Rule2023-21191
Minerals Management: Adjustment of Cost Recovery Fees
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
September 28, 2023
Effective
October 1, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
This final rule updates the fees set forth in the Department of the Interior's onshore mineral resources regulations for the processing of certain minerals program-related actions. It also adjusts certain filing fees for minerals-related documents. These updated fees include those for actions such as lease renewals, mineral patent adjudications, and Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66695-66700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21191]
[[Page 66695]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
43 CFR Part 3000
[BLM_HQ_FRN_MO4500172991]
RIN 1004-AE97
Minerals Management: Adjustment of Cost Recovery Fees
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule updates the fees set forth in the Department
of the Interior's onshore mineral resources regulations for the
processing of certain minerals program-related actions. It also adjusts
certain filing fees for minerals-related documents. These updated fees
include those for actions such as lease renewals, mineral patent
adjudications, and Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs).
DATES: This final rule is effective on October 1, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may send inquiries or suggestions to Director (630),
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646, Washington, DC
20240; Attention: RIN 1004-AE97.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvette M. Fields, Chief, Division of
Fluid Minerals, 240-712-8358, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f1889798949d9582b1939d9cdf969e87"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94edf2fdf1f8f0e7d4f6f8f9baf3fbe2">[email protected]</span></a>; Rebecca Good, Acting
Chief, Division of Solid Minerals, 307-251-3487, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1260757d7d7652707e7f3c757d64"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e7c6961616a4e6c626320696178">[email protected]</span></a>; or
Faith Bremner, Regulatory Analyst, Division of Regulatory Affairs,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#51373323343c3f342311333d3c7f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5432362631393a3126143638397a333b22">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United States who are deaf,
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Federal agencies are authorized to charge processing costs by the
Independent Offices Appropriation Act of 1952, 31 U.S.C. 9701. The
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also has specific authority to charge
fees for processing applications and other documents relating to public
lands under Section 304 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1734. In 2005, the BLM published a final
cost recovery rule (70 FR 58853) that established new fees or revised
fees and service charges for processing documents related to its
minerals programs (``2005 Cost Recovery Rule''). The 2005 Cost Recovery
Rule also established the method that the BLM would use to adjust those
fees and service charges for inflation on an annual basis.
The regulations at 43 CFR 3000.12(a) provide that the BLM will
annually adjust fees established in Subchapter C (43 CFR parts 3000-
3900) according to changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross
Domestic Product (IPD-GDP), which is published quarterly by the U.S.
Department of Commerce. See also 43 CFR 3000.10. This final rule
updates those 48 fees and service charges consistent with that
direction. The fee adjustments in this final rule are based on the
mathematical formula set forth in the 2005 Cost Recovery Rule. The
public had an opportunity to comment on that adjustment procedure as
part of the 2005 rulemaking.
Section 3021(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015
(Pub. L. 113-291; 30 U.S.C. 191(d)) (the Act) directs the BLM to
collect a fee for each new APD submitted to the BLM for fiscal years
(FY) 2016 through 2026 and requires the fee amount to be adjusted
annually for inflation. The Act set the initial fee amount at $9,500 as
of October 1, 2015, with updated annual fee amounts to be indexed for
United States dollar inflation from that date as measured by the
Consumer Price Index (CPI). 30 U.S.C. 191(d)(2). The CPI is used only
for the APD fee inflation adjustment while the IPD-GDP is used for all
the other fees that are being adjusted for inflation. Public comment
procedures are unnecessary for this adjustment as the authorizing
statute does not give the BLM the discretion to vary the amount of the
inflation adjustment for the APD to reflect any views or suggestions
provided by commenters.
Accordingly, the Department of the Interior for good cause finds
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and (d)(3) that notice and public comment
procedures are unnecessary and that the fee adjustments in this final
rule may be effective less than 30 days after publication since
periodic fee adjustments may be made in a final rule without
opportunity for notice and comment. See 43 CFR 3000.10(c).
II. Discussion of Final Rule
As set forth in the 2005 Cost Recovery Rule, the updates for 48 of
the fees covered by this rule are based on the change in the IPD-GDP.
The BLM's minerals program publishes the updated cost recovery fees
annually, at the start of each fiscal year.
