Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2018 / Notices 37825 

Meridian, in the County of San Diego, State 

of California, according to official plat 

thereof. 

The above described lands contain a total 

of 520 acres, more or less, which are subject 

to all valid rights, reservations, rights-of-way, 

and easements of record. 

This proclamation does not affect title to 

the lands described above, nor does it affect 

any valid existing easement for public roads 

and highways, public utilities, railroads, 

pipelines, or any other valid easement or 

rights-of-way or reservation of record. 

Dated: July 9, 2018. 

John Tahsuda, 

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian 

Affairs Exercising the Authority of the 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16584 Filed 8–1–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4337–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLNM006200 L99110000.EK0000 XXX 

L4053RV] 

Notice of Crude Helium Auction and 

Sale for Fiscal Year 2019 Delivery 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of auction and sale. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior 

(Secretary), through the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) New Mexico State 

Office, is issuing this Notice to conduct 

an auction and sale from the Federal 

Helium Program, administered by the 

BLM New Mexico, Amarillo Field 

Office. The Helium Stewardship Act of 

2013 (HSA) requires the BLM to 

conduct an annual auction and sale of 

crude helium. Accordingly, the BLM 

will once again use the auction and sale 

process established in the Federal 

Register dated June 20, 2017, for a 

previous sale. 

DATES: The schedule for the auction and 

sale process is: 

Helium Auction 

August 31, 2018—FY 2019 helium 

auction held in Amarillo, Texas 

September 4, 2018—FY 2019 helium 

auction results published on the 

BLM website 

September 5, 2018—Invoices for 

auction sent on or before this date; 

payments due 15 days from invoice 

Helium Sale 

August 31, 2018—Invitation for offers 

(IFO) posted for helium sale 

September 4, 2018—Bids due from 

IFO 

September 4, 2018—Award 

announcements published on the 

BLM website 

September 5, 2018—Invoices for sale 

sent on or before; payments due 15 

days from invoice 

Helium Delivery 

September 30, 2018—Helium 

transferred to buyers’ storage 

accounts 

If payment is not received by 

September 20, 2018, volumes will be reoffered for sale to all over bidders, 

proportionally, on September 21, 2018. 

Subsequently, for these re-offered 

volumes to count toward October 1, 

2018 allocation percentages, payment 

must be received by September 28, 

2018. 

ADDRESSES: The August 31, 2018, 

helium auction will be held in the main 

conference room of the Amarillo Field 

Office, 801 South Fillmore, Suite 500, 

Amarillo, TX 79101. The BLM’s Federal 

Helium Program HSA Implementation 

page website is located at https://

www.blm.gov/programs/energy-andminerals/helium/federal-heliumoperations. Questions related to the 

auction can be submitted by phone to 

the BLM at 806–356–1000. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Samuel R.M. Burton, Amarillo Field 

Manager, at telephone: 806–356–1000, 

email: sburton@blm.gov. Persons who 

use a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 

Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339. The 

FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days 

a week, to leave a message. You will 

receive a reply during normal business 

hours. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Purpose and Background 

In October 2013, Congress passed the 

HSA, which requires the Department of 

the Interior, through the BLM Director, 

to offer for auction and sale annually a 

portion of the helium reserves owned by 

the United States and stored 

underground at the Cliffside Gas Field 

near Amarillo, Texas. 

On July 23, 2014, the BLM published 

a ‘‘Final Notice for Implementation of 

Helium Stewardship Act Sales and 

Auctions’’ in the Federal Register (79 

FR 42808) (2014 Final Notice). The 2014 

Final Notice contained information 

about the HSA, definitions of terms 

used in the Notice, the reasons for the 

action, and a process for conducting the 

auctions and sales in FY 2014. 

On August 24, 2015, the BLM 

published a ‘‘Notice of Final Action: 

Crude Helium Sale and Auction for 

Fiscal Year 2016 Delivery’’ in the 

Federal Register (80 FR 51304) (2015 

Final Notice). The 2015 Final Notice 

refined the process the BLM used in 

2014 for conducting the auction and 

sale of crude helium. The BLM will use 

the process set forth in the 2015 Final 

Notice for the auction and sale of crude 

helium to occur in FY 2018 for FY 2019 

delivery. 

Both the 2014 and 2015 Final Notices 

are available from the BLM’s HSA 

Implementation Page website (see 

ADDRESSES). Search under the 

‘‘Documents and Reports’’ link. 

B. Volumes Offered in the FY 2019 

Helium Auction and Sale: 

Table 1 identifies the volumes to be 

offered for auction and sale in FY 2018 

for FY 2019 delivery. 

