Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 85 / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 25877 

Executive Order 12866 and is not 

expected to have a significant adverse 

effect on the supply, distribution, or use 

of energy, a Statement of Energy Effects 

is not required. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

This rule does not require an 

environmental impact statement 

because Section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 

U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that agency 

decisions on proposed State regulatory 

program provisions do not constitute 

major Federal actions within the 

meaning of Section 102(2)(C) of the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

This rule does not contain 

information collection requirements that 

require approval by OMB under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

3507 et seq.). 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The Department of the Interior 

certifies that this rule will not have a 

significant economic effect on a 

substantial number of small entities 

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.). This determination 

is based on the fact that the rule is 

administrative in nature. It revises the 

CFR, but the revision does not have a 

substantive effect on the State’s 

regulatory program. 

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. 

The rule is administrative in nature and 

it: (a) Does not have an annual effect on 

the economy of $100 million; (b) Will 

not cause a major increase in costs or 

prices for consumers, individual 

industries, geographic regions, or 

Federal, State, or local government 

agencies; and (c) 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. This 

determination is based upon the fact 

that the State submittal, which is the 

subject of this rule, is based upon 

Federal regulations for which an 

analysis was prepared and a 

determination made that the Federal 

regulation was not considered a major 

rule. 

Unfunded Mandates 

This rule will not impose an 

unfunded mandate on State, local, or 

tribal governments or the private sector 

of $100 million or more in any given 

year. This determination is based upon 

the fact that the State submittal, which 

is the subject of this rule, is based upon 

Federal regulations for which an 

analysis was prepared and a 

determination made that the Federal 

regulation did not impose an unfunded 

mandate. 

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 938 

Intergovernmental relations, Surface 

mining, Underground mining. 

Dated: July 25, 2011. 

Thomas D. Shope, 

Regional Director, Appalachian Region. 

Editorial Note: This document was 

received at the Office of the Federal Register 

on Friday, April 27, 2012. 

For the reasons set out in the 

preamble, 30 CFR part 938 is amended 

as set forth below: 

PART 938—PENNSYLVANIA 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 938 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq. 

§ 938.16 [Amended] 

■ 2. Section 938.16 is amended by 

removing and reserving paragraph (bbb). 

[FR Doc. 2012–10563 Filed 5–1–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Office of Natural Resources Revenue 

30 CFR Parts 1210 and 1218 

[Docket No. ONRR–2011–0023] 

RIN 1012–AA10 

Amendments to ONRR’s Web Site and 

Mailing Addresses and Payment 

Definitions 

AGENCY: Office of Natural Resources 

Revenue, Interior. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: On May 19, 2010, the 

Secretary of the Interior separated and 

reassigned responsibilities previously 

performed by the former Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) to three 

separate organizations. As part of this 

reorganization, on October 1, 2010, the 

Secretary established the Office of 

Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) 

within the Office of the Assistant 

Secretary—Policy, Management and 

Budget (PMB). At the same time, ONRR 

reorganized its regulations from chapter 

II of title 30 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR) to chapter XII. This 

final rule amends Web site and mailing 

addresses and payment definitions 

listed in 30 CFR chapter XII. 

DATES: This rule is effective on May 2, 

2012. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

questions on technical issues, contact 

Barbara Fletcher, Minerals Revenue 

Specialist, ONRR, telephone (303) 231– 

3605; or email 

barbara.fletcher@onrr.gov. For questions 

on procedural issues, contact Armand 

Southall, Regulatory Specialist, ONRR, 

telephone (303) 231–3221; or email 

armand.southall@onrr.gov. You may 

obtain a paper copy of this rule by 

contacting Mr. Southall by phone or 

email. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

On May 19, 2010, by Secretarial Order 

No. 3299, the Secretary of the 

Department of the Interior (Secretary) 

announced the restructuring of MMS. 

On June 18, 2010, by Secretarial Order 

No. 3302, the Secretary announced the 

name change of MMS to the Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, 

and Enforcement (BOEMRE). By these 

orders, the Secretary separated and 

reassigned the responsibilities that the 

former MMS previously performed to 

three separate organizations: The Office 

of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR); 

the Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management (BOEM); and the Bureau of 

Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

(BSEE). The ONRR is responsible for 

royalty management functions. 

