Proposed Rule2021-13803
Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf- Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 29, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentSafety and Environmental Enforcement BureauOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), acting through BSEE and BOEM, hereby withdraws in its entirety the proposed rule published on December 9, 2020, entitled "Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf."
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 122 (Tuesday, June 29, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 29, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 34172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13803]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
30 CFR Part 250
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
30 CFR Part 550
[Docket ID BSEE-2019-0008, EEEE500000, 21XE1700DX, EX1SF0000.EAQ000]
RIN 1082-AA01
Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental
Shelf-- Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the
Arctic Outer Continental Shelf
AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI or Department),
acting through BSEE and BOEM, hereby withdraws in its entirety the
proposed rule published on December 9, 2020, entitled ``Revisions to
the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer
Continental Shelf.''
DATES: As of the date of signature, June 23, 2021, the proposed rule
published on December 9, 2020, at 85 FR 79266 is withdrawn.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on any BSEE issues,
contact Kirk Malstrom, BSEE, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#177c7e657c397a767b646365787a577564727239707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ae1e3f8e1a4e7ebe6f9fef8e5e7cae8f9efefa4ede5fc">[email protected]</span></a> or at (703) 787-
1751. For questions on any BOEM issues, contact Deanna Meyer-
Pietruszka, BOEM, Chief, Office of Policy, Regulation, and Analysis, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#400425212e2e216e0d253925326d102925343235333a2b2100222f252d6e272f36"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5f1d0d4dbdbd49bf8d0ccd0c798e5dcd0c1c7c0c6cfded4f5d7dad0d89bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a> or by mail to 1849 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 22040 or by calling (202) 208-6352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 15, 2016, BSEE and BOEM promulgated
a narrowly focused rule (see 2016 Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule at
81 FR 46478) revising the regulations applicable to exploratory
drilling operations conducted during the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) open-water drilling season by drilling vessels and ``jack-up
rigs'' (collectively known as mobile offshore drilling units or MODUs)
in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas. The regulations
promulgated through the 2016 Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule were
intended to ensure that Arctic OCS exploratory drilling operations are
conducted in a safe and responsible manner, while taking into account
the unique conditions of the Arctic OCS as well as Alaska Natives'
cultural traditions and their need for access to subsistence resources.
E.O. 13795, ``Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy
Strategy'' (82 FR 20815), issued on April 28, 2017, and S.O. 3350,
``America-First Offshore Energy Strategy,'' issued on May 1, 2017,
directed BSEE and BOEM to undertake a review of the 2016 Arctic
Exploratory Drilling Rule. In response, on December 9, 2020, the
Department published the proposed rule: ``Oil and Gas and Sulfur
Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf--Revisions to the
Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental
Shelf'' (85 FR 79266) (2020 Proposed Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule).
The proposed rule provided a 60-day public comment period, which closed
February 8, 2021. After publication of the proposed rule, BSEE and BOEM
received requests to extend the comment period for 60 days. BSEE and
BOEM subsequently re-opened the comment period for an additional 60
days through a notice published in the Federal Register on February 10,
2021 (86 FR 8878). That comment period closed on April 9, 2021.
Since publication of the 2020 Proposed Arctic Exploratory Drilling
Rule, President Biden issued E.O. 13990, ``Protecting Public Health and
the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis''
(86 FR 7037, Jan. 25, 2021). E.O. 13990 establishes a policy to, among
other things, promote and protect public health and the environment.
Section 7 of the E.O. revoked E.O. 13795. Further, on April 16, 2021,
Secretary Haaland issued S.O. 3398, which revoked S.O. 3350. The
Department has decided it will not proceed with a final rule codifying
any provisions of the 2020 Proposed Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule,
and the proposed rule is hereby withdrawn. The withdrawal of the
proposed rule does not preclude the Department from initiating the same
or a similar rulemaking at a future date. Should the Department decide
to undertake such a rulemaking, it will begin with a new proposed rule
and provide new opportunities for comment.
Laura Daniel-Davis,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2021-13803 Filed 6-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P; 4310-MR-P
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