[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 178 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52917-52921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21135]



[[Page 52917]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 256

[Docket ID: MMS-2007-OMM-0064]
RIN 1010-AD44


Bonus or Royalty Credits for Relinquishing Certain Leases 
Offshore Florida

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends regulations for oil and gas leases on 
the Outer Continental Shelf to implement a mandate in the Gulf of 
Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. These amendments (1) provide a 
credit to lessees who relinquish certain eligible leases in the Gulf of 
Mexico; (2) define eligible leases as those within 125 miles of the 
Florida coast in the Eastern Planning Area, and certain leases within 
100 miles of the Florida coast in the Central Planning Area; and (3) 
allow lessees to use the credits in lieu of monetary payment for either 
a lease bonus bid or royalty due on oil and gas production from most 
other leases in the Gulf of Mexico, or to transfer the credits to other 
Gulf of Mexico lessees for their use.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule becomes effective on October 14, 
2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marshall Rose, Chief, Economics 
Division, at (703) 787-1536.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Summary of the Rule

    On February 1, 2008, MMS published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register (73 FR 6073) to implement section 104(c) of the Gulf of Mexico 
Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA), Public Law 109-432. Section 
104(c) of that statute authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
(Secretary) to issue a bonus or royalty credit for the exchange of 
certain leases located offshore of the State of Florida. The statute 
defines leases eligible for the credit as those in existence on the 
enactment date of the GOMESA and located both within specified Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) planning areas and distances from the Florida 
coastline. The statute sets the size of the credit as equal to the 
bonus and rental paid for the relinquished eligible lease, and limits 
its use to payments by lessees of bonuses and royalties for leases in 
the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) not subject to revenue sharing under section 
8(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 
1337(g)). Finally, the statute mandates creation of a regulatory 
process for notifying the Secretary of a lessee's decision to exchange 
a lease for a credit, issuing the credit, allocating the credit among 
multiple lease owners, and transferring the credit to other parties.
    The MMS received 2 responses during the 60-day comment period on 
this rule, 2 comments from ExxonMobil on March 20, 2008, and 2 comments 
from Chevron on March 31, 2008. Our reply to these four comments 
results in one change in Sec.  256.92(a) from the proposed rule. In 
addition, we changed the wording in the title to this subpart and in 
Sec. Sec.  256.94(c) and 256.95(b) and (c)(5) for clarity, but the 
title and these sections retain the same meaning as they had in the 
proposed rule.
    Exxon asked for the following two changes in the rule:
    1. On a lease where MMS elects to take royalty-in-kind (RIK), the 
lessee should be allowed to notify MMS of its intent to use credits for 
royalty, in which case the RIK election is postponed until credits are 
completed. Otherwise the credits could be lost because the company may 
choose not to bid on new leases and MMS decides to accept only RIK from 
the company's leases.
    We decline to make this change to the rule. It would create an 
unnecessary interference with the RIK program just to save a claimant 
from having to engage in the sale of the credit to another party. 
Section 256.95 explicitly authorizes transfer of the credits to other 
parties. Unless the potential uses of the credit are inadequate to 
absorb all the value represented by the credit, this limitation will 
not inhibit realization of full value from a transfer of the credit. 
Potential uses of the credit are clearly not inadequate. For example, 
in FY 2006, the non-8(g), non-RIK royalty revenue from the GOM was over 
$2 billion while bonus revenue was $0.8 billion. Thus, ample 
opportunity exists for use of credits by recipients themselves or 
others to whom recipients may transfer the credits, which are only $60 
million in total.
    2. Do not give MMS discretion to apply lessee's unused credits 5 
years after MMS issues them however MMS chooses. Lessees holding 
credits for a longer period is to the financial advantage of the 
government and computerized recordkeeping obviates any burden this 
continued holding would create.
    Again, we decline to make this change to the rule. Although it is 
undeniably true that it is to the financial advantage of the government 
for the lessee to hold on to the credits, there remains concern about 
recordkeeping issues and administrative costs. Computerization of 
records facilitates keeping track of unused credits, but does not 
completely eliminate the monitoring burden and cost of that activity. 
Also, a company would not likely relinquish its lease to obtain the 
credit, and then not timely use the credit. Regardless, we will not 
void the credit after 5 years, but simply apply it to outstanding 
obligations of the lessee.
    Chevron raised the following two objections to the rule:
    3. The proposed credit amounts, equal to bonuses and rentals, do 
not make the parties whole; they should also include a reasonable 
interest rate for the time value of those payments and compensation for 
any investments made in exploration activities on the leases.
    We decline to make this change to the rule because the GOMESA would 
not permit us to do so. The statute explicitly values an existing lease 
for exchange purposes at the amount of bonus and rentals paid until 
exchange. While we acknowledge that some lessees have spent large sums 
beyond the original bonus and subsequent rentals and discovered at 
least one prospect, GOMESA does not authorize reimbursement of either 
interest or exploration costs through the credits. Lessees retain the 
option not to relinquish their lease if they feel the compensation is 
inadequate.
    4. The 1-year period to claim the credit is not enforceable. 
Chevron interprets the absence of a specific time period in the law to 
claim the credit as meaning that MMS does not have the authority to use 
a rule implementing a statute to set an expiration date that Congress 
did not include in the statute.
    In response to this comment, the final rule extends the claim 
period of 1 year in the proposed rule to 2 years. But, we believe a 
firm deadline is both within our authority and appropriate as an 
efficient way to design this rulemaking. We have the authority to set a 
deadline because the statute (section 104(c)(4)) directs the Secretary 
to ``promulgate regulations that shall provide a process for * * * 
issuance of bonus or royalty credits in exchange for relinquishment of 
the existing lease * * *''. A time component is often an integral part 
of any such process, in this case one designed to resolve the issue of 
pre-existing leases in an area now designated as off-limits to new oil 
and gas leasing. Further, the statute does not preclude use of an 
expiration date and general rulemaking authority permits setting a 
reasonable expiration date

[[Page 52918]]

when it contributes to the purpose of the regulation. A 2-year deadline 
for acting on the exchange offer is reasonable and appropriate in this 
process because it provides ample time for lessees to consider and 
reach a decision about relinquishing their leases in return for the 
credits, while at the same time not prolonging revelation of that 
decision and its potential effects in this sensitive area. The deadline 
serves the statutory policy of assuring a timely approach for 
addressing outstanding concerns on the part of Florida residents 
relating to development of the affected leases by encouraging 
accelerated relinquishment of the leases. In return, lessees qualify 
for a reimbursement that would not be forthcoming normally for leases 
that will eventually expire on their own with no reimbursement. Also, 
the timing constraint serves to terminate rental payments after a 
reasonable time, thereby mitigating the amount of accrued rentals that 
would otherwise become part of the credits due if the lease is 
relinquished.
    Both Exxon and Chevron object to the moratoria provisions in the 
statute. Exxon laments increasing barriers to oil and gas development 
that could diversify our Nation's sources of supply and notes that 
energy development and environmental protection can and should continue 
to co-exist. Chevron notes that the extension of moratoria is contrary 
to the GOMESA title. The company says that this provision will actually 
harm energy security by perpetuating the status quo (off-limits to 
exploration and production activities) in areas of the GOM that are 
known to contain significant oil and gas resources.
    Regardless of the accuracy of these assertions, they are not 
germane to the rule. Rather, they are more about the concept behind the 
moratoria language and the requirement for MMS to promulgate a rule 
encouraging the relinquishment of certain leases offshore Florida as 
contained in GOMESA. In this case, we are simply drafting the 
implementation language for a policy decreed by Congress. Moreover, the 
rule does not force relinquishment of the eligible leases--it just 
provides an incentive for lessees to do so. Finally, we note that the 
moratoria period is finite and known resources in the area could be 
developed fairly quickly if policy should change in the future.
    The proposed rule listed all the leases MMS records show as being 
in the area eligible for exchange for a credit, along with the bonus 
and rental amounts received from each of those leases and asked whether 
lessees had any information not consistent with this list. No comments 
were received on this published list and no one registered a claim that 
eligible leases were omitted or that the bonus and rental amounts which 
determine the value of the credits were incorrect.

Procedural Matters

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order (E.O.) 12866)

    This final rule is not a significant rule as determined by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is not subject to review 
under E.O. 12866.
    (1) This final rule will not have an annual effect of $100 million 
or more on the economy. It will not adversely affect in a material way 
the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or 
communities. The total value of the credit is defined by statute as 
bonuses and rental paid on the leases in the eligible area. The MMS 
records show 79 leases are eligible. Total bonuses and rentals paid in 
connection with these leases is about $60 million.
    (2) This final rule will not create a serious inconsistency or 
otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency. 
In fact, it endeavors to end leases whose operations are restricted to 
accommodate activity carried out by another Federal agency and whose 
potential activities are opposed by State and local officials in the 
area.
    (3) This final rule will not alter the budgetary effects of 
entitlements, grants, user fees or loan programs, or the rights or 
obligations of their recipients.
    (4) This final rule will not raise novel legal or policy issues. 
The final rule will implement a statutory program that exchanges a 
credit against future obligations for the return of old, largely 
inactive leases in an area deemed sensitive by statute.

