[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26315-26316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10663]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Docket No. ONRR-2012-0003]


U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Stakeholder 
Assessment and Multi-Stakeholder Group Options

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) has retained an 
independent facilitator, the Consensus

[[Page 26316]]

Building Institute (CBI), to conduct a stakeholder assessment as part 
of the U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (USEITI) 
implementation process. On May 18, 2012, Interior will receive and 
publish CBI's findings regarding options for forming a U.S. multi-
stakeholder group that will be responsible for determining how USEITI 
will be implemented. By this notice, Interior is providing the public 
advance notice of the opportunity to comment between May 18 and June 
29, 2012 on CBI's assessment and findings. Comments may be provided in 
writing or in person at public listening sessions and a public 
workshop. Details will be provided by Federal Register Notice at a 
later date.

DATES: The public listening sessions, webinar and workshop dates are:
Session 1--Anchorage, Alaska Public Listening Session, May 30, 2012.
Session 2--Public Webinar, June 1, 2012.
Session 3--Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Public Listening Session, June 11, 
2012.
Session 4--New Orleans, Louisiana Public Listening Session, June 12, 
2012.
Session 5--Washington, DC Public Workshop, June 22, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Nussdorf, telephone (202) 254-
5573, fax number (202) 254-5589, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 24th, 2012, Interior published a 
notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the formation 
of a multi-stakeholder group to implement USEITI (74 FR 11151). In that 
notice, Interior stated that it would hold a series of public listening 
sessions to provide additional opportunities for public comment. In 
March, Interior held those listening sessions in St. Louis, Missouri; 
Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; and Washington, DC. CBI analyzed the 
input from these four public listening sessions, interviews with 
potential stakeholders, and written comments that were submitted to 
Interior. This input will form the basis of CBI's independent 
stakeholder assessment and findings regarding options for establishing 
the U.S. multi-stakeholder group, which will be responsible for 
implementing USEITI.
    In response to feedback received during the first public comment 
period, once Interior receives the assessment from CBI on May 18, 2012, 
it will be published and made available online at www.doi.gov/EITI. 
Alternatively, you may request a copy of the assessment from Ben 
Nussdorf, whose contact information is listed previously in this 
notice. We encourage stakeholders and members of the public to 
participate in the additional public comment period held from May 18-
June 29, 2012, to gather feedback on the stakeholder assessment and 
recommended options for establishing the U.S. multi-stakeholder group. 
During the May 18-June 29 public comment period, three public listening 
sessions, a public webinar, and a public workshop will be held as 
listed previously in this notice. Further details regarding specific 
times and locations will be provided in advance via Federal Register 
Notice and online at www.doi.gov/EITI.
    Background: In September 2011, President Barack Obama announced the 
United States' commitment to participate in the Extractive Industries 
Transparency Initiative. EITI is a signature initiative of the U.S. 
National Action Plan for the international Open Government Partnership 
and 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 representatives. On October 25, 
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. For further 
information on EITI, please visit the USEITI Web page at http://www.doi.gov/EITI.

    Dated: April 27, 2012.
Amy Holley,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy, Management and Budget.
[FR Doc. 2012-10663 Filed 5-2-12; 8:45 am]
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