This final rule updates the current (FY 2023) cost recovery fees
for use in FY 2024. The current fees were set by the cost recovery fee
rule published on September 21, 2022 (87 FR 57637), effective October
1, 2022. The update in this final rule adjusts 48 of the FY 2023 fees
based on the change in the IPD-GDP from the 4th Quarter of 2021 to the
4th Quarter of 2022. The APD fee adjustment is based on the percentage
change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI for all goods and
all urban consumers (CPI-U) from June 2022 to June 2023.
Under this final rule, 10 fees will remain the same and 38 fees
will increase. Except for the per-acre cost for nominating lands for
geothermal development, which is less than $1, the filing fees are not
adjusted if the change is less than $5. For example, if inflation
adjusted a fee from $15 to $17.24, the filing fee would remain at $15.
Of the 38 fees that are being increased by this final rule, 18 fees
will increase by $5, six fees will increase by $10, two fees will
increase by $15, two fees will increase by $25, three fees will
increase by $30, two fees will increase by $35, and one fee will
increase by $40. The largest increase, $350, will be applied to the APD
fee, which will increase from $11,805 to $12,155. The fee for
adjudicating a patent application containing more than 10 claims will
increase by $230--from $3,585 to $3,815. The fee for adjudicating a
patent application containing 10 or fewer claims will increase by
$115--from $1,790 to $1,905. The smallest increase--1 cent--will be
added to the per-acre cost of nominating lands for geothermal leasing,
which will rise from 13 cents per acre to 14 cents per acre. To see the
specific fee increases, please refer to the table below.
[[Page 66696]]
It is important to note that the ``real'' values of the fees are
not actually increasing, since real values account for the effect of
inflation. In real terms, the values of the fees are simply being
adjusted to account for the changes in the prices of goods and services
produced in the United States.
The calculations that resulted in the new fees are included in the
following table:
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\1\ The Existing Fee was established by the 2022 (FY 2023) cost
recovery fee update rule published on September 21, 2022 (87 FR
57637), effective October 1, 2022.
\2\ The Existing Value is the figure from the New Value column
in the previous year's rule.
\3\ From 4th Quarter 2021 (121.7) to 4th Quarter 2022 (129.5),
the IPD-GDP increased by 6.41 percent. The value in the IPD-GDP
Increase column is 6.41 percent of the ``Existing Value.''
\4\ The sum of the ``Existing Value'' and the ``IPD-GDP
Increase'' is the ``New Value.''
\5\ The ``New Fee'' for FY 2024 is the ``New Value'' rounded to
the nearest $5 for values equal to or greater than $1 or rounded to
the nearest penny for values under $1.
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Existing IPD-GDP
Fixed cost recovery fees fee \1\ (FY Existing increase New value New fee \5\
2023) value \2\ \3\ \4\ (FY 2024)
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Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150):
Competitive lease application.............. $185 $184.904 $11.852 $196.756 $195
Assignment and transfer of record title or 105 106.665 6.837 113.502 115
operating rights..........................
Overriding royalty transfer, payment out of 15 14.219 0.911 15.130 15
production................................
Name change, corporate merger or transfer 250 248.886 15.953 264.839 265
to heir/devisee...........................
Lease consolidation........................ 525 526.226 33.731 559.957 560
Lease renewal or exchange.................. 475 476.464 30.541 507.005 505
Lease reinstatement, Class I............... 90 92.432 5.924 98.356 100
Leasing under right-of-way................. 475 476.464 30.541 507.005 505
Geophysical exploration permit application-- 30 29.104 1.865 30.969 30
Alaska....................................
Renewal of exploration permit--Alaska...... 30 29.104 1.865 30.969 30
Geothermal (part 3200):
Noncompetitive lease application........... 475 476.464 30.541 507.005 505
Competitive lease application.............. 185 184.904 11.852 196.756 195
Assignment and transfer of record title or 105 106.665 6.837 113.502 115
operating right...........................
Name change, corporate merger or transfer 250 248.886 15.953 264.839 265
to heir/devisee...........................
