Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

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.

SUMMARY:

This notice provides the semiannual agenda of Department of the Interior (Department) rules scheduled for review or development between Spring 2022 and Spring 2023. 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) 208-5257.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

With this publication, the Department satisfies the requirement of Executive Order 12866 that the Department publish an agenda of rules that we have issued or expect to issue and of currently effective rules that we have scheduled for 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. We have specifically identified in the agenda rules that will have such effects. The complete Unified 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In some cases, the Department has withdrawn rules that were placed on previous agendas for which there has been no publication activity or for which a proposed or interim rule was published.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 certain rules listed as withdrawn under this agenda are appropriate for promulgation.

Bivan Patnaik,

Deputy Director, Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement—Proposed Rule Stage

Sequence No.

Title

Regulation

Identifier No.

133

Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions

1014-AA52

134

Revisions to Decommissioning Requirements on the OCS

1014-AA53

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management—Final Rule Stage

Sequence No.

Title

Regulation

Identifier No.

135

Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention—Decommissioning Activities and Obligations

1082-AA02

United States Fish and Wildlife Service—Proposed Rule Stage

Sequence No.

Title

Regulation

Identifier No.

136

Migratory Bird Hunting; 2022-23 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

1018-BF07

137

Migratory Bird Hunting; 2023-24 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

1018-BF64

138

Migratory Bird Hunting; 2024-25 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

1018-BG63

United States Fish and Wildlife Service—Long-Term Actions

Sequence No.

Title

Regulation

Identifier No.

139

Importation, Exportation and Transportation of Wildlife; Updates to the Regulations

1018-BF16

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management—Long-Term Actions

Sequence No.

Title

Regulation

Identifier No.

140

Air Quality Rule

1010-AE09

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Proposed Rule Stage

133. Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions [1014-AA52]

Legal Authority:

Not Yet Determined.

Abstract:

This rulemaking would revise the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations published in the 2019 final rule entitled “Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions,” 84 FR 21908 (May 15, 2019), for drilling, workover, completion and decommissioning operations. In accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13990 (Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis) and the E.O.'s accompanying “President's Fact Sheet: List of Agency Actions for Review,” BSEE reviewed the 2019 final rule and plans to propose updates to Subpart G of 30 CFR part 250 to ensure operations are conducted safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.

Timetable:

Action

Date

FR Cite

NPRM

06/00/22

NPRM Comment Period End

08/00/22

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: kirk.malstrom@bsee.gov.

RIN:

1014-AA52

134. 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

04/00/23

NPRM Comment Period End

06/00/23

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: kirk.malstrom@bsee.gov.

RIN:

1014-AA53

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM)

Final Rule Stage

135. Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention—Decommissioning Activities and Obligations [1082-AA02]

Legal Authority:

43 U.S.C. 1334(a)

Abstract:

On October 12, 2020, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) published the joint proposed rule in the

Federal Register

(85 FR 65904). BSEE will continue to pursue this rulemaking as a BSEE-only final rule to revise policies and procedures concerning compliance with decommissioning obligations for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas. The final rule will clarify and streamline specific regulatory requirements associated with the operational and procedural aspects of applicable decommissioning responsibilities of OCS lessees and grant holders. BOEM will continue to evaluate and develop a comprehensive set of regulations to manage the risks and financial obligations associated with industry activities on the OCS and pursue these actions in a separate rulemaking under RIN 1010-AE14.

Timetable:

Action

Date

FR Cite

NPRM

10/16/20

85 FR 65904

NPRM Comment Period End

12/15/20

Final Action

06/00/22

Final Action Effective

07/00/22

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Required:

Yes.

Agency Contact:

Bivan Patnaik, Deputy Director of Regulatory Affairs, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240,

Phone:

202 208-4582,

Email: bivan_patnaik@ios.doi.gov.

RIN:

1082-AA02

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Proposed Rule Stage

136. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2022-23 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations [1018-BF07]

Legal Authority:

16 U.S.C. 703 to 712; 16 U.S.C. 742a-j

Abstract:

This rulemaking action will establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2022-23 hunting season. The FWS annually prescribes outside limits (frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This rulemaking action is conducted under the direction of the Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee and the Flyway Councils. It describes proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2022-23 duck hunting seasons and requests proposals from Indian Tribes that wish to establish special migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands.

Timetable:

Action

Date

FR Cite

Notice of Meeting

03/25/21

86 FR 15957

Meeting

04/06/21

NPRM

08/31/21

86 FR 48649

NPRM Comment Period End

09/30/21

NPRM—Proposed Frameworks

02/02/22

87 FR 5946

NPRM Comment Period End—Proposed Frameworks

03/04/22

NPRM—Proposed Tribal Regulations

06/00/22

Final Action—Final Frameworks

06/00/22

Final Action—Final Tribal Regulations

08/00/22

Final Action—Season Selections

08/00/22

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Required:

Yes.

Agency Contact:

Jerome Ford, Assistant Director-Migratory Bird Program, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS-MB, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803,

Phone:

703 358-1050,

Email: jerome_ford@fws.gov.

RIN:

1018-BF07

137. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2023-24 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations [1018-BF64]

Legal Authority:

16 U.S.C. 703

et seq.;

16 U.S.C. 742a-j

Abstract:

This proposed rule would establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 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 may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for their hunting seasons.

Timetable:

Action

Date

FR Cite

NPRM

06/00/22

Proposed Frameworks

12/00/22

Proposed Tribal Regulations

01/00/23

Final Frameworks

02/00/23

Final Tribal Regulations

04/00/23

Seasons and Bag Limits

06/00/23

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required

: Yes.

Agency Contact:

Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Branch 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: eric_kershner@fws.gov.

RIN:

1018-BF64

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 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 may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for their hunting seasons.

Timetable:

Action

Date

FR Cite

NPRM

08/00/22

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required

: Yes.

Agency Contact:

Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Branch 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: eric_kershner@fws.gov.

RIN:

1018-BG63

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Long-Term Actions

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

Legal Authority:

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. 33 8(d)-(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 rewrite FWS's regulations governing the importation and exportation of wildlife to make these regulations easier to understand. In addition, FWS proposes to revise the inspection fees associated with the importation and exportation of wildlife and to update the list of species that qualify as domesticated species, for which FWS inspection and clearance is not required. The current inspection fees have been in effect since 2012. The establishment of these fees is consistent with the Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1952 and OMB Circular No. A-25, which provide that services provided by Federal agencies are to be self-sustaining to the extent possible and that fees assessed should be sufficient to recover the full cost to the Federal Government of providing the service and are based on market prices.

Timetable:

Action

Date

FR Cite

NPRM

To Be Determined

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: edward_grace@fws.gov.

RIN:

1018-BF16

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Long-Term Actions

140. Air Quality Rule [1010-AE09]

Legal Authority:

OCSLA sec. 5(a)(8)

Abstract:

This proposed rule would identify opportunities for clarifying air quality regulations.

Timetable:

Action

Date

FR Cite

NPRM

To Be Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required:

Yes.

Agency Contact:

Peter Meffert, Regulatory Specialist, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166,

Phone:

703 787-1610,

Email: peter.meffert@boem.gov.

RIN:

1010-AE09

[FR Doc. 2022-14605 Filed 8-5-22; 8:45 am]

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