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AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is promulgating this final rule to amend regulations on locating, recording, and maintaining mining claims or sites. In this rule, BLM amends its regulations to respond to a recent law extending until September 30, 2003, the provisions that require claimants to pay location and annual maintenance fees for unpatented mining claims or sites, and allow qualified “small miners” to seek a waiver from the annual maintenance fee. BLM has collected these fees and provided for waivers under the existing regulations based on previous laws, the most recent of which expired on September 30, 2001. The final rule is necessary to describe and publicize the statutory extension of the fee requirement, and to remove conflicts between the current regulations and the new statute.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This administrative final rule is effective June 3, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail suggestions or inquiries to Bureau of Land Management, Solid Minerals Group, Room 501 LS, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Roger Haskins in the Solid Minerals Group at (202) 452-0355. For assistance in reaching Mr. Haskins, persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-(800) 877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

I. Background

II. Discussion of the Administrative Final Rule

III. Procedural Matters

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I. Background

Since 1992, Congress has required mining claimants to pay certain fees when locating, recording, and maintaining mining claims or sites on public lands. In order to collect the fees, BLM has promulgated regulations to implement the statutory fee requirements.

On October 5, 1992, Congress enacted the first fee requirements in the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1993 (the FY93 Act). Public Law 102-381, 106 Stat. 1374, 1378-1379. The FY93 Act required claimants to pay two $100 rental fee payments per mining claim or site by August 31, 1993, in order to hold the claim for the 1992 and 1993 assessment years. It allowed certain claimants to seek an exemption from the fee requirement if the claimant held ten or fewer claims or sites, had an approved notice or plan of operations for actual exploration work or mineral production, and had less than ten acres of unreclaimed surface disturbance. BLM implemented the FY93 Act by promulgating regulations at 43 CFR parts 3730, 3821, 3833, and 3850 (1993). 58 FR 38197 (July 15, 1993).

On August 10, 1993, Congress enacted the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (the FY94 Act). Public Law 103-66, 107 Stat. 405, 30 U.S.C. 28f-k. The FY94 Act required claimants to pay an annual $100 maintenance fee by August 31 of each year beginning in 1994 and ending in 1998. The FY94 Act also required claimants to pay a $25 fee when locating any new mining claims. The FY94 Act allowed claimants to seek a waiver from the maintenance fee if the claimant and all related parties held ten or fewer mining claims or sites. To implement the FY94 Act, BLM amended 43 CFR parts 3730, 3821, 3833, and 3850 (1994). 59 FR 44857 (August 30, 1994).

On October 21, 1998, Congress enacted the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (the FY99 Act). Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681-232, 2681-235, 30 U.S.C. 28f-28k. The FY99 Act moved the payment deadline from August 31 to September 1 and extended the fee requirements until 2001. The Act also provided a means by which a claimant who had filed for a waiver from the fee could either cure a defective fee waiver application or pay the fee after the deadline if the application could not be cured.

On November 5, 2001, Congress enacted the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (the FY02 Act). Public Law 107-63, 115 Stat. 414, 30 U.S.C. 28f-28k. This final rule implements the requirements of the FY02 Act. The FY02 Act extends the fee requirements through 2003.

II. Discussion of the Final Rule

Why the Rule Is Being Published as a Final Rule

BLM is adopting this final rule solely to amend its regulations to implement the mining law fee provisions of the FY02 Act. We are not making any other changes in this rule.

The Department of the Interior finds under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) that for good cause notice and public procedure for this rule are unnecessary and this rule may properly take effect upon publication. The FY02 Act merely extends previously-existing fee requirements until 2003. This rule will implement this statutory fee extension as Congress requires.

We also determine under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) that there is good cause to place the rule into effect on the date of publication because the matters addressed in the rule are explicitly required by statute.

Changes Made by the FY02 Act in BLM's Current Requirements

The FY02 Act does not change the requirements that mining claimants (1) pay $25 when locating a new mining claim or site; (2) pay a $100 maintenance fee per year for each mining claim or site; or (3) meet certain qualifications in order to obtain a waiver from the maintenance fee requirement. BLM collected these fees under its current regulations but was authorized to do so only until September 30, 2001. In the FY02 Act, Congress authorized BLM to continue to collect these fees until September 30, 2003. This rule implements this extension.

Organization of the Final Rule

This final rule amends the existing regulations. It contains only the specific amendments necessary to implement the FY02 Act. Most of the amendments appear as line-by-line edits. While this presentation may be somewhat difficult to follow, especially if you do not have the Code of Federal Regulations containing the existing regulations, we have chosen this method to make it clear that we are not making changes beyond those needed to implement the FY02 Act.

