[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 79258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31892]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

25 CFR Part 169

[156A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]
RIN 1076-AF20


Rights-of-Way on Indian Land

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule; extension of effective date and compliance date.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is announcing the extension 
of the effective date of the final rule published November 19, 2015 
governing rights-of-way on Indian land, which was scheduled to take 
effect on December 21, 2015. Tribes and industry have requested 
additional time to prepare for implementation of the rule. The final 
rule will now take effect on March 21, 2016. The BIA is also announcing 
an extension of the compliance date by which documentation of past 
assignments must be submitted from the originally stated date of April 
18, 2016 to July 17, 2016. The final rule comprehensively updates and 
streamlines the process for obtaining Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
grants of rights-of-way on Indian land and BIA land, while supporting 
tribal self-determination and self-governance.

DATES: The effective date of the final rule published on November 19, 
2015 (80 FR 72492) is extended until March 21, 2016. The compliance 
date for submission of documentation of past assignments is extended 
until July 17, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office 
of Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action, (202) 273-4680; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 19, 2015, BIA published a final 
rule addressing rights-of-way on Indian land and BIA land. See 80 FR 
72492. Since publication, BIA has received comments from tribes and 
industry requesting an extension of the effective date of the rule in 
order to provide additional time to prepare for implementation to 
ensure compliance. This document extends the effective date of the 
final rule to March 21, 2016, and likewise extends the deadline for 
providing BIA with documentation of past assignments to July 17, 2016. 
The substance of the rule remains unchanged.
    The BIA has determined that the extension of the effective date and 
compliance date without prior public notice and comment is in the 
public interest because it would allow more time for the public to 
comply with the rule and for BIA to implement the rule. This is a rule 
of agency procedure or practice that is exempt from notice and comment 
rulemaking under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A).

Correction

    In FR Rule Doc. No. 2015-28548, published November 19, 2015, at 80 
FR 72492, make the following corrections:
    1. On page 72357, in the center and right columns, in revised Sec.  
169.7, remove the date ``December 21, 2015'' wherever it appears and 
add in its place ``March 21, 2016''.
    2. On page 72357, in the right column, in paragraph (d) of revised 
Sec.  169.7, remove the date ``April 18, 2016'' and add in its place 
``July 17, 2016''.

    Dated: December 14, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-31892 Filed 12-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P