Lease consolidation........................ 525 526.226 33.731 559.957 560
Lease reinstatement........................ 90 92.432 5.924 98.356 100
Nomination of lands........................ 135 133.123 8.533 141.656 140
Plus per acre nomination fee............... 0.13 0.130 0.008 0.138 0.14
Site license application................... 70 71.109 4.558 75.667 75
Assignment or transfer of site license..... 70 71.109 4.558 75.667 75
Coal (parts 3400, 3470):
License to mine application................ 15 14.219 0.911 15.130 15
Exploration license application............ 390 391.120 25.070 416.190 415
Lease or lease interest transfer........... 80 78.237 5.014 83.251 85
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and
Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580):
Applications other than those listed below. 45 42.670 2.735 45.405 45
Prospecting permit amendment............... 80 78.237 5.014 83.251 85
Extension of prospecting permit............ 130 128.001 8.204 136.205 135
Lease modification or fringe acreage lease. 35 35.565 2.279 37.844 40
Lease renewal.............................. 610 611.582 39.202 650.784 650
Assignment, sublease, or transfer of 35 35.566 2.279 37.845 40
operating rights..........................
Transfer of overriding royalty............. 35 35.566 2.279 37.845 40
Use permit................................. 35 35.566 2.279 37.845 40
Shasta and Trinity hardrock mineral lease.. 35 35.566 2.279 37.845 40
Renewal of existing sand and gravel lease 35 35.566 2.279 37.845 40
in Nevada.................................
Multiple Use; Mining (Group 3700):
Notice of protest of placer mining 15 14.219 0.911 15.130 15
operations................................
Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810,
3830, 3850, 3860, 3870):
Application to open lands to location...... 15 14.219 0.911 15.130 15
Notice of location......................... 20 21.321 1.366 22.687 25
Amendment of location...................... 15 14.219 0.911 15.130 15
Transfer of mining claim/site.............. 15 14.219 0.911 15.130 15
Recording an annual FLPMA filing........... 15 14.219 0.911 15.130 15
Deferment of assessment work............... 130 128.001 8.204 136.205 135
Recording a notice of intent to locate 35 35.566 2.279 37.845 40
mining claims on Stockraising Homestead
Act lands.................................
Mineral patent adjudication (more than ten 3,585 3,584.147 229.743 3,813.890 3,815
claims)...................................
(ten or fewer claims).................. 1,790 1,792.054 114.870 1,906.924 1,905
Adverse claim.............................. 130 128.001 8.204 136.205 135
Protest.................................... 80 78.237 5.014 83.251 85
Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930:
Exploration license application............ 375 375.144 24.046 399.190 400
Assignment or sublease of record title or 75 76.306 4.891 81.197 80
overriding royalty........................
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[[Page 66697]]
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Existing CPI-U
Fixed cost recovery fees fee (FY Existing increase New value New fee (FY
2023) \6\ value \7\ \8\ \9\ 2024) \10\
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Oil and Gas Operations/Production (parts 3160,
3170):
Application for Permit to Drill............ 11,805 11,805.790 350.631 12,156.421 12,155
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III. How Fees Are Adjusted
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\6\ The Existing Fee was established by the 2022 (FY 2023) cost
recovery fee update rule published on September 21, 2022 (87 FR
57637), effective October 1, 2022.
\7\ The existing value is the adjusted CPI-U for June 2022 to
June 2023. The statute requires that the APD calculation be based on
CPI-U.
\8\ From June 2022 to June 2023, the adjusted CPI-U increased by
2.97%.
\9\ The sum of the ``Existing Value'' and the ``CPI-U Increase''
is the ``New Value.''
\10\ The new APD fee for FY 2024 is the ``New Value'' rounded to
the nearest $10.
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The BLM took the base values (or ``existing values'') upon which it
derived the FY 2023 cost recovery fees (or ``existing fees'') and
multiplied them by the percent change in the IPD-GDP (6.41 percent for
this update) to generate the ``IPD-GDP increases'' (in dollars). The
BLM then added the ``IPD-GDP increases'' to the ``existing values'' to
generate the ``new values.'' The BLM then calculated the ``new fees''
by rounding the ``new values'' to the closest multiple of $5 for fees
equal to or greater than $1, or to the nearest cent for fees under $1.
The ``new fees'' are the updated cost recovery fees for FY 2024.