II. Explanation of Amendments 

In this final rule, ONRR merely 

amends its Web site and mailing 

addresses and payment definitions 

listed in parts of title 30 CFR, chapter 

XII. This final rule does not make any 

substantive changes to the regulations or 

requirements in chapter XII. This rule 

will not have any effect on the rights, 

obligations, or interests of any affected 

parties. Thus, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), 

ONRR, for good cause, finds that notice 

and comment on this rule is 

impracticable, unnecessary and contrary 

to the public interest. Additionally, 

because this document is a ‘‘rule[] of 

agency organization, procedure or 

practice’’ under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), this 

document is, in any event, exempt from 

the notice and comment requirements of 

5 U.S.C. 553(b). Lastly, because this 

non-substantive rule makes no changes 

to the legal obligations or rights of any 

affected parties, and, because it is in the 

public interest for this rule to be 

effective just as soon as possible, ONRR 

finds that good cause exists under 5 


emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with RULES
25878 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 85 / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this rule 

effective immediately upon publication 

in the Federal Register rather than 

30 days after publication. 

As noted, this final rule amends the 

following 30 CFR parts and the related 

existing subparts: 

• Part 1210—Forms and Reports. 

• Part 1218—Collection of Royalties, 

Rentals, Bonuses, and Other Monies 

Due the Federal Government. 

These amendments to the regulations 

are explained further in the following 

sections: 

A. Part 1210—Forms and Reports 

We are revising part 1210, subparts A, 

B, C, D, E, and H. 

ONRR’s Web site and mailing 

address. The ONRR is amending its Web 

site and mailing addresses due to its 

reorganization. We also are updating 

these addresses to continually 

accomplish our mission and place the 

last burden on industry when manually 

submitting production and royalty 

forms, additional information, etc. 

B. Part 1218—Collection of Royalties, 

Rentals, Bonuses, and Other Monies 

Due the Federal Government 

We are revising part 1218, subparts B 

and H. 

ONRR’s Web site and mailing 

addresses. We are amending these 

addresses due to our reorganization and 

in order to accomplish our mission and 

to place the least burden on industry 

when manually submitting production 

and royalty forms, additional 

information, etc. 

ONRR’s payment definitions. We also 

are amending these payment definitions 

and adding the definition of Pay.gov to 

accomplish our mission and to place the 

least burden on industry when paying 

royalties, rentals, bonuses, and other 

monies due the Federal Government. 

III. Procedural Matters 

1. Regulatory Planning and Review 

(Executive Orders 12866 and 13563) 

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides 

that the Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will review 

all significant rules. The Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs has 

determined that this rule is not 

significant. 

Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the 

principles of E.O. 12866 while calling 

for improvements in the nation’s 

regulatory system to promote 

predictability, to reduce uncertainty, 

and to use the best, most innovative, 

and least burdensome tools for 

achieving regulatory ends. The 

executive order directs agencies to 

consider regulatory approaches that 

reduce burdens and maintain flexibility 

and freedom of choice for the public 

where these approaches are relevant, 

feasible, and consistent with regulatory 

objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes 

further that regulations must be based 

on the best available science and that 

the rulemaking process must allow for 

public participation and an open 

exchange of ideas. We have developed 

this rule in a manner consistent with 

these requirements. 

2. Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The Department of the Interior 

certifies that this final rule will not have 

a significant economic effect on a 

substantial number of small entities 

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.). This final rule will 

impact large and small entities but will 

not have a significant economic effect 

on either because this is a technical rule 

to amend ONRR’s Web site and mailing 

addresses and payment definitions 

listed in title 30 CFR, chapter XII. 

3. Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act 

This final rule is not a major rule 

under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small 

Business Regulatory Enforcement 

Fairness Act. This final rule: 

a. Does not have an annual effect on 

the economy of $100 million or more. 

b. Will not cause a major increase in 

costs or prices for consumers, 

individual industries, Federal, State, or 

local government agencies, or 

geographic regions. 

c. 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. 

4. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

This final rule does not impose an 

unfunded mandate on State, local, or 

tribal governments, or the private sector 

of more than $100 million per year. This 

final rule does not have a significant or 

unique effect on State, local, or tribal 

governments, or the private sector. A 

statement containing the information 

required by the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not 

required. 

5. Takings (Executive Order 12630) 

Under the criteria in Executive Order 

12630, this final rule does not have any 

significant takings implications. This 

final rule applies to Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS) and Federal and Indian 

onshore leases. It does not apply to 

private property. A takings implication 

assessment is not required. 

6. Federalism (Executive Order 13132) 

Under the criteria in Executive Order 

13132, this final rule does not have 

sufficient federalism implications that 

warrant the preparation of a Federalism 

Assessment. This is a technical rule to 

amend ONRR’s Web site and mailing 

addresses and payment definitions 

listed in title 30 CFR, chapter XII. A 

Federalism Assessment is not required. 

7. Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 

12988) 

This final rule complies with the 

requirements of Executive Order 12988. 

Specifically, this rule: 

a. Meets the criteria of section 3(a) 

requiring that all regulations be 

reviewed to eliminate errors and 

ambiguity and be written to minimize 

litigation; and 

b. Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) 

requiring that all regulations be written 

in clear language and contain clear legal 

standards. 

8. Consultation With Indian Tribes 

(Executive Order 13175) 

Under the criteria in Executive Order 

13175, we have evaluated this final rule 

and determined that it has no effects on 

federally recognized Indian Tribes. 

9. Paperwork Reduction Act 

This final rule does not contain 

information collection requirements, 

and a submission to OMB is not 

required under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 

et seq.). 

10. National Environmental Policy Act 

This rule does not constitute a major 

Federal action significantly affecting the 

quality of the human environment. A 

detailed statement under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA) is not required because this rule 

is categorically excluded under: ‘‘(i) 

Policies, directives, regulations, and 

guidelines: That are of an 

administrative, financial, legal, 

technical, or procedural nature.’’ See 43 

CFR 46.210(i) and the DOI Departmental 

Manual, part 516, section 15.4.D. We 

have also determined that this rule is 

not involved in any of the extraordinary 

circumstances listed in 43 CFR 46.215 

that would require further analysis 

under NEPA. The procedural changes 

resulting from these amendments have 

no consequences with respect to the 

physical environment. This rule will not 

alter in any material way natural 

resource exploration, production, or 

transportation. 


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11. Data Quality Act 

In developing this final rule, we did 

not conduct or use a study, experiment, 

or survey requiring peer review under 

the Data Quality Act (Pub. L. 106–554), 

also known as the Information Quality 

Act. The Department of the Interior 

(DOI) has issued guidance regarding the 

quality of information that it relies on 

for regulatory decisions. This guidance 

is available on DOI’s Web site at http: 

//www.doi.gov/ocio/iq.html. 

12. Effects on the Energy Supply 

(Executive Order 13211) 

This final rule is not a significant 

energy action under the definition in 

Executive Order 13211. A Statement of 

Energy Effects is not required. 

13. Clarity of This Regulation 

We are required by Executive Orders 

12866 and 12988 and by the 

Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 

1998, to write all rules in plain 

language. This means that each rule we 

publish must: (a) Be logically organized; 

(b) Use the active voice to address 

readers directly; (c) Use clear language 

rather than jargon; (d) Be divided into 

short sections and sentences; and (e) 

Use lists and tables wherever possible. 

If you feel that we have not met these 

requirements, send your remarks to 

Armand.Southall@onrr.gov. To better 

help us revise the rule, your remarks 

should be as specific as possible. For 

example, you should tell us the 

numbers of the sections or paragraphs 

that are unclearly written, which 

sections or sentences are too long, the 

sections where you feel lists or tables 

would be useful, etc. 

List of Subjects 

30 CFR Part 1210 

Continental shelf, Geothermal energy, 

Government contracts, Indians—lands, 

Mineral royalties, Oil and gas 

exploration, Public lands—mineral 

resources, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements, Sulfur. 

30 CFR Part 1218 

Continental shelf, Electronic funds 

transfers, Geothermal energy, Indians— 

lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas 

exploration, Public lands—mineral 

resources, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

Dated: April 19, 2012. 

