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Agency
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Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing
This bidding rule establishes the leasing incentive framework we will use to issue Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases after November 2000. It also presents a plain-language revision of the existing rules for bidding systems and joint bidding restrictions. It does not change the current policies on and requirements for bidding systems, joint...
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Oil and Gas Leasing; Onshore Oil and Gas Operations
The document contains corrections to the amendatory instructions of the final regulations on protecting Federal and Indian oil and gas resources from drainage published in the Federal Register on January 10, 2001, (66 FR 1883) and delayed on February 8, 2001, (66 FR 9527).
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Small Refiner Administrative Fee
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is eliminating the cost recovery fees it charges small refiners to participate in the Small Refiner Royalty-in-Kind (RIK) Program. MMS believes these fees are no longer justified under the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-25.
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Solid Minerals Reporting Requirements
MMS is proposing to revise its solid minerals reporting regulations. The new reporting requirements would replace several existing information collections and decrease the reporting burden for solid mineral reporters. The new requirements would also improve MMS's ability to verify that revenues due the government have been paid correctly under...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Document Incorporated by Reference-American Petroleum Institute's Specification 2C for Offshore Cranes
MMS is proposing to incorporate by reference the Fifth Edition of the American Petroleum Institute's Specification for Offshore Cranes (API Spec 2C) into its regulations. MMS is proposing this action to establish a minimum design standard for new cranes installed on fixed platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and to require all existing...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Safety Measures and Procedures for Pipeline Modifications and Repairs
The proposed rule pertains to any pipeline modification or repair that involves cutting into a pipeline or opening a pipeline at a flange. It requires that all lessees, lease operators, and pipeline right-of-way holders submit in writing the measures they plan to take and the procedures they plan to follow to ensure the safety of offshore...
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Solid Minerals Reporting Requirements
MMS is updating its solid minerals reporting regulations to implement our reengineered royalty compliance strategy. The new reporting requirements will provide the necessary information to timely verify that mineral revenues due the government are correctly paid in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and lease terms. The new reporting...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Procedures for Dealing With Sustained Casing Pressure
This proposed rulemaking amends Subpart E (Oil and Gas Well- Completion Operations) of MMS operating regulations. It describes procedures for dealing with sustained casing pressure (SCP) in oil and gas wells on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Currently, lessees must request a departure from MMS regulations to operate a well that has SCP. When...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Document Incorporated by Reference-API 510
MMS is proposing to add a document to be incorporated by reference into our regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This revision will ensure that lessees use the best available and safest technologies while operating in the OCS. The new document, API 510, is titled ``Pressure Vessel...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Fixed and Floating Platforms and Documents Incorporated by Reference
We are proposing to amend our regulations to address floating offshore platforms that, until now, have not been expressly covered. These floating production systems (FPSs) are variously described as column-stabilized units (CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading facilities (referred to by industry as ``FPSOs''); tension- leg...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf; Suspension of Operations for Exploration Under Salt Sheets
MMS proposes to modify regulations that govern suspensions of operations for oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). There are instances where oil and gas lessees begin timely analysis of geophysical data early in the lease term, but the analysis proves inconclusive because of problems caused by the existence of salt sheets...
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Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates-Deep Water Royalty Relief for OCS Oil and Gas Leases Issued After 2000
This rule revises regulations on royalty relief for oil and gas producers on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). It provides for suspension or reduction of royalty on a case-by-case basis for certain additional categories of OCS leases under part 203 of this title. Also, it identifies circumstances when we may consider royalty relief apart from...
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Coal Management: Noncompetitive Leases; Coal Management Provisions and Limitations
The purposes of this proposed rule are to correct a technical error relating to coal lease modifications made in a final rule published on September 28, 1999 (64 FR 52239)(the 1999 rule), and to amend the regulations to reflect the statutory increase in the maximum acreage of Federal leases for coal that may be held by an individual or entity in...
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National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska-Unitization
This final rule adds a new subpart to the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) oil and gas regulations implementing new statutory authority allowing operators to form units in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). Units allow for the sharing of costs and spreading of revenues among several leases, and allow for production to be attributed...
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Technical Amendments
The MMS is updating its regulations to reflect changes in our organization name, system names, handbook titles, addresses, and regulatory cites as well as correcting miscellaneous clerical errors. We are also removing certain parts of the CFR relating to laws that have been repealed. These technical amendments will make MMS regulations more...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Plans and Information
This proposed rule would reorganize and update the requirements and processes for submitting various plans and information for MMS review and approval before a lessee or an operator may explore, develop, or produce oil and gas and sulphur in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Decommissioning Activities
This final rule amends MMS regulations governing oil and gas operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to update decommissioning requirements. The rule includes requirements for plugging a well, decommissioning a platform and pipeline, and clearing a lease site. We restructured the requirements to make the regulations easier to read and...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf-Suspension of Operations for Exploration Under Salt Sheets
MMS is modifying regulations that govern suspensions of operations for oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The amendment covers instances where oil and gas lessees begin timely interpretation of geophysical data early in the lease term, but the analysis proves inconclusive because of problems caused by the existence of salt...
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Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Document Incorporated by Reference-API RP 14C
MMS is updating one document incorporated by reference in regulations governing oil, gas, and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This final rule revises the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 14C (API RP 14C), Sixth Edition, March 1998, currently incorporated by reference into our regulations. We...
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Coal Management: Noncompetitive Leases; Coal Management Provisions and Limitations
This final rule corrects a technical error relating to coal lease modifications made in a 1999 final rule. It also amends the regulations to reflect the statutory increase in the maximum acreage of Federal leases for coal that an individual or entity may hold in any one state and nationally.