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 applies to the lessees holding record title 
interests in the 79 offshore leases located near the coastline of the 
State of Florida. These lessees fall under the Small Business 
Administration's North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
code 211111, Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction. Under this 
NAICS code, companies with less than 500 employees are considered small 
businesses. Only 1 of the current record title owners of these 79 
leases has less than 500 employees. Moreover, this rule provides a 
clear benefit to the lessees. It specifies a valuable credit and a 
simple process for claiming a benefit for relinquishing a lease which 
the owners have had trouble operating due to access limitations.
    This final rule will create a relatively small amount of total 
credits in exchange for certain leases through a longstanding 
relinquishment process. The credits could be used to fulfill any of a 
relatively large pool of routine bonus or royalty in-value OCS 
obligations under leases located in the GOM. The credits also will be 
freely transferable or assignable. Thus, should a small entity obtain a 
credit through a transfer, it will be able to use the credit for 
routine obligations or it could exchange the credit for approximately 
equivalent value in a potentially large market of other users. The 
provisions of this final rule will not have a significant adverse 
economic effect on offshore lessees and operators, including those that 
are classified as small businesses.
    Your comments are important. The Small Business and Agriculture 
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. If you wish to comment on the actions of MMS, call 1-888-734-
3247. 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 DOI.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This final rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2) of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This final rule:
    a. Will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or 
more. This final rule will offer credits worth approximately $60 
million for the exchange of 79 leases in a sensitive area. Not all 
companies may choose to relinquish their leases for the credit offered. 
Even if all the credits were redeemed in 1 year, it will 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, Federal, State, local government 
agencies, or geographic regions. The credit

[[Page 52919]]

represents only a transfer of previous payments back to lessees. The 
relatively small amount returned by these credits will have little 
effect on markets, agencies, or regions.
    c. Will 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. 
Productive activities have been restricted on the leases that will be 
returned, and the monetary credit received in exchange will be too 
small to have a perceptible effect.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This final rule will not impose an unfunded mandate on State, 
local, or tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 
million per year. The final rule will 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.

Takings Implication Assessment (E.O. 12630)

    Under the criteria in E.O. 12630, this final rule does not have 
significant takings implications as participation is voluntary. The 
final rule is not a governmental action capable of interference with 
constitutionally protected property rights. A Takings Implication 
Assessment is not required.

Federalism (E.O. 13132)

    Under the criteria in E.O. 13132, this final rule does not have 
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment. As noted in the proposed rule, the potential 
revenue sharing effects are excluded either explicitly or implicitly by 
virtue of the treatment of the expected credit redemptions. This final 
rule will not substantially and directly affect the relationship 
between the Federal and State governments. To the extent that State and 
local governments have a role in OCS activities, this final rule will 
not affect that role. A Federalism Assessment is not required.

Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

    This final rule complies with the requirements of E.O. 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.

Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175)

    Under the criteria in E.O. 13175, we have evaluated this final rule 
and determined that it has no potential effects on federally recognized 
Indian tribes. There are no Indian or tribal lands on the OCS.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995

    This rule contains new information collection requirements, and 
therefore MMS has submitted an information collection request to OMB 
for review and approval, as required under the PRA. The OMB has 
approved the new requirements and assigned OMB Control Number 1010-0174 
(expiration 09-30-2011, 45 hours). This rule also refers to, but does 
not change, information collection burdens already covered and approved 
under OMB Control Number 1010-0006 (expiration 5/31/10). There were no 
changes in the information collection requirements from the proposed 
rule to the final rule. The rulemaking imposes no new non-hour cost 
burdens.
    The title of the collection of information for the rule is ``30 CFR 
Part 256, Bonus or Royalty Credits for Relinquishing Certain Leases 
Offshore Florida.'' It should be noted that this rulemaking concerns 
only 79 current leases and will not affect future leases. Therefore, 
the associated information collection would be a one-time only hour 
burden should respondents holding eligible leases elect to take 
advantage of the bonus or royalty credits for relinquishing these 
leases. Responses to this collection are required to obtain or retain a 
benefit and are mandatory. The MMS will protect proprietary information 
according to section 26 of the OCS Lands Act, the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
part 2), and Sec.  256.10(d). The information collection does not 
include questions of a sensitive nature.
    The OMB approved the collection of information required by the 
current 30 CFR part 256 regulations under OMB Control Number 1010-0006 
(17,058 burden hours, $603,125 non-hour cost burdens, expiration 5/31/
2010).
    The final regulation will allow lessees to request a bonus or 
royalty credit, and to transfer this same bonus or credit to another 
party. We estimate a total of 45 burden hours, including the time for 
gathering the information and submitting the request to MMS for review. 
Refer to the chart for the burden.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average number
 Citation 30 CFR part 256 subpart N   Reporting & recordkeeping     Hour burden      of annual     Annual burden
                                             requirement                             responses         hours
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92(a)..............................  Request a bonus or royalty                1              30              30
                                      credit and submit
                                      supporting documentation.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
92(a)(5)...........................  Submit a request to            Burden currently approved under 1010-0006.*
                                      relinquish lease according
                                      to Sec.   256.76.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
95.................................  Request approval to                       1              15              15
                                      transfer bonus or credit
                                      to another party with
                                      supporting information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden................................................................              45             45
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 240 hours for this requirement are already approved under 1010-0006.

