[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9598-9601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00448]



[[Page 9597]]

Vol. 89

Friday,

No. 28

February 9, 2024

Part X





 Department of the Interior





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 28 / Friday, February 9, 2024 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda

[[Page 9598]]


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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.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides the semiannual agenda of Department of 
the Interior (Department) rules scheduled for review or development 
between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024. 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) 208-3181.

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.
    This edition of the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and 
Deregulatory Actions includes The Regulatory Plan, which appears in 
both the online Unified Agenda and in part II of the Federal Register 
that includes the Unified Agenda. The Department's Statement of 
Regulatory Priorities is included in the Plan.
    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 R. Patnaik,
Deputy Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Executive Secretariat 
and Regulatory Affairs.

   Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
369.......................  Outer Continental Shelf            1014-AA57
                             Civil Penalties, Surety
                             Bond Requirements When
                             Filing an Appeal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
370.......................  Revisions to                       1014-AA53
                             Decommissioning
                             Requirements on the OCS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
371.......................  Oil and Gas and Sulfur             1014-AA52
                             Operations in the Outer
                             Continental Shelf-Blowout
                             Preventer Systems and
                             Well Control Revisions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      United States Fish and Wildlife Service--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
372.......................  Importation, Exportation           1018-BF16
                             and Transportation of
                             Wildlife; Updates to the
                             Regulations.
373.......................  Migratory Bird Hunting;            1018-BG63
                             2024-25 Migratory Game
                             Bird Hunting Regulations.
374.......................  Migratory Bird Hunting;            1018-BH65
                             2025-26 Migratory Game
                             Bird Hunting Regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


       United States Fish and Wildlife Service--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
375.......................  Migratory Bird Hunting;            1018-BF64
                             2023-24 Migratory Game
                             Bird Hunting Regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 9599]]


                 National Park Service--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
376.......................  Commercial Visitor                 1024-AE57
                             Services; Concession
                             Contracts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Bureau of Land Management--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
377.......................  Management and Protection          1004-AE95
                             of the National Petroleum
                             Reserve in Alaska
                             (Section 610 Review) (Reg
                             Plan Seq No. 145).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


               Bureau of Land Management--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
378.......................  Conservation and Landscape         1004-AE92
                             Health (Section 610
                             Review) (Reg Plan Seq No.
                             150).
379.......................  Helium Contracts (Section          1004-AE93
                             610 Review).
380.......................  Onshore Oil and Gas                1004-AE94
                             Operations-Annual Civil
                             Penalties Inflation
                             Adjustments (Section 610
                             Review).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Proposed Rule Stage

369. Outer Continental Shelf Civil Penalties, Surety Bond Requirements 
When Filing an Appeal [1014-AA57]

    Legal Authority: Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 
U.S.C. 1331 to 1356a
    Abstract: This proposed rulemaking would clarify BSEE's existing 
regulatory authority under 30 CFR 250.1409, which establishes criteria 
that must be met before a party may proceed with an appeal of a civil 
penalty pursuant to 30 CFR part 290. Before filing an appeal to the 
Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA), an operator must either submit a 
surety bond to BSEE's sister agency, BOEM, in the amount of the 
penalty, or notify BOEM that they want their lease bond to be used as 
the bond for the penalty amount.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/23
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b6062796025666a67787f7964664b69786e6e256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="117a78637a3f7c707d6265637e7c51736274743f767e67">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1014-AA57

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Long-Term Actions

370. 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................................   12/00/24
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/00/25
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5e35372c3570333f322d2a2c31331e3c2d3b3b70393128"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="32595b40591c5f535e4146405d5f72504157571c555d44">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1014-AA53

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Completed Actions

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

    Legal Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 to 1356a
    Abstract: This rulemaking revises 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 is updating to subpart 
G of 30 CFR part 250 to ensure operations are conducted safely and in 
an environmentally responsible manner.