The source for IPD-GDP data is the U.S. Department of Commerce,
Bureau of Economic Analysis website, specifically, ``Table 1.1.9.
Implicit Price Deflators for Gross Domestic Product.'' \11\
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\11\ Available on the web at <a href="https://apps.bea.gov/iTable/?1301=i&1303=13&ReqID=13&isuri=1&step=3">https://apps.bea.gov/iTable/?1301=i&1303=13&ReqID=13&isuri=1&step=3</a>. Accessed by the BLM on July
14, 2023.
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The updated APD fee amount reflects an adjustment to the current
fee of $11,805 based on the percentage change in the CPI-U from the end
of June 2022 to the end of June 2023. The CPI-U for June 2023 is 2.97
percent higher than the CPI-U for June 2022. Increasing the 2023 fee of
$11,805 by 2.97 percent and rounding the product to the nearest $10
produces a 2024 fee of $12,155.
The source for CPI-U data is the BLS, U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in
U.S. City Average [CPIAUCSL], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank
of St. Louis.\12\
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\12\ Available on the web at <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL">https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL</a>. Accessed by the BLM on July 14, 2023.
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IV. Procedural Matters
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)
This document is not a significant rule, and the Office of
Management and Budget has not reviewed this final rule under Executive
Order 12866.
The BLM's assessment of the benefits and costs of this rule show
that it is not significant under Section 3(f)(1) of E.O. 12866, as
amended by E.O. 14094. This rule will not have an annual effect on the
economy of $200 million or more. It will not adversely affect in a
material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity,
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State,
local, or Tribal Governments or communities. The changes in today's
rule are much smaller than those in the 2005 Cost Recovery Rule, which
did not approach the threshold for significance.
This final rule will not create inconsistencies or otherwise
interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency. This rule
does not change the relationships of the onshore minerals programs with
other agencies' actions. These relationships are included in agreements
and memoranda of understanding that will not change with this rule.
In addition, this final rule does not materially affect the
budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, or loan programs, or the
rights and obligations of their recipients. This rule applies an
inflationary adjustment factor to existing user fees for processing
certain actions associated with the onshore minerals programs.
Finally, this final rule will not raise novel legal or policy
issues. As explained earlier, this rule simply implements an annual
process to account for inflation that was adopted by and explained in
the 2005 Cost Recovery Rule and Section 3021(b) of the National Defense
Authorization Act of 2015.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act
This final rule will not have a significant economic effect on a
substantial number of small entities as defined under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). As a result, a Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis is not required. The Small Business Administration
defines small entities as individual, limited partnerships, or small
companies considered to be at arm's length from the control of any
parent companies if they meet the following size requirements as
established for each North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS) code:
<bullet> Iron ore mining (NAICS code 212210): 750 or fewer employees
<bullet> Gold ore mining (NAICS code 212221): 1,500 or fewer employees
<bullet> Silver ore mining (NAICS code 212222): 250 or fewer employees
<bullet> Uranium-Radium-Vanadium ore mining (NAICS code 212291): 250 or
fewer employees
<bullet> All Other Metal ore mining (NAICS code 212299): 750 or fewer
employees
<bullet> Bituminous Coal and Lignite Surface Mining (NAICS code
212111): 1,250 or fewer employees
<bullet> Bituminous Coal Underground Mining (NAICS code 212112): 1,500
or fewer employees
<bullet> Crude Petroleum Extraction (NAICS code 211120): 1,250 or fewer
employees
<bullet> Natural Gas Extraction (NAICS code 211130): 1,250 or fewer
employees
<bullet> All Other Non-Metallic Mineral Mining (NAICS code 212399): 500
or fewer employees
The SBA would consider many, if not most, of the operators with
whom the BLM works in the onshore minerals programs to be small
entities. The BLM notes that this final rule does not affect service
industries, for which the SBA has a different definition of ``small
entity.''
The final rule may affect a large number of small entities because
38 fees for activities on public lands will be increased. The highest
adjustment, in dollar terms, is for the APD fee. That fee will increase
by $350, from $11,805 to $12,155. It is important to note that the
[[Page 66698]]
``real'' values of the fees are not actually increasing, since real
values account for the effect of inflation. In real terms, the values
of the fees are simply being adjusted to account for the changes in the
prices of goods and services produced in the United States.
