, Management and Budget.
[FR Doc. 2012-4316 Filed 2-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-T2-P