Amy Holley, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy, 

Management and Budget. 

Authority and Issuance 

For the reasons discussed in the 

preamble, under the authority provided 

by the Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 

1950 (64 Stat. 1262) and Secretarial 

Order Nos. 3299 and 3302, ONRR 

amends parts 1210 and 1218 of title 30 

CFR, Chapter XII, subchapter A, as 

follows: 

PART 1210—FORMS AND REPORTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for 30 CFR 

part 1210 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 et seq.; 25 U.S.C. 

396, 2107; 30 U.S.C. 189, 190, 359, 1023, 

1751(a); 31 U.S.C. 3716, 9701; 43 U.S.C. 

1334, 1801 et seq.; and 44 U.S.C. 3506(a). 

§§ 1210.55, 1210.105, 1210.151, 1210.152, 

1210.153, 1210.154, 1210.155, 1210.156, 

1210.157, 1210.158, 1210.201, 1210.205 

[Amended] 

■ 2. In the following table, amend part 

1210 in the sections indicated in the left 

column by removing the text in the 

center column and adding in its place 

the text in the right column. 

Amend By removing the reference to: And adding in its place: 

§ 1210.55(b)(1) ................................................... P.O. Box 5810, Denver, Colorado 80217– 

5810.

P.O. Box 25627, Denver, CO 80225–0627. 

§ 1210.105(b)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 17110, Denver, Colorado 80217– 

0110.

P.O. Box 25627, Denver, CO 80225–0627. 

§ 1210.151(c)(2) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 392B2, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.152(c)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 396B2, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.153(c)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 396B2, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.154(c)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 392B2, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.155(b)(2)(i) .............................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 392B2, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.156(c)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 382B2, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.157(c)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 64220, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.158(c)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 357B1, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

§ 1210.201(c)(3)(i) .............................................. P.O. Box 5810, Denver, Colorado 80217– 

5810.

P.O. Box 25627, Denver, CO 80225–0627. 

§ 1210.205(c)(1) ................................................. P.O. Box 25165, MS 390B2, Denver, Colorado 80217–0165.P.O. Box 25165, Denver, CO 80225–0165. 

■ 3. Amend § 1210.54 by revising 

paragraph (b) to read as follows: 

§ 1210.54 Must I submit this royalty report 

electronically? 

* * * * * 

(b) As of December 31, 2011, all 

reporters/payors must report to ONRR 

electronically via the eCommerce 

Reporting Web site. All reporters/payors 

also must report royalty data directly or 

upload files using the ONRR electronic 

web form located at https://

onrrreporting.onrr.gov. You must 

upload your files in one of the following 

formats: The American Standard Code 

for information interchange (ASCII) or 

Comma Separated Values (CSV) formats. 

You must create your external files in 

the proprietary ASCII and CSV file 

layout formats defined by ONRR. You 

can generate these external files from 

your system application. Reporters/ 

payors also can access detailed 

information and instructions regarding 

how to use the eCommerce Reporting 


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Web site at http://www.onrr.gov/FM/

PDFDocs/eCommerce_FAQ.pdf. 

* * * * * 

■ 4. Amend § 1210.56 by revising 

paragraphs (a) and (c) to read as follows: 

§ 1210.56 Where can I find more 

information on how to complete the royalty 

report? 

(a) Refer to the ONRR Minerals 

Revenue Reporter Handbook for specific 

guidance on how to prepare and submit 

Form MMS–2014. You may find the 

handbook at http://www.onrr.gov/FM/

Handbooks/default.htm or from the 

contacts on that Web page. 

* * * * * 

(c) You may find Form MMS–2014 at 

http://www.onrr.gov/FM/Forms/AFSOil

_Gas.htm or from contacts listed on that 

Web page. 

■ 5. Amend § 1210.104 by revising 

paragraph (b) to read as follows: 

§ 1210.104 Must I submit these production 

reports electronically? 

* * * * * 

(b) As of December 31, 2011, all 

reporters/payors must report to ONRR 

electronically via the eCommerce 

Reporting Web site. All reporters/payors 

also must report production data 

directly or upload files using the ONRR 

electronic web form located at https://

onrrreporting.onrr.gov. You must 

upload your files in one of the following 

formats: The American Standard Code 

for information interchange (ASCII) or 

Comma Separated Values (CSV) formats. 