Accordingly, the BLM has concluded that the economic effect of the
rule's changes will not be significant, even for small entities.
For the 2005 Cost Recovery Rule, the BLM completed a Regulatory
Flexibility Act threshold analysis. That analysis concluded that the
fees would not have a significant economic effect on a substantial
number of small entities. The fee increases implemented in this rule
are substantially smaller than those provided for in the 2005 Cost
Recovery Rule.
The APD fee increase is mandated by Section 3021(b) of the National
Defense Authorization Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 113-291; 30 U.S.C. 191(d))
(the Act). The Act directs the BLM to collect a fee for each new APD
submitted to the BLM for fiscal years (FY) 2016 through 2026 and
requires the fee amount to be adjusted for inflation.
Congressional Review Act
This final rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined at 5 U.S.C.
804(2). The final rule will not have an annual effect on the economy
greater than $100 million; it will not result in major cost or price
increases for consumers, industries, government agencies, or regions;
and it will not have significant adverse effects on competition,
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of
U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.
Accordingly, a Small Entity Compliance Guide is not required.
Executive Order 13132, Federalism
This final rule will not have a substantial direct effect on the
States, on the relationship between the National Government and the
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government. In accordance with Executive Order 13132,
the BLM therefore finds that the final rule does not have federalism
implications, and a federalism assessment is not required.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This final rule does not contain information-collection
requirements that require a control number from the Office of
Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). After the effective date of this rule, the
new fees may affect the non-hour burdens associated with the following
control numbers:
Oil and Gas
(1) 1004-0034, which expires September 30, 2024;
(2) 1004-0137, which expires January 31, 2025;
(3) 1004-0162, which expires December 31, 2024;
(4) 1004-0185, which expires July 31, 2025;
Geothermal
(5) 1004-0132, which expired July 31, 2023; \13\
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\13\ A renewal request for control number 1004-0132 was
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on July 19,
2023.
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Coal
(6) 1004-0073, which expired April 30, 2023; \14\
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\14\ A renewal request for control number 1004-0073 was
submitted to OMB on December 27, 2022.
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Mining Claims
(7) 1004-0025, which expires July 31, 2025;
(8) 1004-0114, which expired April 30, 2023; \15\ and
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\15\ A renewal request for control number 1004-0114 was
submitted to OMB on January 19, 2023.
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Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Oil Shale
(9) 1004-0121, which expires August 31, 2025.
Takings Implication Assessment (Executive Order 12630)
As required by Executive Order 12630, the BLM has determined that
this final rule will not cause a taking of private property. No private
property rights will be affected by a rule that merely updates fees.
The BLM therefore certifies that this final rule does not represent a
governmental action capable of interference with constitutionally
protected property rights.
Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)
In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the BLM finds that this
final rule will not unduly burden the judicial system and meets the
requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Executive order.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The BLM has determined that this final rule qualifies as a routine
financial transaction and a regulation of an administrative, financial,
legal, or procedural nature that is categorically excluded from
environmental review under NEPA pursuant to 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210(c)
and (i). The final rule does not meet any of the 12 criteria for
exceptions to categorical exclusions listed at 43 CFR 46.215.
Therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental
impact statement is required in connection with the rule (40 CFR
1508.4).
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
The BLM has determined that this final rule is not significant
under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.,
because it will not result in State, local, private sector, or Tribal
government expenditures of $100 million or more in any one year, 2
U.S.C. 1532. This rule will not significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. Therefore, the BLM is not required to prepare a statement
containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments (Executive
Order 13175)
In accordance with Executive Order 13175, the BLM has determined
that this final rule does not include policies that have Tribal
implications. Specifically, the rule would not have substantial direct
effects on one or more Indian Tribes. Consequently, the BLM did not use
the consultation process set forth in Section 5 of the Executive order.
Information Quality Act
In developing this final rule, the BLM did not conduct or use a
study, experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the
Information Quality Act (Pub. L. 106-554).
Effects on the Nation's Energy Supply (Executive Order 13211)
In accordance with Executive Order 13211, the BLM has determined
that this final rule is not likely to have a significant adverse effect
on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It merely adjusts
certain administrative cost recovery fees to account for inflation.