TABLE 1—PROJECTED VOLUMES FOR AUCTION AND SALES FOR FY 2019 DELIVERY

Fiscal year (FY) 

Forecasted 

production 

capability 

(NITEC 

study) 

In-kind 

sales 

(sales to 

federal 

users) 

Total 

remaining 

production 

available 

for sale/ 

auction or 

delivery 

Volume 

available 

for auction 

Volume 

available 

for nonallocated 

sale 

Volume 

available 

for sale 

MMcf * MMcf 

MMcf 

MMcf 

MMcf 

MMcf 

FY 2019 ................................................... 825 155 300 *** 210 ** 9 81 

* MMcf means one million cubic feet of gas measured at standard conditions of 14.65 per square inch atmosphere (psia) and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

** 70 percent of total production capacity after deducting in-kind (rounded). 

*** Volumes offered fulfill the requirement of the HSA to reach Phase C. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
37826 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2018 / Notices 

C. FY 2019 Helium Auction 

1.01 What is the minimum FY 2019 

auction price and the FY 2019 sales 

price? The minimum FY 2019 auction 

price is $110 per Mcf (one thousand 

cubic feet of gas measured at standard 

conditions of 14.65 psia and 60 degrees 

Fahrenheit). The BLM will announce 

the FY 2019 sale price after the auction 

has concluded, and the BLM completes 

its analysis of the auction information. 

The BLM will use this information to 

publish the crude helium price for FY 

2019. 

1.02 What will happen to the helium 

offered but not sold in the helium 

auction? Any volume of helium offered, 

but not sold in the FY 2019 auction, will 

be added to the helium available for sale 

and will be offered in the FY 2019 sale. 

1.03 When will the auction and sale 

take place? The BLM will offer helium 

for FY 2019 according to the following 

schedule: 

Helium Auction 

August 31, 2018—FY 2019 helium 

auction held in Amarillo, Texas 

September 4, 2018—FY 2019 helium 

auction results published on the 

BLM website 

September 5, 2018—Invoices for 

auction sent on or before this date; 

payments due 15 days from invoice 

Helium Sale 

August 31, 2018—Invitation for offers 

(IFO) posted for helium sale 

September 4, 2018—Bids due from 

IFO 

September 4, 2018—Award 

announcements published on the 

BLM website 

September 5, 2018—Invoices for sale 

sent on or before; payments due 15 

days from invoice 

Helium Transfer 

September 30, 2018—Helium 

transferred to buyers’ storage 

accounts (in accordance with 

Section 1.08) 

If payment is not received by 

September 20, 2018, volumes will be reoffered for sale to all over-bidders, 

proportionally, on September 21, 2018. 

Subsequently, for these re-offered 

volumes to count toward October 1, 

2018 allocation percentages, payment 

must be received by September 28, 

2018. 

1.04 What is the auction format? The 

auction will be a live auction, held in 

the main conference room of the 

Amarillo Field Office at 1:00 p.m. 

Central Time, on August 31, 2018. The 

address is 801 South Fillmore, Suite 

500, Amarillo, TX 79101. Anyone 

meeting the HSA definition of a 

qualified bidder may participate in the 

auction. The logistics for the auction 

and the pre-bid qualification form is 

included in a document entitled, ‘‘FY 

2019 Helium Auction Notice and 

Guide’’ on the BLM’s HSA 

Implementation Page website (see 

ADDRESSES). Click on the ‘‘Federal 

Register Notices’’ link. 

1.05 Who is qualified to purchase 

helium at the auction? Only qualified 

bidders, as defined in 50 U.S.C. 167(9), 

may participate in and purchase helium 

at the auction. The BLM will make the 

final determination of who is a qualified 

bidder using the HSA’s definition of a 

qualified bidder, regardless of whether 

or not that person was previously 

determined to be a qualified bidder. 

Payment must be received not later than 

the close of business September 20, 

2018. 

1.06 How many helium lots does the 

BLM anticipate offering at the FY 2019 

auction? The BLM anticipates 

auctioning 210 MMcf in a total of 12 lots 

for delivery in FY 2019. The lots would 

be divided as follows: 

5 lots of 25 MMcf each; and 

5 lots of 15 MMcf each; and 

2 lots of 5 MMcf each. 

1.07 What must I do to bid at auction? 

The BLM has described the live auction 

procedures, including detailed bidding 

instructions and pre-bid registration 

requirements, in a document entitled, 

‘‘FY 2019 Auction Notice and Guide,’’ 

which is available on the BLM’s HSA 

Implementation Page website (see 

ADDRESSES). Click on the ‘‘Federal 

Register Notices’’ link. 

