[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2024)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 66832-66834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16458]



[[Page 66831]]

Vol. 89

Friday,

No. 159

August 16, 2024

Part IX





Department of the Interior





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2024 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda  

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

25 CFR Ch. I

30 CFR Chs. II and VII

36 CFR Ch. I

43 CFR Subtitle A, Chs. I and II

48 CFR Ch. 14

50 CFR Chs. I and IV

[167D0102DM; DS6CS00000; DLSN00000.00000; DX6CS25]


Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Semiannual Regulatory Agenda.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides the semiannual agenda of Department of 
the Interior (Department) rules scheduled for review or development 
between spring 2024 and spring 2025. The Regulatory Flexibility Act and 
Executive Order 12866 require publication of the agenda.

ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated, all agency contacts are located 
at the Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 
20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct all comments and 
inquiries about these rules to the appropriate agency contact. Please 
direct general comments relating to the agenda to the Office of 
Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs, Department of the 
Interior, at the address above or at (202) 513-0357.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this publication, the Department 
satisfies the requirement of Executive Order 12866 that the Department 
publish an agenda of rules that it has issued or expects to issue 
within this time period and of currently effective rules that it has 
scheduled for retrospective review.
    Simultaneously, the Department meets the requirement of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) to publish an agenda 
in April and October of each year identifying rules that will have 
significant economic effects on a substantial number of small entities. 
The Department has specifically identified in the agenda those rules 
that will have such effects. The complete Unified Agenda of Regulatory 
and Deregulatory Actions (Agenda) will be published at www.reginfo.gov, 
in a format that offers users enhanced ability to obtain information 
from the Agenda database. Agenda information is also available at 
www.regulations.gov, the government-wide website for submission of 
comments on proposed regulations.
    In some cases, the Department has withdrawn rules that were placed 
on previous Agendas for which there has been no publication activity or 
for which a proposed or interim rule was published. There is no legal 
significance to the omission of an item from this Agenda. Withdrawal of 
a rule does not necessarily mean that the Department will not proceed 
with the rulemaking. Withdrawal allows the Department to assess the 
action further and determine whether rulemaking is appropriate. 
Following such an assessment, the Department may determine that any 
rules listed as withdrawn under this Agenda may be appropriate for 
promulgation.

E. Michael Abler,
Deputy Director, Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs.

    Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
134.......................  Outer Continental Shelf            1014-AA57
                             Civil Penalties, Surety
                             Bond Requirements When
                             Filing an Appeal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
135.......................  Revisions to                       1014-AA53
                             Decommissioning
                             Requirements on the OCS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      United States Fish and Wildlife Service--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
136.......................  Importation, Exportation           1018-BF16
                             and Transportation of
                             Wildlife; Updates to the
                             Regulations.
137.......................  Migratory Bird Hunting;            1018-BH65
                             2025-26 Migratory Game
                             Bird Hunting Regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


        United States Fish and Wildlife Service--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
138.......................  Migratory Bird Hunting;            1018-BG63
                             2024-25 Migratory Game
                             Bird Hunting Regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                National Park Service--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
139.......................  Commercial Visitor                 1024-AE57
                             Services; Concession
                             Contracts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 66833]]


          Bureau of Ocean Energy Management--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
140.......................  Risk Management and                1010-AE14
                             Financial Assurance for
                             OCS Lease and Grant
                             Obligations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Final Rule Stage

134. Outer Continental Shelf Civil Penalties, Surety Bond Requirements 
When Filing an Appeal [1014-AA57]

    Legal Authority: Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 
U.S.C. 1331 to 1356a
    Abstract: This proposed rulemaking would clarify BSEE's existing 
regulatory authority under 30 CFR 250.1409, which establishes criteria 
that must be met before a party may proceed with an appeal of a civil 
penalty pursuant to 30 CFR part 290. Before filing an appeal to the 
Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA), an operator must either submit a 
surety bond to BSEE's sister agency, BOEM, in the amount of the 
penalty, or notify BOEM that they want their lease bond to be used as 
the bond for the penalty amount.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/13/23  88 FR 86285
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/12/24
Final Action........................   07/00/24
Final Action Effective..............   08/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kirk Malstrom, Chief, Regulations and Standards 
Branch, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
Enforcement, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: 703 787-
1751, Fax: 703 787-1555, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1014-AA57

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Long-Term Actions

135. Revisions to Decommissioning Requirements on the OCS [1014-AA53]

    Legal Authority: Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 
to 1356a
    Abstract: This proposed rule would address issues relating to (1) 
idle iron by adding a definition of this term to clarify that it 
applies to idle wells and structures on active leases; (2) abandonment 
in place of subsea infrastructure by adding regulations addressing when 
BSEE may approve decommissioning-in-place instead of removal of certain 
subsea equipment; and (3) other operational considerations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/25
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/00/25
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kirk Malstrom, Chief, Regulations and Standards 
Branch, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
Enforcement, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: 703 787-
1751, Fax: 703 787-1555, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1014-AA53