The only change we have made in these line-by-line edits is to change the expiration date of the regulations from 2001 to 2003.

III. Procedural Matters

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review

In accordance with the criteria in Executive Order 12866, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory action.

• The rule will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities. The extensions of the fee requirements do not change the substance of BLM's current mining claim administration. The annual revenue received from the collection of the congressionally-mandated oil shale, maintenance, and location fees has averaged $26 million since October 1998. This rule will not change the fee amounts and thus will not have a significant impact on fees collected.
• This rule will not create inconsistencies with other agencies' actions. It does not change BLM's relationship with other agencies and their actions.
• This rule will not materially affect entitlements, grants, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their recipients. The rule does not address any of these programs.
• This rule will not raise novel legal or policy issues because it makes no major substantive changes in the regulations. The constitutionality of the rental and maintenance fees has been challenged in the Federal courts. The Courts have consistently upheld the FY03 and FY04 Acts and their implementing regulations.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

We certify that this rule will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities as defined under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) The rule will not have an impact because the fees paid by small entities will not change. The rule merely extends the authority for collecting them. A final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required, and a Small Entity Compliance Guide is not required.

For the purposes of this section a “small entity” is an individual, limited partnership, or small company, at “arm's length” from the control of any parent companies, with fewer than 500 employees or less than $5 million in revenue. This definition accords with Start Printed Page 38205Small Business Administration regulations at 13 CFR 121.201.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:

• Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more. As explained in section 1 above, the revised regulations will not materially alter current BLM policy or the fee amounts paid by mining claimants.
• Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions. This rule does not change the cost to locate, record, or maintain a mining claim.
• Does not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.):

• This rule will not “significantly or uniquely” affect small governments. A Small Government Agency Plan is unnecessary.
• This rule will not produce a Federal mandate of $100 million or greater in any year. It is not a “significant regulatory action” under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. The changes implemented in this rule do not require anything of any non-Federal governmental entity.

Executive Order 12630, Takings

In accordance with Executive Order 12630, the rule does not have takings implications. A takings implication assessment is not required. This rule does not substantially change BLM policy. Nothing in this rule constitutes a taking. Federal courts have concluded that the rental and maintenance fee statutes and regulations do not cause a taking of any property interests.

Executive Order 12612, Federalism

In accordance with Executive Order 12612, BLM finds that the rule does not have significant federalism effects. A federalism assessment is not required. This rule does not change the role or responsibilities between Federal, State, and local governmental entities, nor does it relate to the structure and role of States or have direct, substantive, or significant effects on States.

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform

In accordance with Executive Order 12988, BLM finds that the rule does not unduly burden the judicial system and therefore meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Order.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The Office of Management and Budget has approved the information collection requirements in the regulations that this administrative final rule is extending, under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and has assigned clearance number 1004-0114.

National Environmental Policy Act

We have analyzed this rule in accordance with the criteria of the National Environmental Policy Act and 318 DM 2.2(g) and 6.3(D). Since the rule only extends BLM's authority to collect certain fees, this rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. See the Environmental Analysis and Finding of No Significant Impact dated April 17, 2002.

Because this rule does not substantially change BLM's overall management objectives or environmental compliance requirements, it would have no impact on, or only marginally affect, the following critical elements of the human environment as defined in Appendix 5 of the BLM National Environmental Policy Act Handbook (H-1790-1): air quality, areas of critical environmental concern, cultural resources, Native American religious concerns, threatened or endangered species, hazardous or solid waste, water quality, prime and unique farmlands, wetlands, riparian zones, wild and scenic rivers, environmental justice, and wilderness.

Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments

In accordance with Executive Order 13175, we have considered the impact of this rule on the interests of Tribal governments. Because this rule does not specifically involve Indian reservation lands, government-to-government relationships will remain unaffected.

Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

This rule is not a significant energy action. It will not have an adverse effect on energy supplies. To the extent that the rule affects the mining of energy minerals (i.e., uranium and other fissionable metals), the rule only extends BLM's statutory authority for collecting mining claim location and maintenance fees that BLM has been collecting for many years. It will not change financial obligations of the mining industry.

Authors

The principal author of this administrative final rule is Roger Haskins in the Solid Minerals Group, assisted by Ted Hudson in the Regulatory Affairs Group, Washington Office, BLM.