1.08 When will helium that is 

purchased at sale or won at auction be 

available in the purchaser’s storage 

account? The BLM will transfer the 

volumes purchased in the FY 2019 

auction and sale to the buyer’s storage 

accounts on September 30, 2018. 

D. FY 2019 Helium Sale 

2.01 Who will be allowed to purchase 

helium in the FY 2019 sale? The crude 

helium sale will be separated into two 

distinct portions, a non-allocated 

portion and an allocated portion. The 

non-allocated portion will be ten 

percent of the total amount offered for 

sale for FY 2019, and will be available 

to those storage contract holders who do 

not have ability to accept delivery of 

crude helium from the Federal Helium 

Pipeline (as defined in 50 U.S.C. 167(2)) 

as of May 30, 2018. The allocated 

portion will be 90 percent of the total 

amount offered for sale for FY 2019, and 

will be available to any person 

(including individuals, corporations, 

partnerships, or other entities) with the 

ability to accept delivery of crude 

helium from the Federal Helium 

Pipeline (as defined in 50 U.S.C. 

167(2)). 

2.02 How will helium sold in the FY 

2019 sale be allocated among those 

participating in the non-allocated sale? 

The non-allocated sale will be made 

available to all qualified offerors not 

eligible to participate in the allocated 

sales. The minimum volume that can be 

requested is 1 MMcf. The total volume 

available for the non-allocated portion 

of the sale is 9 MMcf. Any volumes not 

sold at auction will be distributed 

between the non-allocated (10 percent) 

and the allocated sale (90 percent). Any 

volumes not purchased at the nonallocated sale will be sold in the 

allocated portion. 

2.03 How will the helium sold in the 

FY 2019 sale be allocated among the 

persons to accept delivery of crude 

helium from the Federal Helium 

Pipeline? Any person wishing to 

participate in the allocated portion of 

the FY 2019 sale needs to report its 

excess refining capacity and operational 

capacity a minimum of 14 calendar days 

prior to the sale, using the Excess 

Refining Capacity form. The form can be 

downloaded from the BLM’s HSA 

Implementation Page website (see 

ADDRESSES). Click on the links for 

‘‘Crude Helium Auctions & Sales’’ and 

then ‘‘FY 2019 Refiner Estimated Excess 

Capacity.’’ Each person participating in 

the sale will then be allocated a 

proportional share based upon that 

person’s operational capacity. 

2.04 How does a person apply for 

access to the Federal Helium Pipeline 

for the purpose of taking crude helium? 

The steps for taking crude helium are 

provided in the BLM’s HSA 

Implementation Page website (see 

ADDRESSES). The steps are contained in 

a document entitled, ‘‘How to Establish 

a Storage Contract and Pipeline 

Connection Point.’’ Click on the link for 

‘‘Helium Storage.’’ Reporting forms can 

be downloaded from the same website 

address, click on the link for 

‘‘Documents and Reports.’’ The forms 

show the requirements and due dates 

for each report. The length of time 

required to apply for and obtain access 

to the Federal Helium Pipeline can vary 

based on the person’s plans for plant 

construction, pipeline metering 

installation, and other variables. The 

BLM is available to provide technical 

assistance, including contact 

information for applying for access and 

meeting any applicable National 

Environmental Policy Act requirements. 

E. Delivery of Helium in FY 2019 

3.01 When will I receive the helium 

that I purchase in a sale or win based 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2018 / Notices 37827 

on a successful auction bid? Helium 

purchased at the FY 2019 sale or won 

at the FY 2019 auction will be delivered 

starting September 30, 2018, in 

accordance with the crude helium 

storage contract. The intent is to ensure 

delivery of all helium purchased at sale 

or auction up to the BLM’s production 

capability for the year. 

3.02 How will the BLM prioritize 

delivery? The HSA gives priority to 

Federal in-kind helium (i.e., helium sold 

to Federal users) (50 U.S.C. 

167d(b)(1)(D)) and (b)(3)). After meeting 

that priority, the BLM will make 

delivery on a reasonable basis, as 

described in the crude helium storage 

contract, to ensure storage contract 

holders who have purchased or won 

helium at auction have the opportunity 

during the year to have that helium 

produced or refined in monthly 

increments. 

F. Background documents 

Supplementary documents referenced 

in this Notice are available at the BLM’s 

HSA Implementation Page website (see 

ADDRESSES) and include the following 

documents: 

a. This Federal Register Notice for 

Fiscal year 2019 Delivery; 

b. The HSA (50 U.S.C. 167); 

c. FY 2019 Helium Auction Notice 

and Guide; 

d. 2016 Storage Contract (template for 

information only); 

e. Determination of Fair Market Value 

Pricing of Crude Helium; 

f. Storage Fees; 

g. Required Forms for Helium 

Reporting; and 

h. FY 2014 through FY 2018 Federal 

Register Notices for Helium Auctions 

and Sales. 

