99-17238. Change to Delegated State Audit Functions  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 36782-36784]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-17238]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    
    Minerals Management Service
    
    30 CFR Part 227
    
    RIN 1010-AC51
    
    
    Change to Delegated State Audit Functions
    
    AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is amending its 
    regulations to allow States which choose to assume audit duties to do 
    so for less than all of the Federal mineral leases within the State or 
    leases offshore of the State.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATES: August 9, 1999.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David S. Guzy, Chief, Rules and 
    Publications Staff, telephone (303) 231-3432, FAX (303) 231-3385, e-
    Mail David.Guzy@mms.gov.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The principal author of this rulemaking is 
    Ms. Shirley Burhop, State and Indian Compliance Division, Royalty 
    Management Program (RMP).
    
    I. Background
    
        This rule amends regulations governing the delegation of royalty 
    management duties to States. Section 205 of the Federal Oil and Gas 
    Royalty Management Act of 1982 (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1735, gives MMS the 
    authority to delegate audit functions to States. Currently, 10 States 
    have entered into the delegation agreements authorized by Section 205.
        Regulations in 30 CFR part 227 implementing the Federal Oil and Gas 
    Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996 (RSFA), Pub. L. 104-
    185, as corrected by Pub. L. 104-200, expanded the duties that States 
    could assume. Those regulations at 30 CFR 227.101 prescribed that if a 
    State wanted MMS to delegate the audit function to the State, then the 
    State was required to audit all Federal mineral leases within that 
    State and all 8(g) leases offshore of the State. We intended that 
    States perform other delegable functions authorized by RSFA for all 
    leases within that State and in all 8(g) leases offshore of the State. 
    However, we do not believe it is either necessary or desirable in the 
    case of the audit function. Typically auditing is done on a sampling 
    basis, i.e. not all leases are audited.
        This change allows States which are now delegated audit authority 
    under FOGRMA to continue that audit authority without significantly 
    altering their staffing, funding, or other operations. By removing the 
    requirement that they exercise audit authority over all Federal mineral 
    leases within the State, the States will again be able to work with us 
    in those cases where State resources do not allow the State to cover 
    their entire audit universe. Thus, the State will designate the limits 
    of its audit activity each year through an annual audit work plan. This 
    wording change will also enable the MMS to continue to assist a State 
    in its audit efforts when necessary.
    
    II. Statutory Authority
    
        Authority for this change is granted by FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 1735, as 
    amended by RSFA, Pub. L. 104-185, August 13, 1996, as corrected by Pub. 
    L. 104-200. Authority regarding solid mineral leases, geothermal 
    leases, and 8(g) leases is granted by Pub. L. 102-154.
    
    III. Comments on Proposed Rule
    
        The proposed rulemaking provided a 60-day public comment period 
    which ended April 12, 1999. MMS received comments from one oil and gas 
    trade association commenter during the comment period. We reviewed and 
    analyzed the comments pertaining to this final rulemaking, and did not 
    revise the language of the final rule. The specific comments are 
    addressed below:
        Comment--Regarding the Analysis section of the proposed rule 
    preamble, the commenter questioned how a State could take on delegated 
    functions without adequate staffing or funding. The commenter stated 
    that ``the language in the proposed rule controverts the Delegation 
    regulations,'' as stated at 30 CFR 227.103.
        Response--The final rule enables States to perform delegated audit 
    functions for some or all Federal leases within their State rather than 
    being required to assume responsibility for all such leases. Our intent 
    is to enable those States which face staffing and funding limitations 
    to take on delegated audit duties to the extent they can perform such 
    duties with available resources. Current regulations at 30 CFR 227.101 
    (1998) require a State to have the resources to audit its entire lease 
    universe in order to take on any delegated audit duties.
    
    IV. Procedural Matters
    
    Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O. 12866)
    
        This document is not a significant rule and is not subject to 
    review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 
    12866.
        (1) This rule will not have an 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. Requesting States may incur additional costs for 
    delegation responsibilities. However, these direct costs will be fully 
    reimbursed by the Federal Government in accordance with their annual, 
    approved audit plan each year. This rule change does not require the 
    States to file any additional information or fees.
        (2) This rule will not create a serious inconsistency or otherwise 
    interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency. States 
    with delegated audit authority must follow the policies of the 
    Department. States will coordinate their audit actions with the Bureau 
    of Land Management and MMS.
        (3) This rule does not alter the budgetary effects or entitlements, 
    grants,
    
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    user fees, or loan programs or the rights or obligations of their 
    recipients. Audits of Federal leases within State boundaries will be 
    individually budgeted through an annual work plan proposal the State 
    prepares and MMS approves. This is a process we have used effectively 
    since 1985 and will continue under the rule.
        (4) This rule does not raise novel legal or policy issues. We have 
    had authority to delegate audit duties to States since 1983. 
    Historically, States have audited as much of the Federal lease universe 
    as practical for each State and MMS audited the remainder. We expect 
    these circumstances of operation to continue under this rule.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Department of the Interior certifies that this document 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.).
        The major impact of the rule will be on State governments, which 
    are not small entities. There will be some effect on the oil and gas 
    companies which are subject to audit, as various audit staffs, 
    including MMS's Compliance Divisions, State delegations, and Indian 
    Tribal delegations, may now audit Federal and Indian leases located 
    within a particular State's boundaries. This is no change from the way 
    in which MMS and delegated States and Tribes have audited companies in 
    the past. As has been done in the past, MMS will continue to coordinate 
    audit efforts of the various entities which might be involved in any 
    particular audit in order to minimize disruptions to the companies 
    being audited.
    