You must create your external files in 

the proprietary ASCII and CSV file 

layout formats defined by ONRR. You 

can generate these external files from 

your system application. Reporters/ 

payors also can access detailed 

information and instructions regarding 

how to use the eCommerce Reporting 

Web site at http://www.onrr.gov/FM/

PDFDocs/eCommerce_FAQ.pdf. 

* * * * * 

■ 6. Amend § 1210.106 by revising 

paragraphs (a) and (c) to read as follows: 

§ 1210.106 Where can I find more 

information on how to complete these 

production reports? 

(a) Refer to the ONRR Minerals 

Production Reporter Handbook for 

specific guidance on how to prepare and 

submit Forms MMS–4054 and MMS– 

4058. You may find the handbook at 

http://www.onrr.gov/FM/Handbooks/

default.htm or from contacts listed on 

that Web page. 

* * * * * 

(c) You may find Forms MMS–4054 

and MMS–4058 at http://www.onrr.gov/ 

FM/Forms/AFSOil_Gas.htm or from 

contacts listed on that Web page. 

■ 7. Amend § 1210.151 as follows: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (b) to read as set 

forth below. 

■ b. Remove ‘‘MS 392B2,’’ from 

paragraph (c)(3). 

§ 1210.151 What reports must I submit to 

claim an excess allowance? 

* * * * * 

(b) Reporting options. You may find 

Form MMS–4393 at http://

www.onrr.gov/FM/Forms/AFSOil_

Gas.htm or from contacts listed on that 

Web page. 

* * * * * 

■ 8. Amend § 1210.152 as follows: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (b) to read as set 

forth below. 

■ b. Remove ‘‘MS 396B2,’’ from 

paragraph (c)(2). 

§ 1210.152 What reports must I submit to 

claim allowances on an Indian lease? 

* * * * * 

(b) Reporting options. You must 

submit Forms MMS–4110, MMS–4109, 

and MMS–4295 manually. You may 

find the forms at http://www.onrr.gov/ 

FM/Forms/AFSOil_Gas.htm or from 

contacts listed on that Web page. 

* * * * * 

■ 9. Amend § 1210.153 as follows: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (b) to read as set 

forth below. 

■ b. Remove ‘‘MS 396B2,’’ from 

paragraph (c)(2). 

§ 1210.153 What reports must I submit for 

Indian gas valuation purposes? 

* * * * * 

(b) Reporting options. You must 

submit Forms MMS–4410 and MMS– 

4411 manually. You may find the forms 

at http://www.onrr.gov/FM/Forms/ 

AFSOil_Gas.htm or from contacts listed 

on that Web page. 

* * * * * 

■ 10. Amend § 1210.154(c)(2) by 

removing ‘‘MS 392B2,’’. 

■ 11. Amend § 1210.155 as follows: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (b) to read as set 

forth below. 

■ b. Remove ‘‘MS 392B2,’’ from 

paragraph (b)(2)(ii). 

§ 1210.155 What reports must I submit for 

Federal onshore stripper oil properties? 

* * * * * 

(b) Reporting options. You may find 

Form MMS–4377 at http:// 

www.onrr.gov/FM/Forms/ 

AFSOil_Gas.htm. You may file the form: 

* * * * * 

■ 12. Amend § 1210.156(c)(2) by 

removing ‘‘MS 382B2,’’. 

■ 13. Amend § 1210.158 as follows: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (b) to read set 

forth below. 

■ b. Remove ‘‘MS 357B1,’’ from 

paragraph (c)(2). 

§ 1210.158 What reports must I submit to 

designate someone to make my royalty 

payments? 

* * * * * 

(b) Reporting options. You must 

submit Form ONRR–4425 manually. 

You may find the form at http:// 

www.onrr.gov/FM/Forms/ 

AFSOil_Gas.htm. 

* * * * * 

■ 14. Amend § 1210.205 as follows: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (b) to read as set 

forth below. 

