96-32410. Public Land Records

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67517-67518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32410]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 1810

[WO-420-1050-00-24-1A]
RIN 1004-AC 81


Public Land Records

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to remove in its 
entirety Subpart 1813 of Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 
This subpart contains only general information about public land 
records and BLM practices. BLM will provide the public with this 
information through informational brochures and its manual system.

DATES: Submit comments by February 21, 1997. BLM may, but need not, 
consider comments received or postmarked after this date in preparing 
the final rule.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may:
    (a) Hand-deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L St., NW, Washington, DC;
    (b) Mail comments to the Bureau of Land Management, Administrative 
Record, Room 401LS, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240; or
    (c) Transmit comments electronically via the Internet to: 
[e-mail]. Please include ``Attn: AC 81'' in your message. 
If you do not receive a confirmation from the system that we have 
received your Internet message, contact us directly at [phone].
    You will be able to review comments at the L Street address during 
regular business hours from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Bruno, [phone] or Wendy 
Spencer, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Comment Procedures
II. Discussion of Proposed Rule
III. Procedural Matters

I. Public Comment Procedures

    Written comments on the proposed rule should be specific, focus on 
issues pertinent to the proposed rule, and explain the reason for any 
recommended change. Where possible, comments should reference the 
specific section or paragraph of the proposal being addressed. BLM will 
not necessarily consider or include in the Administrative Record for 
the final rule comments received or postmarked after the close of the 
comment period (see DATES) or delivered to an address other than the 
one listed above (see ADDRESSES).

II. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    In an effort to reduce unnecessary volume in its regulations, the 
BLM is removing from the CFR material that provides general information 
about public land records or that explains BLM practices. Removing this 
material will not deprive the public of any notice, right, 
administrative process or information required by law. Material of this 
sort is more properly addressed in public information releases and the 
BLM Manual, both of which are available to the public, are more 
detailed, and can be more easily updated.
    The regulations in the current 43 CFR Subpart 1813 do not 
implement, interpret or prescribe law or policy, or any procedure or 
practice of the BLM required by law, or that is of such material 
importance to the public as to require its publication in the Federal 
Register and codification in the Code of Federal Regulations.

[[Page 67518]]

III. Procedural Matters

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

    The BLM has prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA), and has 
made a tentative finding that the final rule would not constitute a 
major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C). The BLM anticipates 
making a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the final rule in 
accordance with the BLM's procedures under NEPA. The BLM has placed the 
EA on file in the BLM Administrative Record at the address specified 
previously. The BLM will complete an EA on the final rule and make a 
finding on the significance of any resulting impacts before 
promulgating the final rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The proposed rule does not contain information collection 
requirements that the Office of Management and Budget must approve 
under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    BLM has determined that the proposed rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This proposed rule does not include any Federal mandate that may 
result in expenditures of $100 million in any one year by State, local, 
and tribal governments in the aggregate, or by the private sector. 
Therefore, a Section 202 statement under the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act is not required.

Executive Order 12612

    BLM has analyzed this rule under the principles and criteria in 
Executive Order 12612 and has determined that the rule does not have 
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment.

Executive Order 12630

    BLM certifies that the rule does not represent a governmental 
action capable of interference with constitutionally protected property 
rights. Thus, a Takings Implication Assessment need not be prepared 
under Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.

Executive Order 12866

    The proposed rule does not meet the criteria for significant 
regulatory action requiring review by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review.

Executive Order 12988

    The Department has determined that this rule meets the applicable 
standards in Sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform.

Author

    The principal authors of this rule are Frank Bruno, Regulatory 
Management Group, [phone], and Wendy Spencer, Bureau Records 
Administrator, [phone], assisted by Frances Watson, Regulatory 
Management Group, [phone].

List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 1810

    Administrative practice and procedure, Archives and records.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, and under the authority of 
43 U.S.C. 1740, Part 1810 of Title 43 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations is proposed to be amended as set forth below:

PART 1810--INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL GUIDANCE

    1. The authority for part 1810 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: R.S. 2478; 43 U.S.C. 1201, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart 1813--[Removed]

    2. Subpart 1813 is removed in its entirety.

    Dated: December 17, 1996.
Bob Armstrong,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 96-32410 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P