[[Page 9600]]

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/14/22  87 FR 56354
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/14/22
Final Action........................   08/23/23  88 FR 57334
Final Action Effective..............   10/23/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f44465d4401424e435c5b5d40426f4d5c4a4a01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1d76746f7633707c716e696f72705d7f6e7878337a726b">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1014-AA52

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Proposed Rule Stage

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

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 33 8(d)-(f); 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. 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 revise FWS's regulations 
governing the importation and exportation of wildlife. In this 
rulemaking, FWS would review all sections of 50 CFR part 14 and provide 
necessary revisions.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#731617041201172c1401121016331504005d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4d1d0c3d5c6d0ebd3c6d5d7d1f4d2c3c79ad3dbc2">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1018-BF16

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Division 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: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c190e151f2317190e0f1412190e3c1a0b0f521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5732253e34083c3225243f3932251731202479303821">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1018-BG63

374. <bullet> Migratory Bird Hunting; 2025-26 Migratory Game Bird 
Hunting Regulations [1018-BH65]

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Division 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: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9bfee9f2f8c4f0fee9e8f3f5fee9dbfdece8b5fcf4ed"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f6a7d666c50646a7d7c67616a7d4f69787c21686079">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1018-BH65

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Completed Actions

375. 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 rulemaking action established 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 and Tribes may select season dates, bag limits, and 
other regulatory options for their hunting seasons.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/03/22  87 FR 66247
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/05/22
Proposed Frameworks.................   01/30/23  88 FR 6054
Proposed Frameworks; Comment Period    03/01/23
 End.
Proposed Tribal Regulations.........   03/23/23  88 FR 17511
Proposed Tribal Regulations; Comment   05/08/23
 Period Ends.
Final Frameworks....................   08/11/23  88 FR 54830
Final Frameworks Effective..........   08/11/23
Seasons and Bag Limits..............   08/18/23  88 FR 56489
Seasons and Bag Limits Effective....   08/18/23
Final Tribal Regulations............   09/01/23  88 FR 60375
Final Tribal Regulations Effective..   09/01/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Division 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: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6d3c4dfd5e9ddd3c4c5ded8d3c4f6d0c1c598d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2643544f45794d4354554e4843546640515508414950">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1018-BF64


[[Page 9601]]



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

National Park Service (NPS)

Final Rule Stage

376. Commercial Visitor Services; Concession Contracts [1024-AE57]

    Legal Authority: 54 U.S.C. 101926
    Abstract: This final rule revises regulations that govern the 
solicitation, award, and administration of concessions contracts to 
provide commercial visitor services at National Park System units under 
the authority granted to the Secretary of the Interior by the 
Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 and the National Park 
Service Centennial Act. The revisions reduce administrative burdens and 
expand opportunities for sustainable, high quality, and contemporary 
concessioner-provided visitor services in park areas.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/20/20  85 FR 43775
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/18/20
Final Rule..........................   11/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kurt M. Rausch, Chief, Contract Management, 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20240, Phone: 202 513-7207. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#375c4245436845564244545f7759474419505841"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e554b4c4a614c5f4b4d5d567e504e4d10595148">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1024-AE57

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Proposed Rule Stage

377. Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in 
Alaska (Section 610 Review) [1004-AE95]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 145 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1004-AE95

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Final Rule Stage

378. Conservation and Landscape Health (Section 610 Review) [1004-AE92]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 150 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1004-AE92

379. Helium Contracts (Section 610 Review) [1004-AE93]

    Legal Authority: 50 U.S.C. 167d (d)(1)
    Abstract: The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management 
is implementing the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, which requires the 
disposal of the Federal Helium System and cessation of the In-Kind 
Program.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Action........................   11/00/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No.
    Agency Contact: Amy Hay, Division Chief, Division of Business 
Resources, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
Denver Federal Center, Building 50, Denver, CO 80225-0047, Phone: 703 
870-8844, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#02636a637b42606e6f2c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6c7cec7dfe6c4cacb88c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1004-AE93

380. Onshore Oil and Gas Operations--Annual Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustments (Section 610 Review) [1004-AE94]

    Legal Authority: Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1734
    Abstract: This annual rule adjusts the level of civil monetary 
penalties contained in the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 
regulations governing onshore oil and gas operations and coal trespass 
as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act 
Improvements Act of 2015.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Action........................   01/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No.
    Agency Contact: Kyle W. Moorman, Division Chief for Regulatory 
Affairs and Directives, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240, Phone: 202 527-
2433, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c0abadafafb2ada1ae80a2acadeea7afb6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b0006040419060a052b090706450c041d">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 1004-AE94

[FR Doc. 2024-00448 Filed 2-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P


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