■ b. Remove ‘‘MS 390B2,’’ from 

paragraph (c)(2). 

§ 1210.205 What reports must I submit to 

claim allowances on Indian coal leases? 

* * * * * 

(b) Reporting options. You must 

submit the forms manually. You may 

find the forms at http://www.onrr.gov/ 

FM/Forms/AFSSol_Min.htm. 

* * * * * 

■ 15. Revise § 1210.354 to read as 

follows: 

§ 1210.354 Reporting instructions. 

Refer to ONRR’s Minerals Revenue 

Reporter Handbook—Oil, Gas, and 

Geothermal Resources for specific 

guidance on how to prepare and submit 

required information collection reports 

and forms to ONRR. You may find the 

handbook at http://www.onrr.gov/FM/ 

Handbooks/default.htm or from 

contacts listed on that Web page. 

PART 1218—COLLECTION OF 

ROYALTIES, RENTALS, BONUSES, 

AND OTHER MONIES DUE THE 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 

■ 16. The authority citation for 30 CFR 

part 1218 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 25 U.S.C. 396 et seq., 396a et 

seq., 2101 et seq.; 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq., 351 

et seq., 1001 et seq., 1701 et seq.; 31 U.S.C. 

3335; 43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq., 1331 et seq., and 

1801 et seq. 

■ 17. Revise § 1218.50(d)(5) to read as 

follows: 

§ 1218.50 Timing of payment. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(5) You should submit your 

certifications under paragraph (d)(2) of 

this section to Financial Management, 

Office of Natural Resources Revenue, 

P.O. Box 25627, Denver, CO 80225– 

0627. 

* * * * * 

■ 18. Amend § 1218.51 as follows: 

■ a. Revise the definitions of ACH, EFT, 

and Fedwire, add a definition of Pay.gov 


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in alphabetical order, and remove the 

definition RIK, in paragraph (a) as set 

forth below. 

■ b. Revise paragraph (d)(2) to read as 

set forth below. 

■ c. Remove paragraph (d)(3). 

■ d. Add ‘‘6th Avenue and Kipling 

Street,’’ after ‘‘Denver Federal Center,’’ 

and remove ‘‘–0165’’ after ‘‘80225’’ in 

paragraph (e). 

§ 1218.51 How to make payments. 

(a) Definitions. 

ACH—Automated Clearing House. A 

type of EFT using the ACH bank-to-bank 

network. 

* * * * * 

EFT—Electronic Funds Transfer. Any 

paperless transfer of funds initiated 

through an electronic terminal. For 

ONRR purposes, EFT includes Fedwire 

and ACH transfers, such as Pay.gov. 

Fedwire—A type of EFT using the 

Federal Reserve Wire network. 

* * * * * 

Pay.gov—A type of EFT using the 

ACH network that is initiated by a payor 

on the Pay.gov Web site. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(2) For a Federal nonproducing lease 

rental or deferred bonus payment, send 

it to: Office of Natural Resources 

Revenue, P.O. Box 25627, Denver, CO 

80225–0627. 

* * * * * 

■ 19. Revise § 1218.560 to read as 

follows: 

§ 1218.560 How do I submit Form MMS– 

4444? 

You may obtain a copy of Form 

MMS–4444 and instructions from 

ONRR. This form is posted at http:// 

www.onrr.gov/FM/Forms/default.htm. 

Submit the completed, signed form to 

the address designated on Form MMS– 

4444 instructions. 

[FR Doc. 2012–10360 Filed 5–1–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–T2–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Office of Natural Resources Revenue 

30 CFR Part 1218 

[Docket No. ONRR–2011–0010] 

RIN 1012–AA03 

Debt Collection and Administrative 

Offset for Monies Due the Federal 

Government 

AGENCY: Office of Natural Resources 

Revenue. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Office of Natural 

Resources Revenue (ONRR) is 

promulgating regulations to establish 

procedures governing collection of 

delinquent royalties, rentals, bonuses, 

and other amounts due under leases and 

other agreements for the production of 

oil, natural gas, coal, geothermal energy, 

other minerals, and renewable energy 

from Federal lands onshore, Indian 

tribal and allotted lands, and the Outer 

Continental Shelf. The regulations 

include provisions for administrative 

offset and clarify and implement the 

provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 

1982 (DCA) and the Debt Collection 

Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA). 