Authority: The HSA of 2013 (Pub. L. 113– 

40) codified to various sections in 50 U.S.C. 

167–167q. 

Richard T. Cardinale, 

Acting Deputy Director, Operations. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16685 Filed 8–1–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Employee Benefits Security 

Administration 

Advisory Council on Employee Welfare 

and Pension Benefit Plans; 

Nominations for Vacancies 

Section 512 of the Employee 

Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 

(ERISA), 88 Stat. 895, 29 U.S.C. 1142, 

provides for the establishment of an 

Advisory Council on Employee Welfare 

and Pension Benefit Plans (the Council), 

consisting of 15 members appointed by 

the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) as 

follows: 

• Three representatives of employee 

organizations (at least one of whom 

shall be a representative of an 

organization whose members are 

participants in a multiemployer plan); 

• three representatives of employers 

(at least one of whom shall be a 

representative of employers maintaining 

or contributing to multiemployer plans); 

• one representative each from the 

fields of insurance, corporate trust, 

actuarial counseling, investment 

counseling, investment management, 

and accounting; and 

• three representatives from the 

general public (one of whom shall be a 

person representing those receiving 

benefits from a pension plan). 

No more than eight members of the 

Council shall be members of the same 

political party. 

Council members must be qualified to 

appraise the programs instituted under 

ERISA. Appointments are for three-year 

terms. The Council’s prescribed duties 

are to advise the Secretary with respect 

to carrying out his functions under 

ERISA, and to submit to the Secretary, 

or his designee, related 

recommendations. The Council will 

meet at least four times each year. 

The terms of five Council members 

expire at the end of this year. The 

groups or fields they represent are as 

follows: 

(1) Employee organizations; 

(2) employers; 

(3) actuarial counseling; 

(4) investment counseling; and 

(5) the general public. 

The Department of Labor is 

committed to equal opportunity in the 

workplace and seeks a broad-based and 

diverse Council. 

If you or your organization wants to 

nominate one or more people for 

appointment to the Council to represent 

one of the groups or fields specified 

above, submit nominations to Larry 

Good, Council Executive Secretary, 

Frances Perkins Building, U.S. 

Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 

Ave. NW, Suite N–5623, Washington, 

DC 20210, or as email attachments to 

good.larry@dol.gov. Nominations must 

be received on or before September 17, 

2018. Please allow three weeks for 

regular mail delivery to the Department 

of Labor. If sending electronically, 

please use an attachment in rich text, 

Word, or pdf format. Nominations may 

be in the form of a letter, resolution or 

petition, signed by the person making 

the nomination or, in the case of a 

nomination by an organization, by an 

authorized representative of the 

organization. The Department 

encourages you to include additional 

supporting letters of nomination. It will 

not consider self-nominees who have no 

supporting letters. 

Nominations, including supporting 

letters, should: 

• State the person’s qualifications to 

serve on the Council (including any 

particular specialized knowledge or 

experience relevant to the nominee’s 

proposed Council position); 

• state that the candidate will accept 

appointment to the Council if offered; 

• include which of the five positions 

(representing groups or fields) you are 

nominating the candidate to fill; 

• include the nominee’s full name, 

work affiliation, mailing address, phone 

number, and email address; 

• include the nominator’s full name, 

mailing address, phone number, and 

email address; 

• include the nominator’s signature, 

whether sent by email or otherwise. 

Please do not include any information 

that you do not want publicly disclosed. 

The Department will contact 

nominees for information on their 

political affiliation and their status as 

registered lobbyists. Anyone currently 

subject to federal registration 

requirements as a lobbyist is not eligible 

for appointment. Nominees should be 

aware of the time commitment for 

attending meetings and actively 

participating in the work of the Council. 

Historically, this has meant a 

commitment of at least 20 days per year. 

The Department of Labor has a process 

for vetting nominees under 

consideration for appointment. 

Signed at Washington, DC, on July 30, 

2018. 

Preston Rutledge, 

Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits 

Security Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16571 Filed 8–1–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–29–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Advisory Committee for Mathematical 

and Physical Sciences; Notice of 

Meeting 

In accordance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92– 

463, as amended), the National Science 

Foundation (NSF) announces the 

following meeting: 

NAME AND COMMITTEE CODE: Advisory 

Committee for Mathematical and 

Physical Sciences (#66). 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES