• Proposed Rules Extension of Comment Period Closed
  • None

• Proposed Rules Closed for Comment
• 43 CFR Parts 3200 and 3280--Geothermal Resources Leasing and Geothermal Resources Unit Agreements, 7/21/06, RIN:  1004-AD86
• 43 CFR Part 3800--Mining Claims Under the General Mining Laws; Surface Management; reopening of comment period, 4/12/02, RIN 1004-AD44
• 43 CFR Part 3800--Mining Claims Under the General Mining Laws; Surface Management, 10/30/01, RIN 1004-AD44
• 43 CFR Parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3140, 3150, 3160, 3170, and 3180--Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Operations, 12/3/98, RIN 1004-AC94
• 43 CFR Part 2610--Carey Act, 9/10/96, RIN 1004-AC80

• Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Closed for Comment
• 43 CFR Part 3900--Commercial Oil Shale Leasing Program--Notice of reopening of public comment period, 9/26/06, RIN: 1004-AD90
• 43 CFR Parts 2800 and 2880--Update of Linear Right-of-Way Rental Schedule, 4/27/06, RIN:  1004-AD87

• Notice of Intent Closed for Comment
• None

• Notice of Interim Final Supplementary Rules Closed for Comment
• Notice of Interim Final Supplementary Rules on BLM Administered Public Lands Within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, Imperial County California, 11/19/01--[CA-067-1220-NO]

Proposed Rules Open for Comment

• None

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) Open for Comment

• 43 CFR Part 3800--Surface Management  (Federal Register, February 23, 2007, 72 FR 8139-8142).  This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) relates to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) surface management regulations for mining operations authorized by the Mining Law.  In a previous Federal district court proceeding, environmental groups challenged the BLM's regulations on surface management under the Mining Law in 43 CFR subpart 3809, issued by the Department in 2001, in part, because the regulations did not require fair market value payment for use of Federal lands for mining operations when the lands are "invalidly claimed" or "unclaimed under the Mining Law.  For the most part the Court upheld the 3809 regulations, but remanded them in part to the Department "for evaluation, in light of Congress's expressed policy goal for the United States to 'receive fair market value of the use of the public lands and their resources."'  This ANPR is intended to assist the BLM in the evaluation ordered by the Court.

Comments on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rule must be submitted by April 24, 2007.

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) Extension Closed for Comment

• 43 CFR Part 3900--Commercial Oil Shale Leasing Program--Notice of reopening of public comment period  (Federal Register, September 26, 2006, 71 FR 56085).  This BLM notice extended the public comment period for the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2006 (71 FR 50378).  The extended comment period for the ANPR closed on October 25, 2006.  The extended comment period provided the public with additional time to prepare and submit comments.  The ANPR requested comments and suggestions to assist in the writing of a proposed rule to establish a commercial leasing program for oil shale.  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Secretary of the Interior to--
  1. Complete a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for a commercial leasing program for oil shale and tar sands resources on public lands, with emphasis on the most geologically prospective lands with Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; and
  2. Publish a final rule establishing such program, not later than 180 days after completion of the PEIS.  On May 18, 2006, BLM published a final rule for the leasing of tar sands.

  As an aid in preparing the proposed rule to establish an oil shale commercial leasing system and regulate oil shale mining operations, we encourage members of the public to provide comments and suggestions on the following key components:

  • royalty rate;
  • fair market value for conversion of preference right acreage and for commercial leasing;
  • diligence;
  • royalty determination point; and
  • small tract leasing.

  See Section III of the ANPR for a list of specific questions relating to these topics.

• 43 CFR Parts 2800 and 2880--Update of Linear Right-of-Way Rental Schedule  (Federal Register, April 27, 2006, 71 FR 24836-24838).  The comment period for the ANPR closed on May 30, 2006.

  The BLM requested comments and suggestions to assist in the writing of a proposed rule to update the linear right-of-way rental schedule in 43 CFR Parts 2800 and 2880.  The rental schedule covers most linear rights-of-way granted under Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1920, as amended.  Both laws require the holder of a right-of-way to pay annually, in advance, the fair market value to occupy, use or traverse public lands for facilities such as power lines, fiber optic lines, pipelines, roads, and ditches.

  Section 367 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Secretary of the Interior to update the per-acre rental fee schedule found in 43 CFR 2806.20.

Notice of Intent Closed for Comment

• None

Proposed Rules--Extension of Comment Period Closed

• None

Notice of Interim Final Supplementary Rules Closed for Comment

• Notice of Interim Final Supplementary Rules on BLM Administered Public Lands Within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, Imperial County California--[CA-067-1220-NO] (Federal Register, November 19, 2001, 66 FR 57982-57985).  The comment period closed on December 19, 2001.

The interim final supplementary rules published in this notice include prohibitions of specific activities and types of activities--

• Public nudity on Public Lands within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
• Unauthorized organized activities, including musical events and band concerts, shows, organized parties.
• Riding in open truckbeds where there are no proper means of securing passengers.