DATES: Effective Date: June 1, 2012. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

comments or questions on procedural 

issues, contact Hyla Hurst, Regulatory 

Specialist, ONRR, telephone (303) 231– 

3495. For questions on technical issues, 

contact Sarah L. Inderbitzin, Office of 

Enforcement, ONRR, telephone (303) 

231–3748. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The ONRR is responsible for 

collecting, accounting for, and 

disbursing billions of dollars per year in 

bonus, rental, royalty, and other 

revenues derived from leases and other 

agreements for the production of oil, 

natural gas, coal, geothermal energy, 

other minerals, and renewable energy 

from Federal lands onshore, Indian 

tribal and allotted lands, and the Outer 

Continental Shelf. The ONRR also is 

responsible for enforcement of royalty 

and other payment obligations under 

applicable statutes, regulations, leases, 

agreements, and contracts. 

The ONRR undertakes current debt 

collection activities under the DCA 

(Pub. L. 97–365), as amended by the 

DCIA (Pub. L. 104–134, Title III, Ch. 10, 

110 Stat. 1321–359—1321–380 (codified 

at 31 U.S.C. 3711, 3716–18, and 3720A). 

The DCIA was enacted primarily to 

increase collection of nontax debts 

owed to the Federal Government. 

Among other provisions, the DCIA 

centralized the administrative collection 

of much delinquent nontax debt at the 

U.S. Department of the Treasury’s 

Financial Management Service 

(Treasury) to increase the efficiency of 

collection efforts. Government agencies 

are required to transfer nontax debt that 

has been delinquent for 180 days to 

Treasury for further collection action, 

including administrative offset. 

This final rule (1) implements 

statutory provisions of the DCA, as 

amended by the DCIA, and (2) 

supplements the Government-wide debt 

collection standards promulgated by the 

Departments of the Treasury and Justice, 

known as the Federal Claims Collection 

Standards (FCCS) (31 CFR parts 900– 

904), as necessary and appropriate for 

ONRR operations. The DCIA grants the 

Secretary discretionary authority in 

many aspects of debt collection, and 

this final rule defines the parameters of 

this authority. This final rule also makes 

some nonsubstantive technical or 

clarifying changes to the proposed rule. 

In the interim between development 

of the proposed rule and the final rule, 

the Secretary of the Interior separated 

the responsibilities previously 

performed by the former Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) and 

reassigned those responsibilities to three 

separate organizations. As part of this 

reorganization, the Secretary renamed 

MMS’s Minerals Revenue Management 

(MRM) the Office of Natural Resources 

Revenue and directed that ONRR 

transition to the Office of Policy, 

Management and Budget, effective 

October 1, 2010. This change required 

the reorganization of title 30 of the Code 

of Federal Regulations. In a direct final 

rule (effective October 1, 2010), ONRR 

removed the royalty and other revenue 

reporting, payment, valuation, and 

appeal regulations from 30 CFR, chapter 

II, and recodified them in the new 

chapter XII. Thus, the 30 CFR citations 

in this final rule are to part 1218 rather 

than to part 218, as they were in the 

proposed rule. Neither these nor any of 

the plain language changes discussed 

below effect any substantive change in 

meaning. 

II. Comments on the Proposed Rule 

The proposed rule was published on 

June 8, 2010 (75 FR 32343). We received 

comments on the proposed rule from 

one nonprofit organization and one 

trade association. We have analyzed 

these comments, which are discussed 

below: 

A. General Comments 

General comments on the proposed 

rule fall into five categories: (1) Plain 

language, (2) Treasury fees, (3) Treasury 

offsets, (4) Chronology of collection 

efforts, and (5) Early resolution of bills 

and demands. 

(1) Plain Language 

Public Comments: The nonprofit 

organization commented that the entire 

regulation should be rewritten in plain 

language. 

ONRR Response: In order to be 

consistent with other debt collection 

regulations, ONRR specifically adopted 

regulatory language implementing the 

DCA and DCIA that other agencies and 


emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with RULES