Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION:

Semiannual regulatory agenda.

SUMMARY:

This notice provides the semiannual agenda of rules scheduled for review or development between fall 2018 and fall 2019. 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:

You should direct all comments and inquiries about these rules to the appropriate agency contact. You should 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In some cases, the Department has withdrawn rules that were placed on previous agendas for which there has been no publication activity or for which a proposed or interim rule was published.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 Following such an assessment, the Department may determine that certain rules listed as withdrawn under this agenda are appropriate for promulgation. If that determination is made, such rules will comply with Executive Order 13771.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Final Rule Stage

312. Revisions to the Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Rule

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.

Legal Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 to 1356a

Abstract: This rulemaking would revise the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations published in the 2016 final rule entitled “Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control,” 81 FR 25888 (April 29, 2016), for drilling, workover, completion and decommissioning operations. In accordance with section 4 of Secretary's Order 3350 (America-First Offshore Energy Strategy), Executive Order (E.O.) 13783 (Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth), and section 7 of E.O. 13795 (Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy), BSEE reviewed the 2016 final rule, considered stakeholder input on that rule, and has proposed revisions to reduce unnecessary burdens while ensuring that operations are conducted safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.

Timetable:

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Lakeisha Harrison, Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: 703 787-1552, Fax: 703 787-1555, Email: lakeisha.harrison@bsee.gov.

RIN: 1014-AA39

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Completed Actions

313. Revisions to Production Safety System Regulations

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.

Legal Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 to 1356a

Abstract: This rulemaking would revise the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations published in the 2016 final rule entitled “Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems,” 81 FR 61833 (Sept. 7, 2016), and address issues raised by stakeholders regarding that final rule. In accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13783 (Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth), and section 7 of E.O. 13795 (Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy), and section 4 of Secretary's Order 3350 (America-First Offshore Energy Strategy), BSEE reviewed the 2016 final rule to determine whether it potentially unnecessarily burdens the development or use of domestically produced energy resources, and proposed revisions to that final rule to reduce unnecessary burdens while ensuring that operations are conducted safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.

Timetable:

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Lakeisha Harrison, Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: 703 787-1552, Fax: 703 787-1555, Email: lakeisha.harrison@bsee.gov.

RIN: 1014-AA37

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM)

Proposed Rule Stage

314. Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf

Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 91 in part II of this issue of the Federal Register.

RIN: 1082-AA01

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Proposed Rule Stage

315. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2019-2020 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

E.O. 13771 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt.

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703 to 712; 16 U.S.C. 742a-j

Abstract: We propose to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2019-2020 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks), within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2019-2020 duck hunting seasons, and requests proposals from Indian tribes that wish to establish special migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.

Timetable:

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Ronald Kokel, Wildlife Biologist, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: MB, Falls Church, VA 22041-3808, Phone: 703 358-1714, Fax: 703 358-2217, Email: ronald_kokel@fws.gov.

RIN: 1018-BD10.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Completed Actions

316. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2018-2019 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

E.O. 13771 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt.

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703 to 711; 16 U.S.C. 742a-j

Abstract: This is a series of rulemaking actions to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2018-19 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks), within which States may select hunting seasons. We also request proposals from Indian tribes that wish to establish special migratory bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.

Timetable:

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Ronald Kokel, Wildlife Biologist, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: MB, Falls Church, VA 22041-3808, Phone: 703 358-1714, Email: ronald_kokel@fws.gov.

RIN: 1018-BB73

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Proposed Rule Stage

317. Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention

E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.

Legal Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.

Abstract: As directed by E.O. 13795, BOEM has reconsidered its financial assurance policies reflected in Notice to Lessees No. 2016-N01 (September 12, 2016). This rule will modify the policies established in the 2016 Notice to Lessees to ensure operator compliance with lease terms while minimizing unnecessary regulatory burdens, and codify the modifications.

Timetable:

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka, Chief, OPRA, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240, Phone: 202 208-6352, Email: deanna.meyer-pietruszka@boem.gov.

RIN: 1010-AE00