2020-27054. Application Procedures, Execution and Filing of Forms: Correction of State Office Address for Filings and Recordings, Including Proper Offices for Recording of Mining Claims; Eastern States

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This final rule amends the regulations pertaining to execution and filing of forms in order to reflect the new address of the BLM-Eastern States Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). All filings and other documents relating to public lands in the 31 States east of and bordering the Mississippi River must be filed at the new address of the BLM-Eastern States Office beginning on January 14, 2021.

DATES:

This rule is effective on January 14, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may send inquiries or suggestions to the Deputy State Director for Communications, BLM-Eastern States Office, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Francis Piccoli, [phone]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

II. Procedural Matters

I. Background

This final rule reflects the administrative action of changing the street address of the Eastern States Office of the BLM. This rule changes the postal and street address for the personal filing of documents relating to public lands in the Eastern States but makes no other changes in filing requirements. The BLM has determined that the rule has no substantive impact on the public, imposes no costs, and merely updates a list of addresses included in the Code of Federal Regulations for the convenience of the public. The Department of the Interior, therefore, for good cause finds that under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), notice and public comment procedures are unnecessary.

II. Procedural Matters

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

This final rule is an administrative action to change the address for one BLM State Office. This rule was not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866. The rule imposes no costs, and merely updates a list of addresses included in the Code of Federal Regulations for the convenience of the public.

National Environmental Policy Act

The BLM has found that the final rule is of a procedural nature and thus is categorically excluded from environmental review under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), pursuant to 43 CFR 46.210(i). In addition, the final rule does not present any of the 12 extraordinary circumstances listed at 43 CFR 46.215. Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1508.4) and the environmental regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of the Interior, the term “categorical exclusions” means a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment, have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a Federal agency, and for which neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

Congress enacted the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) to ensure that Government regulations do not unnecessarily or disproportionately burden small entities. This final rule is a purely administrative regulatory action having no effect upon the public or the environment and it has been determined that the rule will not have a significant effect on the economy or small entities.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

This final rule is a purely administrative regulatory action having no effects upon the public or the economy. This is not a major rule under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 804(2)). The rule will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more. The rule will not cause a major increase in costs of prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions. The rule will not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of United States-based enterprises to complete with foreign-based enterprises.

Unfunded Mandate Reform Act

The BLM has determined that this final rule is not significant under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 because the rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. Further, the administrative final rule will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. It does not require action by any non-Federal government entity. Therefore, the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), is not required.

Executive Order 12630, Government Action and Interference With Constitutionally Protected Property Rights (Takings)

As required by Executive Order 12630, the Department of the Interior has determined that the rule would not cause a taking of private property. No private property rights would be affected by a rule that merely reports an address change for the Eastern States Office. The Department therefore certifies that this final rule does not represent a governmental action capable of interference with constitutionally protected property rights.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

In accordance with Executive Order 13132, the BLM finds that the rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement.

The final rule does not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national governments and the States, or the distribution of power and the responsibilities among the various levels of government. This administrative final rule does not preempt State law.

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform

This final rule is a purely administrative regulatory action having no effects upon the public and will not unduly burden the judicial system. This final rule meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Executive Order.

Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments

In accordance with the Executive Order 13175, the BLM finds that the rule does not include policies that have tribal implications. This final rule is purely an administrative action having no effects upon the public or the environment, imposing no costs, and merely updates the Eastern States Office address included in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

In accordance with Executive Order 13211, the BLM has determined that the final rule will not have substantial direct effects on the energy supply, distribution or use, including a shortfall in supply or price increase. This final rule is a purely administrative action and has no implications under Executive Order 13211.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the rule does not contain any information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 1820

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Archives and records
• Public lands

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Bureau of Land Management amends 43 CFR part 1820 as follows:

PART 1820—APPLICATION PROCEDURES

1. The authority citation for part 1820 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 43 U.S.C. 2, 1201, 1733, and 1740.

Subpart 1821—General Information

2. Amend § 1821.10 in paragraph (a) by revising the entry for “Eastern States Office” to read as follows:

§ 1821.10

Where are BLM offices located?

(a) * * *

State Offices and Areas of Jurisdiction

* * * * *

Eastern States Office, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, and all States east of the Mississippi River.

* * * * *

Casey Hammond,

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.