[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 188 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56849-56853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19533]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Parts 216 and 218

RIN 1010-AD28


Royalty Payment and Royalty and Production Reporting Requirements 
Relief for Federal Oil and Gas Lessees Affected by Hurricane Katrina or 
Hurricane Rita

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is publishing a final 
rule to provide immediate temporary relief to reporters in the 
aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The final rule provides an 
extension to pay royalties owed on Federal oil and gas leases and 
report corresponding royalty and production reports. On August 29, 
2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf of Mexico coast of the United 
States. Subsequently, in late September 2005, Hurricane Rita struck the 
Gulf Coast. Both hurricanes caused extensive damage to areas in which a 
number of Federal oil and gas lessees, particularly lessees of offshore 
leases, have their offices and principal operations. This final rule 
extends the due date for monthly royalty payments and reports and 
monthly operations reports for Federal oil and gas lessees, royalty 
payors, and operators whose operations have been disrupted by one or 
both of the hurricanes to the extent that the lessee, payor, or 
operator is prevented from submitting accurate payments or accurate 
reports. Extending the due date for royalty payments means that late 
payment interest will not accrue for the period between the original 
due date and the new due date established by this rule.

DATES: Effective date: September 29, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharron L. Gebhardt, Lead Regulatory 
Specialist, Minerals Revenue Management (MRM), Minerals Management 
Service, P.O. Box 25165, MS 302B2, Denver, Colorado 80225; telephone 
(303) 231-3211; FAX (303) 231-3781; e-mail <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8dfee5ecffffe2e3a3eae8efe5ecffe9f9cde0e0fea3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83f0ebe2f1f1ecedade4e6e1ebe2f1e7f7c3eeeef0ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a>. 
The principal authors of this final rule are Geoffrey Heath of the 
Office of the Solicitor and Robert Prael of MRM, MMS, U.S. Department 
of the Interior.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

A. Lease Royalty Reporting, Royalty Payment and Production Reporting 
Obligations

    Applicable regulations and the terms of Federal oil and gas leases 
prescribe the dates by which lessees must pay royalty and by which they 
must submit required royalty reports. Specifically, 30 CFR 218.50(a) 
requires:
    Royalty payments are due at the end of the month following the 
month during which the oil and gas is produced and sold except when the 
last day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday. In such cases, 
payments are due on the first business day of the succeeding month. * * 
*
    The terms of almost all onshore and offshore Federal oil and gas 
leases likewise provide that royalty is due at the end of the month 
following the month of production.
    Section 111(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 
1982 (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1721(a), prescribes that lessees must pay 
interest on royalty payments received after the due date. Section 
1721(a) provides in relevant part:
    (a) In the case of oil and gas leases where royalty payments are 
not received by the Secretary on the date that such payments are due, 
or are less than the amount due, the Secretary shall charge interest on 
such late payments or underpayments at the rate applicable under 
section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code * * *. (Emphasis added.)
    Implementing MMS regulations at 30 CFR 218.54 prescribe in relevant 
part:
    (a) An interest charge shall be assessed on unpaid and underpaid 
amounts from the date the amounts are due.
* * * * *
    (c) Interest will be charged only on the amount of the payment not 
received. Interest will be charged only for the number of days a 
payment is late. (Emphasis added.)

    Title 30 CFR 210.52 prescribes similar requirements for the reports 
that accompany royalty payments. It provides in relevant part:
    (a) You must submit a completed Form MMS-2014 (Report of Sales and 
Royalty Remittance) to MMS with:
    (1) All royalty payments * * *
* * * * *
    (c) Completed Forms MMS-2014 for royalty payments are due by the 
end of the month following the production month.
Thus, for all Federal oil and gas leases onshore and on the Outer 
Continental Shelf, both royalty payments and royalty reports are due at 
the end of the month following the month of production.
    Title 30 CFR 216.53 prescribes similar requirements for production 
reporting. It provides in relevant part:
    (a) You must file an Oil and Gas Operations Report [OGOR], Form 
MMS-4054, if you operate one of the following that contains one or more 
wells that are not permanently plugged or abandoned:
    (1) An OCS lease or federally-approved agreement; or
    (2) An onshore Federal or Indian lease or federally-approved 
agreement for which you elected to report on a Form MMS-4054 instead of 
a Form MMS-3160.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *

[[Page 56850]]



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        If you submit your form               We must receive it by
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Electronically.....................  The 25th day of the second
                                          month following the month for
                                          which you are reporting.
(2) Other than electronically..........  The 15th day of the second
                                          month following the month for
                                          which you are reporting.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For operators of Federal onshore leases who do not report on the 
Form MMS-4054, section 216.50(c) contains filing deadlines for the Form 
MMS-3160 (Monthly Report of Operations) that are identical for the OGOR 
under section 216.53(c).
    The mineral leasing laws grant the Secretary broad authority to 
promulgate rules and regulations. See the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
Act, at 43 U.S.C. 1334(a) (offshore leases); the Mineral Leasing Act, 
at 30 U.S.C. 189 (onshore public domain leases); and the Mineral 
Leasing Act for Acquired Lands, at 30 U.S.C. 359 (onshore acquired 
lands leases).

B. The Impact of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

    Hurricane Katrina came ashore on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico on 
August 29, 2005. The resulting floods had a devastating impact on the 
area of New Orleans, Louisiana, among other areas. The entire City of 
New Orleans and some of the surrounding area have been evacuated, and 
most of the city is still without power, water, and essential services. 
The business district of the city and many other areas of the 
metropolis have been rendered uninhabitable for the present.
    Subsequently, Hurricane Rita came ashore on the Gulf Coast in late 
September 2005. This hurricane resulted in further serious damage to 
areas of the United States where Federal oil and gas lessees maintain 
offices from which the reports and payments described above are 
produced.
    Several reporters for Federal oil and gas leases (particularly for 
Federal offshore leases), had their principal offices, from which they 
generated and sent royalty reports and payments, located in areas 
affected by one or both hurricanes. Based on current information and 
conversations with the personnel of a number of oil and gas lessees and 
operators, MMS's understanding is that several oil and gas lessees and 
operators have completely lost use of their offices and associated 
facilities and records. Until access to buildings, records, data, and 
communications lines are restored, these parties are simply unable to 
generate or transmit royalty reports and royalty payments or monthly 
operations reports.