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List of Subjects

• Administrative practice and procedure; mines; public lands-mineral resources; reporting and recordkeeping requirements; surety bonds

• Mines; monuments and memorials; national forests; national parks; public lands-mineral resources; reporting and recordkeeping requirements; surety bonds; wilderness areas

• Maintenance fees; mines; public lands-mineral resources; reporting and recordkeeping requirements

• Mines; public lands-mineral resources

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For the reasons stated in the preamble, and under the authorities cited below, parts 3730, 3820, 3830, and 3850, Groups 3700 and 3800, Subchapter C, Chapter II of Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations are amended as follows:

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PART 3730—PUBLIC LAW 359; MINING IN POWERSITE WITHDRAWALS: GENERAL

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1. The authority citation for part 3730 continues to read as follows:

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Authority: 69 Stat. 681, 30 U.S.C. 621-625; 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 30 U.S.C. 28f-28k, as amended.

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2. Amend section 3730.0-9 by revising the last sentence of paragraph (a) to read as follows:

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PART 3820—AREAS SUBJECT TO SPECIAL MINING LAWS

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3. The authority citation for part 3820 continues to read as follows:

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Authority: 30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.; 43 U.S.C. 1201 and 1740.

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Subpart 3821—O and C Lands

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4. Revise section 3821.0-3 to read as follows:

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The authorities for the regulations in this subpart are the Act of April 8, 1948 (62 Stat. 162); Section 314 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (

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PART 3830—LOCATION OF MINING CLAIMS

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5. The authority citation for part 3830 is revised to read as follows:

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Authority: 30 U.S.C. 22, 28, and 28f-k; 43 U.S.C. 299 and 1201; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 16 U.S.C. 1901, 1907; 43 U.S.C. 1740 and 1744; 30 U.S.C. 242; 50 U.S.C. Appendix 565; 112 Stat. 2861-235; 115 Stat 414.

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6. Amend section 3833.0-3 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (a) and the first sentence of paragraph (e) to read as follows:

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7. Amend section 3833.0-5 as follows:

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a. Remove from the second sentence of paragraph (o) the phrases “December 30, 2002,” and “the Act of October 21, 1998,” and add in their place, respectively, the phrases “December 30, 2004,” and “the Act of November 5, 2001,”.

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b. Remove from the first sentence of paragraph (v) the phrase “Act of October 21, 1998 (112 Stat. 2681-235)” and add in its place the phrase “Act of November 5, 2001 (115 Stat. 414)'';

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c. Remove from the second sentence of paragraph (v) the phrase “September 29, 2001” and add in its place the phrase “September 29, 2003”;

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d. Remove from the first sentence of paragraph (w) the phrases “Act of October 21, 1998,” and “September 30, 2001,” and add in their place, respectively, the phrases “Act of November 5, 2001,” and “September 30, 2003,''; and

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e. Remove from the first sentence of paragraph (y) the phrase “the Act of October 21, 1998,” and add in its place the phrase “the Act of November 5, 2001.”

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8. Amend section 3833.0-9 by removing from the last sentence of paragraph (a) the phrase “the Act of October 21, 1998 (112 Stat. 2681-235)” and adding in its place the phrase “the Act of November 5, 2001 (115 Stat. 414).”

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9. Amend section 3833.1-4 by removing from paragraph (b) the phrase “September 30, 2001” and adding in its place the phrase “September 30, 2003.”

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10. Amend section 3833.1-5 as follows:

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a. Remove from the last sentence of the introductory text the date “September 1, 2002” and add in its place the date “September 1, 2004,''.

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b. Remove from the second sentence of paragraph (b) the date “2001” and add in its place the date “2003”.

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11. Amend section 3833.1-6 by revising the heading to read as follows:

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12. Amend section 3833.1-7 by removing from paragraph (d) the date “2002” and adding in its place the date “2004”.

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13. Amend section 3833.2-3 as follows:

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a. Remove from the section heading the phrase “the Act of October 21, 1998” and add in its place the phrase “the Act of November 5, 2001'';

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b. Remove from paragraph (d) the phrases “September 1, 2002,” and “December 30, 2003,” and add in their place, respectively, the phrases “September 1, 2004,” and “December 30, 2005''; and

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c. Remove from paragraph (e) the phrases “September 1, 2001”, “September 29, 2001”, and “September 1, 2002”, and add in their place, respectively, the phrases “September 1, 2003”, “September 29, 2003”, and “September 1, 2004”.

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PART 3850—ASSESSMENT WORK

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14. The authority citation for part 3850 continues to read as follows:

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Authority: 30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.; 30 U.S.C. 28-28k; 50 U.S.C. Appendix 565; 107 Stat. 405.

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Subpart 3851—Assessment Work: General

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15. Amend section 3851.3 by removing from the first sentence of paragraph (c) the first instance of the word “the”.

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