2024-16458. Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement—Final Rule Stage

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
134	Outer Continental Shelf Civil Penalties, Surety Bond Requirements When Filing an Appeal	1014-AA57

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement—Long-Term Actions

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
135	Revisions to Decommissioning Requirements on the OCS	1014-AA53

United States Fish and Wildlife Service—Proposed Rule Stage

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
136	Importation, Exportation and Transportation of Wildlife; Updates to the Regulations	1018-BF16
137	Migratory Bird Hunting; 2025-26 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations	1018-BH65

United States Fish and Wildlife Service—Final Rule Stage

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
138	Migratory Bird Hunting; 2024-25 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations	1018-BG63

National Park Service—Completed Actions

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
139	Commercial Visitor Services; Concession Contracts	1024-AE57

( print page 66833)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management—Completed Actions

Sequence No.	Title	Regulation Identifier No.
140	Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations	1010-AE14

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Final Rule Stage

134. Outer Continental Shelf Civil Penalties, Surety Bond Requirements When Filing an Appeal [1014-AA57]

Legal Authority: Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 U.S.C. 1331 to 1356a

Abstract: This proposed rulemaking would clarify BSEE's existing regulatory authority under 30 CFR 250.1409, which establishes criteria that must be met before a party may proceed with an appeal of a civil penalty pursuant to 30 CFR part 290. Before filing an appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA), an operator must either submit a surety bond to BSEE's sister agency, BOEM, in the amount of the penalty, or notify BOEM that they want their lease bond to be used as the bond for the penalty amount.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	12/13/23	88 FR 86285
NPRM Comment Period End	02/12/24
Final Action	07/00/24
Final Action Effective	08/00/24

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-AA57

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

Long-Term Actions

135. Revisions to Decommissioning Requirements on the OCS [1014-AA53]

Legal Authority: Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 to 1356a

Abstract: This proposed rule would address issues relating to (1) idle iron by adding a definition of this term to clarify that it applies to idle wells and structures on active leases; (2) abandonment in place of subsea infrastructure by adding regulations addressing when BSEE may approve decommissioning-in-place instead of removal of certain subsea equipment; and (3) other operational considerations.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	06/00/25
NPRM Comment Period End	09/00/25

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-AA53

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Proposed Rule Stage

136. Importation, Exportation and Transportation of Wildlife; Updates to the Regulations [1018-BF16]

Legal Authority:16 U.S.C. 33 8(d)-(f); 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. 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: This proposed rule would revise FWS's regulations governing the importation and exportation of wildlife. In this rulemaking, FWS would review all sections of 50 CFR part 14 and provide necessary revisions.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	12/00/24

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

137. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2025-26 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations [1018-BH65]

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

Abstract: This rulemaking action would establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds. FWS 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 and Tribes may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for their hunting seasons. Migratory bird management is a cooperative effort of Federal, State, and Tribal governments.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	09/00/24

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Division 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-BH65

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Final Rule Stage

138. Migratory Bird Hunting; 2024-25 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations [1018-BG63]

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

Abstract: This rulemaking action would establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game ( print page 66834) birds. FWS 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 and Tribes may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for their hunting seasons. Migratory bird management is a cooperative effort of Federal, State, and Tribal governments.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	02/08/24	89 FR 8631
NPRM Comment Period End	03/11/24
Proposed Frameworks	05/13/24	89 FR 41522
Proposed Frameworks; Comment Period End	06/12/24
Final Frameworks	08/00/24

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Dr. Eric L. Kershner, Chief, Division 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-BG63

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

National Park Service (NPS)

Completed Actions

139. Commercial Visitor Services; Concession Contracts [1024-AE57]

Legal Authority:54 U.S.C. 101926

Abstract: This final rule revises regulations that govern the solicitation, award, and administration of concessions contracts to provide commercial visitor services at National Park System units under the authority granted to the Secretary of the Interior by the Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 and the National Park Service Centennial Act. The revisions reduce administrative burdens and expand opportunities for sustainable, high quality, and contemporary concessioner-provided visitor services in park areas.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	07/20/20	85 FR 43775
NPRM Comment Period End	09/18/20
Final Rule	12/29/23	88 FR 90098
Final Rule Effective	01/29/24

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

Agency Contact: Kurt M. Rausch, Chief, Contract Management, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240, Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

RIN: 1024-AE57

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Completed Actions

140. Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations [1010-AE14]

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

Abstract: This final rule modifies the evaluation criteria for determining whether oil, gas and sulfur lessees, right-of-use and easement grant holders, and pipeline right-of-way grant holders may be required to provide bonds or other financial assurance, above the regulatorily prescribed amounts for base bonds, to ensure compliance with their Outer Continental Shelf obligations.

BOEM held a Government-to-Government consultation with an Indian Tribal Nation during the development of the NPRM and the final rule. BOEM received a range of comments on the NPRM during the public comment period. This final rule addresses feedback received from public comment period and Tribal consultations.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	06/29/23	88 FR 42136
NPRM Comment Period Extension	08/25/23	88 FR 58173
NPRM Comment Period End	08/28/23
NPRM Comment Period Extension End	09/07/23
Final Rule	04/24/24	89 FR 31544
Final Rule Technical Correction	05/31/24	89 FR 47080
Final Rule Effective	06/29/24