    A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. The public may comment, at any 
time, on the accuracy of the information collection burden of our 
regulations and may submit comments to the Department of the Interior; 
Minerals Management Service; Attention: Regulations and Standards 
Branch; MS-4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969

    We determined this final rule is categorically excluded from 
requirements for analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act 
and the Department Manual at 516 DM. This

[[Page 52920]]

rule deals with financial matters and has no direct effect on MMS 
decisions on oil and gas operations with the potential to affect the 
environment; hence, an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. 
Pursuant to Department Manual 516 DM 2.3A (2), section 1.10 of 516 DM 
2, Appendix 1 excludes from documentation in an environmental 
assessment or impact statement ``policies, directives, regulations and 
guidelines of an administrative, financial, legal, technical or 
procedural nature; or the environmental effects of which are too broad, 
speculative or conjectural to lend themselves to meaningful analysis 
and will be subject later to the NEPA process, either collectively or 
case-by-case.'' Section 1.3 of the same appendix clarifies that 
royalties and audits are considered routine financial transactions that 
are subject to categorical exclusion from the NEPA process. None of the 
exceptional circumstances set forth in 516 DM 2 Appendix 2 apply.

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, app. C section 515, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-153-154).

Effects on the Energy Supply (E.O. 13211)

    This final rule is not a significant energy action under the 
definition in E.O. 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is not 
required.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 256

    Administrative practice and procedure, Continental shelf, 
Government contracts, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, 
Public lands--mineral resources, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Dated: August 8, 2008.
C. Stephen Allred,
Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Minerals Management Service 
(MMS) proposes to amend 30 CFR part 256 as follows:

PART 256--LEASING OF SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER 
CONTINENTIAL SHELF

0
1. The authority citation for part 256 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 31 U.S.C. 9701, 42 U.S.C. 6213, 43 U.S.C. 1334, Pub. 
L. 109-432.


0
2. Section 256.5 is amended by adding paragraphs (m) through (s) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  256.5  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (m) Bonus or royalty credit means a legal instrument or other 
written documentation, or an entry in an account managed by the 
Secretary that a bidder or lessee may use in lieu of any other monetary 
payment for--
    (1) A bonus due for a lease on the Outer Continental Shelf; or
    (2) A royalty due on oil or gas production from any lease located 
on the Outer Continental Shelf.
    (n) Central planning area means the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning 
Area of the Outer Continental Shelf, as designated in the document 
entitled ``Draft Proposed Program Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Leasing Program 2007-2012,'' dated February 2006.
    (o) Coastline means the line of ordinary low water along that 
portion of the coast in direct contact with the open sea and the line 
marking the seaward limit of inland waters.
    (p) Desoto Canyon OPD means the official protraction diagram 
designated as Desoto Canyon which has a western edge located at the 
universal transverse mercator (UTM) X coordinate 1,346,400 in the North 
American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27).
    (q) Destin Dome OPD means the official protraction diagram 
designated as Destin Dome which has a western edge located at the 
universal transverse mercator (UTM) X coordinate 1,393,920 in the NAD 
27.
    (r) Eastern planning area means the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning 
Area of the Outer Continental Shelf, as designated in the document 
entitled ``Draft Proposed Program Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Leasing Program 2007-2012,'' dated February 2006.
    (s) Pensacola OPD means the official protraction diagram designated 
as Pensacola which has a western edge located at the universal 
transverse mercator (UTM) X coordinate 1,393,920 in the NAD 27.