    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)
    
        This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small 
    Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:
        a. Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or 
    more. States would initially incur the expense of delegated audit 
    functions and MMS would later reimburse them. The maximum economic 
    impact for audit delegation is estimated to be $5.5 million.
        b. Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for 
    consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government 
    agencies, or geographic regions. The audit of Federal leases is not a 
    function which generates impacts on costs or prices to individuals or 
    areas. States will review royalty calculation and payments to enforce 
    existing Federal lease terms and royalty policies. States will conduct 
    the audits as efficiently and economically as possible in accordance 
    with Departmental policies.
        c. 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. The 
    laws providing for the delegation of audit duties, FOGRMA and RSFA, do 
    not provide for any other entity, except tribal governments, to conduct 
    these duties.
    
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    
        This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or 
    tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 million per 
    year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on State, 
    local or tribal governments or the private sector. The rule does not 
    change valuation requirements, impose additional royalty collections or 
    require new reporting forms. This rule merely gives State governments 
    the option to conduct audits and investigations on less than all of the 
    Federal mineral leases within State boundaries or section 8(g) leases 
    on the OCS. The Federal Government will fully reimburse States for the 
    costs they incur to conduct the audits and investigations in accordance 
    with the State's annual, approved audit plan. We expect those costs to 
    be no more than $5.5 million per year. County, local, or tribal 
    governments will not perform the delegable audit functions on behalf of 
    State governments; therefore, they will not be impacted by this rule.
        A statement containing the information required by the Unfunded 
    Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required.
    
    Takings (E.O. 12630)
    
        In accordance with Executive Order 12630, the rule does not have a 
    significant takings implication. States seeking audit delegation from 
    year to year will propose the level of effort they can expend auditing 
    Federal leases. This method of operation will give States first choice 
    in cooperatively planning annual work with MMS. This rule does not 
    represent a governmental action capable of interference with 
    constitutionally protected property rights. A takings implication 
    assessment is not required.
    
    Federalism (E.O. 12612)
    
        In accordance with Executive Order 12612, the rule does not have 
    sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
    Federalism Assessment. This rule allows States to continue to audit 
    selected leases within legal boundaries. It does not alter roles, 
    rights or responsibilities of States conducting delegated audits. A 
    Federalism Assessment is not required.
    
    Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)
    
        In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the Office of the 
    Solicitor has determined that this rule does not unduly burden the 
    judicial system and meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 
    of the Order.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        This regulation does not require an additional information 
    collection approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. There is 
    currently in place an approved information collection titled Delegation 
    of Authority to States, OMB Control Number 1010-0088, which expires on 
    June 30, 2000.
    
    National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    
        This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly 
    affecting the quality of the human environment. A detailed statement 
    under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is not required.
    
    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 
    proceeded by the symbol ``Sec. '' and a number heading; for example:
    
    
    Sec. 227.101  What royalty management functions may MMS delegate to a 
    State?
    
        (5) Is the description of the rule in the ``Supplementary 
    Information'' section of this preamble helpful in understanding the 
    rule?
        (6) 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
    
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    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 your comments to this address: Exsec@ios.doi.gov.
    
    List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 227
    
        Coal, Continental shelf, Geothermal energy, Government contracts, 
    Mineral royalties, Natural gas, Petroleum, Public lands--mineral 
    resources, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Dated: June 19, 1999.
    Sylvia V. Baca,
    Acting Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR part 227 is amended 
    as follows:
    
    PART 227--DELEGATION TO STATES
    
        1. The authority citation for part 227 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1735; 30 U.S.C. 196; Pub. L. 102-154.
    
        2. Revise Sec. 227.101 to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 227.101   What royalty management functions may MMS delegate to a 
    State?
    
        (a) If there are oil and gas leases subject to the Act on Federal 
    lands within your State, MMS may delegate the following royalty 
    management functions for all such Federal oil and gas leases to you 
    under this part:
        (1) Receiving and processing production or royalty reports;
        (2) Correcting erroneous report data; and
        (3) Performing automated verification.
        (b) If there are oil and gas leases subject to the Act on Federal 
    lands within your State, MMS may delegate the following royalty 
    management functions for some or all of the Federal oil and gas leases 
    to you under this part:
        (1) Conducting audits and investigations; and
        (2) Issuing demands, subpoenas, and orders to perform restructured 
    accounting, including related notices to lessees or their designees, 
    and entering into tolling agreements under section 115(d)(1) of the 
    Act, 30 U.S.C. 1725(d)(1).
        (c) If there are oil and gas leases offshore of your State subject 
    to section 8(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 
    1337 (g), or solid mineral leases or geothermal leases on Federal lands 
    within your State, MMS may delegate authority to conduct audits and 
    investigations for some or all such Federal leases.
    
    [FR Doc. 99-17238 Filed 7-7-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
8/9/1999
Published:
07/08/1999
Department:
Minerals Management Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
99-17238
Dates:
August 9, 1999.
Pages:
36782-36784 (3 pages)
RINs:
1010-AC51: Change to Delegated State Audit Functions
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1010-AC51/change-to-delegated-state-audit-functions
PDF File:
99-17238.pdf
CFR: (1)
30 CFR 227.101