Workshops on Proposed RuleEstablishing Oil Value for Royalty Due on Federal Leases

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 206

RIN 1010-AC09

Workshops on Proposed Rule--Establishing Oil Value for Royalty

Due on Federal Leases

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of workshops.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has reopened the public

comment period under a proposed rule published in the Federal Register

on January 24, 1997 (62 FR 3742), amending the royalty valuation

regulations for crude oil produced from Federal leases. In the July 3,

1997, Federal Register (62 FR 36030), we published a supplementary

notice of proposed rulemaking. We received a variety of comments on the

proposed and supplementary proposed rules. In the September 22, 1997,

Federal Register (62 FR 49460) we published a summary of these

comments, outlined alternatives for proceeding with further rulemaking,

and requested public comment on those or other suggested alternatives.

In the September 26, 1997, Federal Register (62 FR 50544) we announced

three workshops to discuss alternatives for proceeding with the

rulemaking.

MMS will now hold three additional workshops to discuss

alternatives for proceeding with the rulemaking. The main purpose of

these workshops is to provide small producers an opportunity to learn

more about the proposed rule and to obtain their comments on the

alternatives described in the September 22, 1997, Federal Register

notice (62 FR 49460), or any new alternatives or modifications to the

proposed alternatives for MMS's consideration. We are not requesting

comments on the original proposed rule or the supplemental proposed

rule, nor on the summary of comments outlined in the September 22,

1997, Federal Register notice (62 FR 49460). Interested parties are

invited to attend and participate in these workshops.

DATES: Comments on the notice reopening the comment period must be

submitted to MMS by October 22, 1997.

The workshops will be held as follows:

Workshop 1: Bakersfield, CA, October 16, 1997, from 1 p.m. to 4:30

p.m., Pacific time.

Workshop 2: Casper, WY, October 16, 1997, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,

Mountain time.

Workshop 3: Roswell, NM, October 21, 1997, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00

p.m., Mountain time.

ADDRESSES: Workshop 1 will be held in the Bakersfield District Office,

Bureau of Land Management, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308-

6837, telephone (805) 391-6000.

Workshop 2 will be held in the Casper District Office, Bureau of

Land Management, 1701 East ``E'' Street, Casper, WY 82601, telephone

(307) 261-7600.

Workshop 3 will be held in the Roswell District Office, Bureau of

Land Management, 2909 West 2nd Street, Roswell, NM 88201, telephone

(505) 627-0272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Christnacht or Sheila Dean,

Royalty Valuation Division, Royalty Management Program, Minerals

Management Service, P.O. Box 25165, MS 3151, Denver, CO 80225-0165,

telephone numbers (303) 275-7252 and (303) 275-7201, respectively; or

David S. Guzy, Chief, Rules and Publications Staff, Royalty Management

Program, Minerals Management Service, P.O. Box 25165, MS 3021, Denver,

CO 80225-0165; telephone (303) 231-3432; fax number (303) 231-3385; e-

Mail

David__G[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These three workshops will be open to the

public in order to discuss the alternatives described in the September

22, 1997, Notice (62 FR 49460).

While MMS is hosting other workshops involving industry

organizations and States, the intent of the Bakersfield, Casper, and

Roswell workshops is to provide information to, and receive comments

from, small oil producers at locations near their operations to

minimize their travel. However, other interested parties are welcome.

We encourage a workshop atmosphere where members of the public

participate in a discussion of the alternatives. Space is limited.

However, attendees should reserve slots with Peter Christnacht or

Shelia Dean at the telephone numbers in the FOR FUTURE INFORMATION

CONTACT section of this notice no later than October 15, 1997. For

building security measures, each

[[Page 52519]]

person will be required to sign in and may be required to present a

picture identification to gain entry to the workshops.

Dated: October 2, 1997.

R. Dale Fazio,

Acting Associate Director for Royalty Management.

[FR Doc. 97-26570 Filed 10-7-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P