[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 38024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15557]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 3160

[WO-300-L13100000.FJ0000]
RIN 1004-AE26


Oil and Gas; Well Stimulation, Including Hydraulic Fracturing, on 
Federal and Indian Lands

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On May 11, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published 
in the Federal Register a proposed rule to regulate hydraulic 
fracturing on public land and Indian land. The rule would require 
disclosure to the public of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing on 
public land and Indian land, strengthen regulations related to well-
bore integrity, and address issues related to flowback water. This rule 
is necessary to provide useful information to the public and to help 
ensure that hydraulic fracturing is conducted in a way that adequately 
protects the environment.
    Due to the complexity of the rule and the issues surrounding it, 
the BLM is extending the comment period for 60 days beyond the end of 
the initial comment period. As a result of this extension, the comment 
period will now close on September 10, 2012.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published May 11, 2012, 
at 77 FR 27691, is extended. Send your comments on this proposed rule 
to the BLM on or before September 10, 2012. The BLM need not consider, 
or include in the administrative record for the final rule, comments 
that the BLM receives after the close of the comment period or comments 
delivered to an address other than those listed below (see ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630), 
Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 2134 LM, 1849 C St. NW., 
Washington, DC 20240, Attention: 1004-AE26. Personal or messenger 
delivery: Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134 LM, 
Attention: Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20003. Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
at this Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Wells, Division Chief, Fluid 
Minerals Division, 202-912-7143 for information regarding the substance 
of the rule or information about the BLM's Fluid Minerals Program. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comment Procedures

    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods:
    Mail: You may mail comments to U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 2134LM, 1849 C 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20240, Attention: 1004-AE26. Personal or 
messenger delivery: Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street SE., Room 
2134 LM, Attention: Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20003. Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
at this Web site.
    Please make your comments as specific as possible by confining them 
to issues directly related to the content of this proposed rule, and 
explain the basis for your comments. The comments and recommendations 
that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are:
    1. Those supported by quantitative information or studies; and
    2. Those that include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable 
laws and regulations.
    The BLM is not obligated to consider or include in the 
Administrative Record for the rule comments received after the close of 
the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered to an address 
other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the address listed under ADDRESSES 
during regular hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday, 
except holidays.
    Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your 
comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Background

    The proposed rule was published on May 11, 2012 (77 FR 27691), with 
a 60-day comment period closing on July 10, 2012. Since publication, 
the BLM has received numerous requests for extension of the comment 
period on the proposed rule. Because of the complexity of the rule and 
due to the controversial nature of well stimulation procedures, the BLM 
is hereby extending the comment period on the rule for 60 days. The 
closing date of the extended comment period is September 10, 2012.

    Dated: June 20, 2012.
Marcilynn A. Burke,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-15557 Filed 6-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P