2021-14872. Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION:

Semiannual regulatory agenda.

SUMMARY:

This notice provides the semiannual agenda of Department of the Interior (Department) rules scheduled for review or development between Spring 2021 and Spring 2022. 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:

Please direct all comments and inquiries about these rules to the appropriate agency contact. Please 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 [phone].

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. The complete Unified Agenda will be published at www.reginfo.gov,, in a format that offers users enhanced ability to obtain information from the Agenda database. Agenda information is also available at www.regulations.gov,, the government-wide website for submission of comments on proposed regulations.

In some cases, the Department has withdrawn rules that were placed on previous agendas for which there has been no publication activity or for which a proposed or interim rule was published.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 Following such an assessment, the Department may determine that certain rules listed as withdrawn under this agenda are appropriate for promulgation.

Bivan Patnaik,

Deputy Director, Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement—Proposed Rule Stage

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
142	Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions	1014-AA52

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement—Completed Actions

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
143	Update of Regulations on Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates	1014-AA50

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management—Final Rule Stage

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
144	Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention	1082-AA02

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management—Completed Actions

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
145	Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf	1082-AA01

United States Fish and Wildlife Service—Proposed Rule Stage

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
146	Migratory Bird Hunting; 2021-22 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations	1018-BE34
147	Migratory Bird Hunting; 2022-23 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations	1018-BF07
148	Migratory Bird Hunting; 2023-24 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations	1018-BF64

United States Fish and Wildlife Service—Long-Term Actions

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
149	Importation, Exportation and Transportation of Wildlife; Updates to the Regulations	1018-BF16

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management—Long-Term Actions

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
150	Air Quality Rule (Section 610 Review)	1010-AE09

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Proposed Rule Stage

142. • Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions

Legal Authority: Not Yet Determined

Abstract: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is revising existing regulations for well control and blowout preventer systems.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	09/00/21
NPRM Comment Period End	11/00/21

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Kirk Malstrom, Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1014-AA52

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Completed Actions

143. Update of Regulations on Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates

Legal Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(3)(A); 43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(3)(B)

Abstract: BSEE reviewed its current regulations pertaining to royalty relief and is no longer considering the previously proposed modifications.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
Withdrawn	03/19/21

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Kirk Malstrom, Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166, Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1014-AA50

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM)

Final Rule Stage

144. Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention

Legal Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1334(a)

Abstract: This joint rulemaking, between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), will revise policies for oil and gas operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) concerning operator compliance with financial and performance obligations.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	10/16/20	85 FR 65904
NPRM Comment Period End	12/15/20
Final Action	10/00/21
Final Action Effective	11/00/21

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Steven Mullen, Management Analyst, Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, 1849 C Street NW, Room 7321, Washington, DC 20240, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1082-AA02

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM)

Completed Actions

145. Revisions to the Requirement for Exploratory Drilling on the Artic Outer Continental Shelf

Legal Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1334(a); 33 U.S.C. 2701 ch. 40

Abstract: This joint rulemaking, between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), is withdrawn. BSEE and BOEM reviewed the Arctic-specific regulations for exploratory drilling and are no longer considering the previously proposed modifications.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	12/09/20	85 FR 79266
NPRM Comment Period End	02/08/21
NPRM Comment Period Reopened	02/10/21	86 FR 8878
NPRM Comment Period Reopened End	04/09/21
Withdrawn	04/13/21

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Steven Mullen, Management Analyst, Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, 1849 C Street NW, Room 7321, Washington, DC 20240, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1082-AA01

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Proposed Rule Stage

146. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2021-22 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

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

Abstract: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2021-22 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, announces the Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee and Flyway Council meetings, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2021-22 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.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	10/09/20	85 FR 64097
NPRM Comment Period End	11/09/20
NPRM—Proposed Frameworks	02/22/21	86 FR 10622
NPRM Comment Period End	03/24/21
NPRM—Proposed Tribal Regulations	05/04/21	86 FR 23641
Final Action—Final Frameworks	05/00/21
NPRM Comment Period End	06/03/21
Final Action—Final Tribal Regulations	06/00/21
Final Action—Season Selections	06/00/21

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Jerome Ford, Assistant Director--Migratory Bird Program, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS-MB, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1018-BE34

147. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2022-23 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

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

Abstract: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2022-23 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, announces the Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee and Flyway Council meetings, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2022-23 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.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
Notice of Meeting	03/25/21	86 FR 15957
Meeting	04/06/21
NPRM	06/00/21
NPRM—Supplemental	07/00/21
NPRM—Proposed Frameworks	12/00/21
NPRM—Proposed Tribal Regulations	01/00/22
Final Action—Final Frameworks	02/00/22
Final Action—Final Tribal Regulations	04/00/22
Final Action—Season Selections	06/00/22

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Jerome Ford, Assistant Director--Migratory Bird Program, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS-MB, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1018-BF07

148. • Migratory Bird Hunting; 2023-24 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a-j

Abstract: This rule would establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annually prescribes the frameworks, or outside limits, for season lengths, bag limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting. After these frameworks are established, States may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for their hunting seasons.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	06/00/21

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Branch of Conservation, Permits, and Regulations, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: MB, Falls Church, VA 22041, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1018-BF64

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Long-Term Actions

149. Importation, Exportation and Transportation of Wildlife; Updates to the Regulations

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 668; 16 U.S.C. 704; 16 U.S.C. 712; 16 U.S.C. 1382; 16 U.S.C. 1538(d)-(f),; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 33 8(d)-(f); 16 U.S.C. 3371 to 3378; 16 U.S.C. 4223 to 4244; 16 U.S.C. 4901 to 4916; 18 U.S.C. 42; 31 U.S.C. 42; 31 U.S.C. 9701

Abstract: We propose to rewrite our regulations governing the importation and exportation of wildlife to make these regulations easier to understand. In addition, we propose to revise the inspection fees associated with the importation and exportation of wildlife and to update the list of species that qualify as domesticated species, for which U.S. Fish and Wildlife inspection and clearance is not required. The current inspection fees have been in effect since 2012. The establishment of these fees is consistent with the Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1952 and OMB Circular No. A-25, which provide that services provided by Federal agencies are to be self-sustaining to the extent possible and that fees assessed should be sufficient to recover the full cost to the Federal Government of providing the service and are based on market prices.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	To Be Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Edward Grace, Assistant Director, Office of Law Enforcement, Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: LEO, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1018-BF16

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Long-Term Actions

150. • Air Quality Rule (Section 610 Review)

Legal Authority: OCSLA sec. 5(a)(8)

Abstract: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) identified opportunities for clarifying air quality regulations.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	To Be Determined

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: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1010-AE09