II. Explanation of the Provisions of This Final Rule

    Under the circumstances described above, MMS believes it is 
equitable to provide temporary relief from royalty payment and report 
due dates for lessees of Federal oil and gas leases whose payment and 
reporting operations have been disrupted by either or both of these 
hurricanes. This relief does not extend to reporting or payments due on 
Indian leases or to Federal leases for minerals other than oil and gas. 
(In addition, this rule does not address annual rental payments.) The 
relief is intended to give payors a reasonable period of time to 
restore normal operations. Postponing the royalty payment due date 
means that late payment interest will not accrue during the period 
between the due date that would have applied in the absence of this 
rule and the new due date established under this rule.
    For lessees who make the required certification discussed below, 
the new due date for royalties and corresponding royalty reports (Form 
MMS-2104) for the production months of July, August, September, and 
October 2005 will be January 3, 2006 (because December 31, 2005, falls 
on a weekend). (In the absence of this rule, the due dates for royalty 
payments and reports for the production months of July, August, 
September, and October 2005 would have been August 31, September 30, 
October 31, and November 30, respectively.) The new due date for the 
production reports (the OGOR, Form MMS-4054) or the Monthly Report of 
Operations for onshore leases (Form MMS-3160) for the production months 
of July, August, and September 2005 will be December 15, 2005 (if you 
do not file electronically) or December 27, 2005 (if you file 
electronically, in view of the fact that December 25 falls on a weekend 
and December 26 is a holiday for agency personnel). (In the absence of 
this rule, the due dates for OGORs or monthly operations reports for 
the production months of July, August, and September 2005 would have 
been September 15 or 26, October 17 or 25, and November 15 or 25, 
respectively.)
    To avail itself of this relief, a lessee, royalty payor, or 
operator will have to certify that a hurricane that struck the Gulf of 
Mexico coast of the United States in either August 2005 or September 
2005 (i.e., either Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita) disrupted the 
lessee or payor's operations to the extent that it prevented the lessee 
or payor from making an accurate royalty payment or submitting an 
accurate royalty report, or prevented the lessee or operator from 
submitting an accurate operations report.
    While MMS anticipates that virtually all oil and gas lessees 
generate royalty reports and transmit payments at one location, a 
lessee's or payor's certification that it is unable to generate and 
submit either an accurate royalty report or an accurate royalty payment 
will allow the lessee or payor to claim relief from both the royalty 
reporting and royalty payment deadlines. The reason for this is 
twofold. First, if a lessee can pay but cannot report, it serves no 
purpose to require the lessee to pay. Without the accompanying report, 
MMS does not know the leases and production months for which the 
payment is made. The MMS therefore is unable to account for and 
disburse the payment properly. Second, if the lessee can generate the 
report but cannot pay, there is no purpose for requiring the lessee to 
submit the report. The MMS could process the report, but it cannot move 
money that it has not received. It would then require manual 
intervention to prevent the automated system from generating a late 
payment interest bill when MMS receives the payment later.
    If MMS believes that a lessee's, royalty payor's, or operator's 
certification is not justified under the lessee's or payor's or 
operator's circumstances, MMS may reject the certification. If MMS 
notifies the lessee, royalty payor, or operator that MMS does not 
accept the certification, then the lessee must report or pay, as 
applicable, by the date MMS specifies in the notice. Failure to report 
or pay by the prescribed date could subject the lessee or payor to 
civil penalties under 30 U.S.C. 1719 or 43 U.S.C. 1350, as applicable.
    Under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), 
publication of a proposed rule and an opportunity for public comment 
are required before an agency promulgates a rule, except:

    (B) When the agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the 
finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules

[[Page 56851]]

issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.

Under the regulations and lease terms discussed above, royalty payments 
for the production month of July 2005 were due on August 31, 2005, two 
days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Royalty payments and 
reports for the production month of August 2005 are due on September 
30, 2005. The need to provide relief from the royalty payment and 
reporting deadlines is immediate, and the very short time involved will 
not permit solicitation, receipt, and evaluation of comments before 
promulgating a final rule. The MMS therefore for good cause finds that 
notice and public comment on this rulemaking is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest.
    The Administrative Procedure Act, at 5 U.S.C. 553(d) further 
provides:
    (d) The required publication or service of a substantive rule shall 
be made not less than 30 days before its effective date, except--
    (1) a substantive rule which grants or recognizes an exemption or 
relieves a restriction;
    (2) interpretative rules and statements of policy; or
    (3) as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and 
published with the rule.
As explained above, the need for relief for payors who qualify for 
relief under this rule is immediate and arises in much less than 30 
days. Payors would be unnecessarily harmed if MMS were not to make this 
rule effective immediately. Therefore, MMS for good cause finds that 
this rule should take effect immediately.