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Proposed Rule Stage

136. Importation, Exportation and Transportation of Wildlife; Updates 
to the Regulations [1018-BF16]

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 33 8(d)-(f); 16 U.S.C. 668; 16 U.S.C. 
704; 16 U.S.C. 712; 16 U.S.C. 1382; 16 U.S.C. 1538(d)-(f); 16 U.S.C. 
1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 3371 to 3378; 16 U.S.C. 4223 to 4244; 16 U.S.C. 4901 
to 4916; 18 U.S.C. 42; 31 U.S.C. 42; 31 U.S.C. 9701; . . .
    Abstract: This proposed rule would revise FWS's regulations 
governing the importation and exportation of wildlife. In this 
rulemaking, FWS would review all sections of 50 CFR part 14 and provide 
necessary revisions.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Edward Grace, Assistant Director, Office of Law 
Enforcement, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: LEO, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803, Phone: 703 358-1949, Fax: 703 358-1947, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1018-BF16

137. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2025-26 Migratory Game Bird Hunting 
Regulations [1018-BH65]

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a-j
    Abstract: This rulemaking action would establish annual hunting 
regulations for certain migratory game birds. FWS annually prescribes 
the frameworks, or outside limits, for season lengths, bag limits, and 
areas for migratory game bird hunting. After these frameworks are 
established, States and Tribes may select season dates, bag limits, and 
other regulatory options for their hunting seasons. Migratory bird 
management is a cooperative effort of Federal, State, and Tribal 
governments.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Division of 
Conservation, Permits, and Regulations, Department of the Interior, 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: MB, 
Falls Church, VA 22041, Phone: 703 358-2376, Fax: 703 358-2217, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1018-BH65

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Final Rule Stage

138. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2024-25 Migratory Game Bird Hunting 
Regulations [1018-BG63]

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a-j
    Abstract: This rulemaking action would establish annual hunting 
regulations for certain migratory game

[[Page 66834]]

birds. FWS annually prescribes the frameworks, or outside limits, for 
season lengths, bag limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting. 
After these frameworks are established, States and Tribes may select 
season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for their 
hunting seasons. Migratory bird management is a cooperative effort of 
Federal, State, and Tribal governments.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/08/24  89 FR 8631
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/11/24
Proposed Frameworks.................   05/13/24  89 FR 41522
Proposed Frameworks; Comment Period    06/12/24
 End.
Final Frameworks....................   08/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Division of 
Conservation, Permits, and Regulations, Department of the Interior, 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: MB, 
Falls Church, VA 22041, Phone: 703 358-2376, Fax: 703 358-2217, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1018-BG63

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

National Park Service (NPS)

Completed Actions

139. Commercial Visitor Services; Concession Contracts [1024-AE57]

    Legal Authority: 54 U.S.C. 101926
    Abstract: This final rule revises regulations that govern the 
solicitation, award, and administration of concessions contracts to 
provide commercial visitor services at National Park System units under 
the authority granted to the Secretary of the Interior by the 
Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 and the National Park 
Service Centennial Act. The revisions reduce administrative burdens and 
expand opportunities for sustainable, high quality, and contemporary 
concessioner-provided visitor services in park areas.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/20/20  85 FR 43775
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/18/20
Final Rule..........................   12/29/23  88 FR 90098
Final Rule Effective................   01/29/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kurt M. Rausch, Chief, Contract Management, 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20240, Phone: 202 513-7207, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1024-AE57

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Completed Actions

140. Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant 
Obligations [1010-AE14]

    Legal Authority: OCSLA-43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.
    Abstract: This final rule modifies the evaluation criteria for 
determining whether oil, gas and sulfur lessees, right-of-use and 
easement grant holders, and pipeline right-of-way grant holders may be 
required to provide bonds or other financial assurance, above the 
regulatorily prescribed amounts for base bonds, to ensure compliance 
with their Outer Continental Shelf obligations.
    BOEM held a Government-to-Government consultation with an Indian 
Tribal Nation during the development of the NPRM and the final rule. 
BOEM received a range of comments on the NPRM during the public comment 
period. This final rule addresses feedback received from public comment 
period and Tribal consultations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/29/23  88 FR 42136
NPRM Comment Period Extension.......   08/25/23  88 FR 58173
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/28/23
NPRM Comment Period Extension End...   09/07/23
Final Rule..........................   04/24/24  89 FR 31544
Final Rule Technical Correction.....   05/31/24  89 FR 47080
Final Rule Effective................   06/29/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kelley Spence, Program Analyst, Department of the 
Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 1849 C Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20240, Phone: 948 298-7345, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1010-AE14

[FR Doc. 2024-16458 Filed 8-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P