0
3. Add a new subpart N consisting of Sec. Sec.  256.90 through 256.95 
to read as follows:

Subpart N--Bonus or Royalty Credits for Exchange of Certain Leases 
Offshore Florida

Sec.
256.90 Which leases may I exchange for a bonus or royalty credit?
256.91 How much bonus or royalty credit will MMS grant in exchange 
for a lease?
256.92 What must I do to obtain a bonus or royalty credit?
256.93 How is the bonus or royalty credit allocated among multiple 
lease owners?
256.94 How may I use the bonus or royalty credit?
256.95 How do I transfer a bonus or royalty credit to another 
person?


Sec.  256.90  Which leases may I exchange for a bonus or royalty 
credit?

    You may exchange a lease for a bonus or royalty credit if it:
    (a) Was in effect on December 20, 2006, and
    (b) Is located in:
    (1) The Eastern planning area and within 125 miles of the coastline 
of the State of Florida, or
    (2) The Central planning area and within the Desoto Canyon OPD, the 
Destin Dome OPD, or the Pensacola OPD, and within 100 miles of the 
coastline of the State of Florida.


Sec.  256.91  How much bonus or royalty credit will MMS grant in 
exchange for a lease?

    The amount of the bonus or royalty credit for an exchanged lease 
equals the sum of:
    (a) The amount of the bonus payment; and
    (b) All rent paid for the lease as of the date the lessee submits 
the request to exchange the lease under Sec.  256.92 to MMS.


Sec.  256.92  What must I do to obtain a bonus or royalty credit?

    (a) To obtain the bonus or royalty credit, all of the record title 
interest owners in the lease must submit the following to the MMS 
Regional Supervisor for Leasing and Environment for the Gulf of Mexico 
on or before October 14, 2010.
    (1) A written request to exchange the lease for the bonus or 
royalty credit, signed by all record title interest owners in the 
lease.
    (2) The name and contact information for a person who will act as a 
contact for each record title interest owner.
    (3) Documentation of each record title interest owner's percentage 
share in the lease.
    (4) A list of all bonus and rental payments for that lease made by, 
or on behalf of, each of the current record title owners.
    (5) A written relinquishment of the lease as described in Sec.  
256.76. Notwithstanding Sec.  256.76, the relinquishment will become 
effective when the credit becomes effective under paragraph (b) of this 
section.
    (b) The credit becomes effective when MMS issues a certification to 
the record title interest owners that the lease has qualified for the 
credit.

[[Page 52921]]

Sec.  256.93  How is the bonus or royalty credit allocated among 
multiple lease owners?

    The MMS will allocate the bonus or royalty credit for an exchanged 
lease to the current record title interest owners in the same 
percentage share as each owner has in the lease as of the date of the 
request to exchange the lease.


Sec.  256.94  How may I use the bonus or royalty credit?

    (a) You may use a credit issued under this part in lieu of a 
monetary payment due under any lease in the Gulf of Mexico not subject 
to the revenue distribution provisions of section 8(g)(2) of the OCSLA 
(43 U.S.C. 1337(g)(2)) for either:
    (1) A bonus for acquisition of an interest in a new lease; or
    (2) Royalty due on oil and gas production after October 14, 2008.
    (b) You may not use a bonus or royalty credit in lieu of delivering 
oil or gas taken as royalty-in-kind.
    (c) If you have any credit that remains unused after 5 years from 
the date MMS issued the credit, MMS reserves the right to apply the 
remaining credit to any of your obligations.


Sec.  256.95  How do I transfer a bonus or royalty credit to another 
person?

    (a) You may transfer your bonus or royalty credit to any other 
person by submitting to the MMS Adjudication Unit for the Gulf of 
Mexico two originally executed transfer letters of agreement.
    (b) Authorized officers indicated on the qualification card filed 
with MMS of all companies involved in transferring and receiving the 
credit must sign the transfer letters of agreement.
    (c) A transfer letter of agreement must include:
    (1) The effective date of the transfer,
    (2) The OCS-G number for the lease that originally qualified for 
the credit,
    (3) The amount of the credit being transferred,
    (4) Company names punctuated exactly as filed on the qualification 
card at MMS, and
    (5) A corporate seal, if you used a corporate seal in your initial 
qualification to hold OCS leases.
    (d) The transferee of a credit transferred under this section may 
use it in accordance with Sec.  256.94 as soon as MMS sends a 
confirmation of the transfer to the transferee.

[FR Doc. E8-21135 Filed 9-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P