[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 32903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13303]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 29

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086; FXRS12610900000-134-FF09R200000]
RIN 1018-AX36


Non-Federal Oil and Gas Development Within the National Wildlife 
Refuge System

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; notice of intent to 
prepare an environmental impact statement; reopening and extension of 
the comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening and 
extending the comment period for the advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking and notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement for non-Federal oil and gas development within the National 
Wildlife Refuge System published in the Federal Register on February 
24, 2014. We are taking this action in response to public comments.

DATES: The comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
and notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement that 
published February 24, 2014 (79 FR 10080), is reopened. We will 
consider comments received or postmarked on or before July 9, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain a copy of the advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086.
    Written comments: You may submit written comments by one of the 
following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086, which is the 
docket number for this rulemaking. You may submit a comment by clicking 
on ``Comment Now!'' If your comments will fit in the provided comment 
box, please use this feature of http://www.regulations.gov, as it is 
most compatible with our comment review procedures. If you attach your 
comments as a separate document, our preferred file format is Microsoft 
Word. If you attach multiple comments (such as form letters), our 
preferred format is a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel.
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2012-0086; Division of Policy 
and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. 
Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM, Arlington, VA 22203.
    We will not accept email or faxes. We will post all comments on 
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Covington, (703) 358-2427.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 24, 2014 (79 FR 10080), we 
published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) and notice of 
intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) seeking 
public comments to assist us in developing a proposed rule and 
programmatic EIS on managing activities associated with non-Federal oil 
and gas development on lands and waters of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System (Refuge System). Non-Federal oil and gas development refers to 
oil and gas activities associated with any private, state, or tribally 
owned mineral interest where the surface estate is administered by the 
Service as part of the Refuge System. The proposed rule will clarify 
and expand existing regulations at 50 CFR 29.32.
    The Service solicited public comment and provided a 60-day public 
comment period ending April 25, 2014. The Service has received requests 
for an extension of the public comment period. In response to those 
requests, we are reopening and extending the public comment period for 
30 days. All comments received between April 25, 2014, and the date 
specified above in DATES will be considered.
    If you submitted comments or information on the ANPR/NOI during the 
initial comment period from February 24 to April 25, 2014, please do 
not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the public record, 
and will fully consider them in determining the scope of the proposed 
rule and EIS.

    Dated: May 21, 2014.
Rachel Jacobson,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2014-13303 Filed 6-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P