Author
The principal author of this final rule is Faith Bremner of the
Division of Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Land Management.
List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 3000
Public lands--mineral resources, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
For reasons stated in the preamble, the Bureau of Land Management
amends 43 CFR part 3000 as follows:
[[Page 66699]]
PART 3000--MINERALS MANAGEMENT: GENERAL
0
1. The authority citation for part 3000 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.; 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq., 301-
306, 351-359, and 601 et seq.; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 40 U.S.C. 471 et
seq.; 42 U.S.C. 6508; 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; and Pub. L. 97-35, 95
Stat. 357.
Subpart 3000--General
0
2. Amend Sec. 3000.12 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 3000.12 What is the fee schedule for fixed fees?
(a) The table in this section shows the fixed fees that must be
paid to the BLM for the services listed for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.
These fees are nonrefundable and must be included with documents filed
under this chapter. Fees will be adjusted annually according to the
change in the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product (IPD-
GDP) and the change in the Consumer Price Index for all goods and all
urban consumers (CPI-U) by way of publication of a final rule in the
Federal Register and will subsequently be posted on the BLM website
(<a href="https://www.blm.gov">https://www.blm.gov</a>) before October 1 each year. Revised fees are
effective each year on October 1.
Table 1 to Paragraph (a)--FY 2024 Processing and Filing Fee Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document/action FY 2024 fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150):
Competitive lease application............... $195.
Assignment and transfer of record title or 115.
operating rights.
Overriding royalty transfer, payment out of 15.
production.
Name change, corporate merger or transfer to 265.
heir/devisee.
Lease consolidation......................... 560.
Lease renewal or exchange................... 505.
Lease reinstatement, Class I................ 100.
Leasing under right-of-way.................. 505.
Geophysical exploration permit application-- 30.
Alaska.
Renewal of exploration permit--Alaska....... 30.
Geothermal (part 3200):
Noncompetitive lease application............ 505.
Competitive lease application............... 195.
Assignment and transfer of record title or 115.
operating rights.
Name change, corporate merger or transfer to 265.
heir/devisee.
Lease consolidation......................... 560.
Lease reinstatement......................... 100.
Nomination of lands......................... 140.
plus per acre nomination fee............ 0.14.
Site license application.................... 75.
Assignment or transfer of site license...... 75.
Coal (parts 3400, 3470):
License to mine application................. 15.
Exploration license application............. 415.
Lease or lease interest transfer............ 85.
Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and
Oil Shale (parts 3500, 3580):
Applications other than those listed below.. 45.
Prospecting permit application amendment.... 85.
Extension of prospecting permit............. 135.
Lease modification or fringe acreage lease.. 40.
Lease renewal............................... 650.
Assignment, sublease, or transfer of 40.
operating rights.
Transfer of overriding royalty.............. 40.
Use permit.................................. 40.
Shasta and Trinity hardrock mineral lease... 40.
Renewal of existing sand and gravel lease in 40.
Nevada.
Public Law 359; Mining in Powersite Withdrawals:
General (part 3730):
Notice of protest of placer mining 15.
operations.
Mining Law Administration (parts 3800, 3810,
3830, 3860, 3870):
Application to open lands to location....... 15.
Notice of location *........................ 25.
Amendment of location....................... 15.
Transfer of mining claim/site............... 15.
Recording an annual FLPMA filing............ 15.
Deferment of assessment work................ 135.
Recording a notice of intent to locate 40.
mining claims on Stockraising Homestead Act
lands.
Mineral patent adjudication................. 3,815 (more than 10
claims).
1,905 (10 or fewer
claims).
Adverse claim............................... 135.
Protest..................................... 85.
Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930):
Exploration license application............. 400.
Application for assignment or sublease of 80.
record title or overriding royalty.
Onshore Oil and Gas Operations and Production
(parts 3160, 3170):
[[Page 66700]]
Application for Permit to Drill............. 12,155.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* To record a mining claim or site location, this processing fee along
with the initial maintenance fee and the one-time location fee
required by statute (43 CFR part 3833) must be paid.
* * * * *
Laura Daniel-Davis,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2023-21191 Filed 9-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-29-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 28, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.