9626 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 1995 / Rules and Regulations

paragraph (o) of this section shall be

completed by July 10, 1995.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 95–4083 Filed 2–17–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–26–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 254

RIN 1010–AB81

Spill-Response Plans for Offshore

Facilities Including State Submerged

Lands and Pipelines

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service

(MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Interim final rule; delay of

expiration.

SUMMARY: This document delays the

expiration of the interim final rule

governing spill-response plans for

offshore facilities. The Federal Water

Pollution Control Act as amended by

the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA)

requires that a spill-response plan be

submitted for offshore facilities. The

MMS published an interim final rule

establishing requirements for spillresponse plans for offshore facilities

including pipelines on February 8,

1993. The rule was scheduled to expire

on February 18, 1995, or when

superseded by a final rule. The MMS

will not have a final rule in place by

February 18, 1995, and therefore will

extend the termination date of the

interim final rule. This rulemaking is

being extended until superseded by a

final rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule

published February 8, 1993 (58 FR

7489) is extended indefinitely; it will

not expire until the interim rule is

superseded by a final rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lawrence H. Ake, Engineering and

Standards Branch, telephone (703) 787–

1600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

February 8, 1993, MMS published an

interim final rule titled ‘‘Spill-Response

Plans for Offshore Facilities Including

State Submerged Lands and Pipelines’’

(58 FR 7489). The interim final rule was

given an effective date of February 18,

1993, and was to expire on February 18,

1995, or when superseded by a final

rule. At the time of publication of the

interim final rule, it was anticipated that

a final rule would be in place before

February 18, 1995. A final rule on this

subject will not be published before the

published expiration date, yet there is

still a need for a rule that conveys MMS

requirements for spill-response plans for

offshore facilities. The interim final rule

provides necessary guidance to

operators for preparing and submitting

spill-response plans that are required by

OPA. The MMS has determined that an

immediate effective date is necessary to

provide continuity in the

administration, review, and approval of

spill-response plans.

Author

This document was prepared by

Lawrence H. Ake, Engineering and

Technology Division, MMS.

Rulemaking Analyses

E.O. 12866

Non significant.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

No significant impact.

Paperwork Reduction Act

OMB clearance number 1010–0057.

Takings Implication Assessment

No interference with constitutionally

protected property rights.

E.O. 12778

Meets applicable standards.

National Environmental Policy Act

The Department of the Interior has

determined that this action does not

constitute a major federal action

affecting the quality of the human

environment; therefore, preparation of

an Environmental Impact Statement is

not required.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 254

Continental shelf, Environmental

protection, Oil and gas development

and production, Oil and gas exploration,

Pipelines, Public lands—mineral

resources, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

Dated: February 14, 1995.

Sylvia V. Baca,

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and

Minerals Management.

[FR Doc. 95–4110 Filed 2–17–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–M

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 3

RIN 2900–AH29

Reductions and Discontinuances

(Federal Employees’ Compensation)

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This document amends

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

adjudication regulations concerning

reduction or discontinuance of VA

benefits when a payee is also entitled to

benefits under the Federal Employees’

Compensation Act (FECA) for the same

injury or death for which VA payment

is being made. The intended effect of

this amendment is to bring VA

regulations into conformance with the

statutory prohibition against concurrent

receipt of VA benefits and FECA

benefits for the same injury or death.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This amendment is

effective February 21, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lorna Weston, Consultant, Regulations

Staff, Compensation and Pension

Service, Veterans Benefits

Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20420, telephone

(202) 273–7210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 U.S.C.

8116(a) prohibits a federal employee

who is receiving benefits for a workrelated injury or death under FECA from

receiving benefits from VA for the same

injury or death.

Currently the adjudication regulations

at 38 CFR 3.500(e) specify that the

effective date for reduction of VA

benefits based on an election of FECA

benefits will be the end of the month

following the month in which notice is

received from the Department of Labor’s

Office of Workers’ Compensation

Programs that a VA payee has elected

FECA benefits. The regulations do not

prohibit concurrent payment of VA and

FECA benefits. Thus, in those cases

where FECA payment is authorized

prior to a proper election and

discontinuance of VA benefits, a

potential for duplicate payment exists.

VA is amending 38 CFR 3.500(e) to

provide that the effective date for

reduction or discontinuance of VA

benefits in cases where FECA benefits

are elected for an injury or death which

is the basis of VA payment will be the

day preceding the date on which the

FECA award became effective.

The final rule is made effective upon

publication, since it makes changes

merely to reflect statutory requirements.

The Secretary certifies that this final

rule will not have a significant

economic impact on a substantial

number of small entities as they are

defined in the Regulatory Flexibility

Act, 5 U.S.C. 601–612. This rule will

directly affect VA beneficiaries, but will

not directly affect small business.

Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b),

this final regulation is exempt from the