III. Procedural Matters

1. Summary Cost and Royalty Impact Data

    We summarize below the estimated costs and benefits of this final 
rule to all potentially affected groups: industry, State and local 
governments, Indian tribes and individual Indian mineral owners, and 
the Federal Government.
A. Industry
    Small Business Issues. Approximately 2,500 companies report and pay 
bonuses, rents, and royalties to MMS. We estimate that over 97 percent 
of these companies are small businesses, as defined by the U.S. Small 
Business Administration, because they have 500 or fewer employees. The 
MMS estimates that this final rule will not impose any additional 
burden on small businesses.
B. State and Local Governments
    The MMS estimates that this final rule may cause a potential delay 
in royalty disbursements to a few states. The MMS has been notified by 
several companies that Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita mainly 
impacted their ability to report and pay on offshore and onshore 
Federal oil and gas leases.
C. Indian Tribes and Individual Indian Mineral Owners
    This final rule will not impose any additional burden on Indian 
tribes and individual Indian mineral owners. The relief provided in 
this rule does not extend to reporting or payments due on Indian 
leases.
D. Federal Government
    The MMS estimates that there will not be a significant annual 
revenue loss due to this final rule. The MMS estimates there will be 
minimal impacts to manually prevent inappropriate interest billings.

2. Regulatory Planning and Review, Executive Order 12866

    In accordance with the criteria in Executive Order 12866, this 
final rule is not a significant regulatory action as it does not exceed 
the $100 million threshold. The Office of Management and Budget makes 
the final determination under Executive Order 12866.
    1. This final rule does not have an annual economic effect of $100 
million or adversely affect an economic sector, productivity, jobs, the 
environment, or other units of government. A cost-benefit and economic 
analysis is not required.
    2. This final rule does not create inconsistencies with other 
agencies' actions.
    3. This final rule does not materially affect entitlements, grants, 
user fees, loan programs, or the right and obligations of their 
recipients.
    4. This final rule does not raise novel legal or policy issues.

3. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that this final rule does not have a significant economic 
effect on a substantial number of small entities as defined under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). An initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required. Accordingly, a Small 
Entity Compliance Guide is not required.
    Your comments are important. The Small Business and Agricultural 
Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and 10 Regional Fairness Boards were 
established to receive comments from small businesses about Federal 
agency enforcement actions. The Ombudsman will annually evaluate the 
enforcement activities and rate each agency's responsiveness to small 
business. You may comment to the Small Business Administration without 
fear of retaliation. Disciplinary action for retaliation by an MMS 
employee may include suspension or termination from employment with the 
Department of the Interior.

4. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)

    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:
    1. Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or 
more. See the above analysis titled ``Summary of Costs and Royalty 
Impacts.''
    2. Does not cause a major increase in costs or prices for 
consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government 
agencies, or geographic regions.
    3. 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.

5. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.):
    1. This final rule does not ``significantly or uniquely'' affect 
small governments. Therefore a Small Government Agency Plan is not 
required.
    2. This final rule does not produce a Federal mandate of $100 
million or greater in any year, i.e., it is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

6. Government Actions and Interference With Constitutionality Protected 
Property Rights (Takings), Executive Order 12630

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, this final rule does not 
have significant takings implications. A takings implication assessment 
is not required.

7. Federalism, Executive Order 13132

    In accordance with Executive Order 13132, this final rule does not 
have federalism implications. A federalism summary impact statement is 
not required. It will not substantially and directly affect the 
relationship between Federal and State Governments. The management of 
Federal leases is the responsibility of the Secretary of the Department 
of the Interior. Royalties

[[Page 56852]]

collected from Federal leases are shared with state governments on a 
percentage basis as prescribed by law. This final rule does not alter 
any lease management or royalty sharing provisions. This final rule 
does not impose costs on states or localities.

8. Civil Justice Reform, Executive Order 12988

    In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the Office of the 
Solicitor has determined that this final rule does not unduly burden 
the judicial system and does meet the requirements of Sec.  3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of the Order.

9. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    The certifications contained in Sec. Sec.  216.50 (i)(2) and 
218.50(d)(2) do not require approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
because they do not meet the definition of information collection 
contained in 5 CFR 1320.3 (h)(1). Under this definition, solicitations 
of names, addresses and basic certifications do not require approval. 
Parts 210, 216, and 218 contain the following information collections, 
as defined by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA):
    <bullet> 1010-0139, 30 CFR Part 216, Production Accounting, 
Subparts A and B; and Part 210, Forms and Reports, expires August 31, 
2006.
    <bullet> 1010-0140, 30 CFR Part 210--Forms and Reports (Form MMS-
2014, Report of Sales and Royalty Remittance), expires October 31, 
2006.

10. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    We have analyzed this final rule in accordance with the criteria of 
the National Environmental Policy Act and 516 DM. We determined this 
final rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment. An environmental impact 
statement is not required.

11. Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951) and 512 DM 2, we have evaluated potential 
effects on federally recognized Indian tribes and have determined that 
the effects of this final rule will have no impact on Indian tribes. 
This relief does not extend to reporting or payments due on Indian 
leases.

12. Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments, 
Executive Order 13175

    In accordance with Executive Order 13175, this final rule does not 
have tribal implications that impose changes in the delegations between 
the MMS and the tribes. In addition, this final rule has no 
implications on individual Indian mineral owners. This relief does not 
extend to reporting or payments due on Indian leases.

13. Effects on the Nation's Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use, 
Executive Order 13211

    In accordance with Executive Order 13211, this regulation does not 
have a significant adverse effect on the Nation's energy supply, 
distribution, or use.

14. Clarity of This Regulation

    Executive Order 12866 requires each agency to write regulations 
that are easy to understand. We invite your comments on how to make 
this rule easier to understand, including answers to questions such as 
the following: (1) Are the requirements in the rule clearly stated? (2) 
Does the rule contain technical language or jargon that interferes with 
its clarity? (3) Does the format of the rule (grouping and order of 
sections, use of headings, paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce its 
clarity? (4) Would the rule be easier to understand if it were divided 
into more (but shorter) sections? A ``section'' appears in bold type 
and is preceded by the symbol ``Sec.  '' and a numbered heading; for 
example, Sec.  204.200. (5) What is the purpose of this part? (6) Is 
the description of the rule in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
the preamble helpful in understanding the rule?
    (7) What else could we do to make the rule easier to understand?
    Send a copy of any comments that concern how we could make this 
rule easier to understand to: Office of Regulatory Affairs, Department 
of the Interior, Room 7229, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240. 
You may also e-mail the comments to this address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ce8bb6bdabad8ea7a1bde0aaa1a7e0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4f1ccc7d1d7f4dddbc79ad0dbdd9ad3dbc2">[email protected]</span></a>.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Parts 216 and 218

    Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, relief, payor, reporter, report, 
royalty, production.

    Dated: September 23, 2005.
Chad Calvert,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management.


0
For the reasons explained in the preamble, MMS amends parts 216 and 218 
of title 30 of Code of Federal Regulations as set forth below.

PART 216--PRODUCTION ACCOUNTING

0
1. The authority for part 216 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 et seq.; 25 U.S.C. 396 et seq., 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).


0
2. In Sec.  216.53, paragraphs (e) and (f) are added as follows:


Sec.  216.53  Oil and gas operations report.

