[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 21670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09035]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

30 CFR Parts 250 and 254

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

30 CFR Part 550

[Docket ID: BSEE-2013-0011; 15XE1700DX EX1SF0000.DAQ000 EEEE500000]
RIN 1082-AA00


Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental 
Shelf--Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer 
Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), 
Interior; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Extension of comment period for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

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SUMMARY: BOEM and BSEE are extending the public comment period on the 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled, ``Oil and Gas and Sulphur 
Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf--Requirements for Exploratory 
Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf,'' which was published 
in the Federal Register on February 24, 2015, (80 FR 9916). The 
original public comment period would have ended on April 27, 2015. 
However, BOEM and BSEE have received public comments requesting an 
extension of the comment period. BOEM and BSEE have reviewed the 
extension requests and determined that a 30-day comment period 
extension to May 27, 2015, is appropriate.

DATES: The comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
published on February 24, 2015, (80 FR 9916) has been extended. Written 
comments must be received by the extended due date of May 27, 2015. 
BOEM and BSEE may not fully consider comments received after this date. 
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rulemaking by any of 
the following methods. Please use the Regulation Identifier Number 
(RIN) 1082-AA00 as an identifier in your message. For comments 
specifically related to the draft Environmental Assessment conducted 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), please 
refer to NEPA in the heading of your message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In 
the entry entitled ``Enter Keyword or ID'', enter BSEE-2013-0011 then 
click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related materials available for this rulemaking. 
BOEM and BSEE may post all submitted comments in their entirety.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior (DOI); Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; 
Attention: Regulations and Standards Branch; 45600 Woodland Road, 
Sterling, Virginia 20166. Please reference ``Oil and Gas and Sulphur 
Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf--Requirements for Exploratory 
Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf, 1082-AA00'' in your 
comments and include your name and return address. Please note that 
this address for BSEE is new; however, any comments already submitted 
to BSEE's former address (381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20181) do 
not need to be resubmitted to the new address.
     Public Availability of Comments--Before including your 
address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark E. Fesmire, BSEE, Alaska Regional 
Office, [email protected], (907) 334-5300; John Caplis, BSEE, Oil 
Spill Response Division, [email protected], (703) 787-1364; or David 
Johnston, BOEM, Alaska Regional Office, [email protected], (907) 
334-5200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEM and BSEE published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking on Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) on February 24, 2015 (80 FR 9916). This 
proposed rule is intended to provide regulations to ensure Arctic OCS 
exploratory drilling operations are conducted in a safe and responsible 
manner that takes into account the unique conditions of Arctic OCS 
drilling and Alaska Natives' cultural traditions and need to access 
subsistence resources. The Arctic region is known for its oil and gas 
resource potential, its vibrant ecosystems, and the Alaska Native 
communities, who rely on the Arctic's resources for subsistence and 
cultural traditions. The region is also characterized by extreme 
environmental conditions, geographic remoteness, and a relative lack of 
fixed infrastructure and existing operations.
    The proposed rule would add to, and revise existing regulations in, 
30 CFR parts 250, 254, and 550 for Arctic OCS oil and gas activities. 
The proposed rule would focus on Arctic OCS exploratory drilling 
activities that use mobile offshore drilling units, and related 
operations during the Arctic OCS open-water drilling season.
    After publication of the proposed rule, BOEM and BSEE received 
public comments asking BOEM and BSEE to extend the comment period on 
the proposed rule by 60 days. BOEM and BSEE are extending the original 
60-day comment period by an additional 30 days to provide additional 
time for review of and comment on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. 
Accordingly, written comments must be submitted by the extended due 
date of May 27, 2015. BOEM and BSEE may not fully consider comments 
received after this date.

    Dated: April 14, 2015.
Janice M. Schneider,
Assistant Secretary Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-09035 Filed 4-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P; 4310-MR-P