* * * * *
    (e)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c) of this 
section and Sec.  216.50, the due date for submittal of the Oil and Gas 
Operations Report (Form MMS-4054) or Monthly Report of Operations (Form 
MMS-3160) for the production months of July, August, and September 2005 
for Federal offshore and onshore oil and gas leases by oil and gas 
lessees or operators who make the certification required under 
paragraph (e)(2) of this section is extended to December 15, 2005 (if 
you do not file electronically) or December 27, 2005 (if you file 
electronically).
    (2) The extended due dates in paragraph (e)(1) of this section will 
apply to Oil and Gas Operations Reports (Form MMS-4054) and Monthly 
Reports of Operations (Form MMS-3160) by any lessee or operator who 
certifies that a hurricane that struck the Gulf of Mexico coast of the 
United States in August or September 2005 disrupted the lessee's or 
operator's operations to the extent that it prevented the lessee or 
operator from submitting an accurate Form MMS-4054 or MMS-3160.
    (3) Paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2) of this section do not apply to 
Indian leases or to Federal leases for minerals other than oil and gas.
    (4) Certifications under paragraph (e)(2) of this section should be 
submitted either:
    (i) By mail to: Robert Prael, Financial Manager, Minerals 
Management Service, Minerals Revenue Management, P.O. Box 25165, MS 
350B1, Denver, CO 80225-0165, or
    (ii) By e-mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cd9fa2afa8bfb9e39dbfaca8a18da0a0bee3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95c7faf7f0e7e1bbc5e7f4f0f9d5f8f8e6bbf2fae3">[email protected]</span></a>.
    (f)(1) A lessee or operator who submits a certification required 
under paragraph (e)(2) of this section may rely on the extended due 
dates prescribed in paragraph (e)(1) of this section unless and until 
MMS notifies the lessee or operator that MMS does not accept the 
certification.

[[Page 56853]]

    (2) If MMS notifies a lessee or operator that MMS does not accept 
the lessee's or operator's certification under paragraph (e)(2) of this 
section, the due date for the Oil and Gas Operations Report or Monthly 
Report of Operations will be the date specified in the notice.

PART 218--COLLECTION OF ROYALTIES, RENTALS, BONUSES AND OTHER 
MONIES DUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

0
3. The authority for part 218 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.


0
4. In Sec.  218.50, paragraphs (d) and (e) are added to read as 
follows:


Sec.  218.50  Timing of payment.

* * * * *
    (d)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this 
section and corresponding lease terms and 30 CFR 210.52, the due date 
for submittal of royalty payments and Reports of Sales and Royalty 
Remittance (Form MMS-2014) for the production months of July, August, 
September, and October 2005 for Federal offshore and onshore oil and 
gas leases by oil and gas lessees or royalty payors who make the 
certification required under paragraph (d)(2) of this section is 
extended until January 3, 2006.
    (2) The extended due dates in paragraph (d)(1) of this section will 
apply to royalty payments and Reports of Sales and Royalty Remittance 
(Form MMS-2014) by any lessee or royalty payor who certifies that a 
hurricane that struck the Gulf of Mexico coast of the United States in 
August or September 2005 disrupted the lessee's or payor's operations 
to the extent that it prevented the lessee or royalty payor from making 
an accurate royalty payment or submitting an accurate Form MMS-2014.
    (3) A lessee's or royalty payor's certification under paragraph 
(d)(2) of this section that it is unable to generate and submit either 
an accurate royalty report or an accurate royalty payment will extend 
the due date for both royalty reporting and royalty payment.
    (4) Paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(3) of this section do not apply 
to Indian leases or to Federal leases for minerals other than oil and 
gas.
    (5) Certifications under paragraph (d)(2) of this section should be 
submitted either:
    (i) By mail to: Robert Prael, Financial Manager, Minerals 
Management Service, Minerals Revenue Management, P.O. Box 25165, MS 
350B1, Denver, CO 80225-0165, or
    (ii) By e-mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#80d2efe2e5f2f4aed0f2e1e5ecc0ededf3aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="491b262b2c3b3d67193b282c250924243a672e263f">[email protected]</span></a>.
    (e)(1) A lessee or royalty payor who submits a certification 
required under paragraph (d)(2) of this section may rely on the 
extended due dates prescribed in paragraph (d)(1) of this section 
unless and until MMS notifies the lessee or royalty payor or operator 
that MMS does not accept the certification.
    (2) If MMS notifies the lessee or royalty payor that MMS does not 
accept the lessee's or royalty payor's certification under paragraph 
(d)(2) of this section, the due date for royalty payments and Reports 
of Sales and Royalty Remittance will be the date specified in the 
notice.

[FR Doc. 05-19533 Filed 9-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P


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