Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing; Corrections

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Department of the Interior (DOI), acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is correcting citations in 30 CFR part 560. DOI issued two rules in 2008 and 2016 where some of the finalized amendments were never incorporated into the CFR. This document corrects 30 CFR part 560 to reflect the finalized amendments.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65982-65984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21346]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

30 CFR Part 560

[Docket ID: BOEM-2026-0727]
RIN 1010-AE39


Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing; Corrections

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (DOI), acting through the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is correcting citations in 30 
CFR part 560. DOI issued two rules in 2008 and 2016 where some of the 
finalized amendments were never incorporated into the CFR. This 
document corrects 30 CFR part 560 to reflect the finalized amendments.

DATES: Effective on October 19, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Thundiyil, Office Director, 
Office of Regulatory Affairs, BOEM, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 
20240, at email address <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#17457270627b766378656e39567171767e6564577578727a39707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ebb98e8c9e878a9f849992c5aa8d8d8a829998ab89848e86c58c849d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or at telephone 
number (202) 742-0970.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 7, 2008, the Minerals Management Service (MMS), BOEM's 
predecessor agency, issued Royalty Relief for Deepwater Outer 
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leases--Conforming Regulations to Court 
Decision final rule (73 FR 58467), which, among other things, 
eliminated specific part 260 sections. The final rule removed sections 
260.117 and 260.114(c), (d), and (e) from the CFR. However, later 
amendments to part 260 did not reflect the eliminated sections. Cross-
references to eliminated sections 260.117 and 260.114(d) in part 260 
remained.
    On October 18, 2011, DOI published the Reorganization of Title 30: 
Bureaus of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and Ocean Energy 
Management final rule (76 FR 64432), which recodified 30 CFR part 260 
regulations into the new 30 CFR chapter V, part 560. During this 
recodification, the invalid references to eliminated part 260 sections 
were carried forward into part 560.
    On March 30, 2016, BOEM published the Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and 
Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf final rule (81 FR 18112). In the 
final rule, BOEM redesignated several sections in subparts A and B of 
part 560 and revised their titles to align with the numbering structure 
used throughout the regulation. However, BOEM did not include complete 
instructions to update references to reflect the redesignation. As a 
result, any references to the former section numbers that were not 
removed are invalid.
    This document corrects invalid references in part 560.

II. Summary of Corrections

A. Sections 560.203(a) and (e)

    Sections 560.203(a) and (e) currently cite section 560.110. In the 
Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf final 
rule (81 FR 18112), BOEM redesignated section 560.110 as section 
560.202. This document replaces the incorrect citation with the correct 
reference to section 560.202.

B. Section 560.210

    The introductory paragraph of section 560.210 currently references 
section 560.113 and sections 560.113 through 560.117.
    The final rule Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and Gas in the Outer 
Continental Shelf (81 FR 18112) redesignated sections 560.113 through 
560.116 as sections 560.211 through 560.214. This document corrects the 
references.
    In Royalty Relief for Deepwater Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Leases--Conforming Regulations to Court Decision (73 FR 58467), MMS 
removed section 260.117 from the CFR. However, later amendments to part 
260 did not reflect that deletion.
    Reorganization of Title 30: Bureaus of Safety and Environmental 
Enforcement and Ocean Energy Management (76 FR 64432) recodified part 
260 regulations

[[Page 65983]]

into the new 30 CFR chapter V, part 560. During this recodification, an 
invalid reference to former section 260.117 was carried forward as 
section 560.117. This document removes the obsolete citation.

C. Section 560.211

    Section 560.211(a) currently includes a reference to section 
560.110 (g). The final rule Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and Gas in the 
Outer Continental Shelf final rule (81 FR 18112) redesignated section 
560.110 as section 560.202. This document corrects the section to 
reference section 560.202(g).

D. Section 560.220

    The introductory paragraph of section 560.220 currently references 
sections 560.121 through 560.124. In the Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and 
Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf final rule (81 FR 18112), BOEM 
redesignated sections 560.121 through 560.124 as sections 560.221 
through section 560.224. Accordingly, this document corrects section 
560.220 to reference sections 560.221 through 560.224.

E. Section 560.222

    Section 560.222(b)(3) currently includes references to sections 
560.120 through 560.124. The final rule Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and 
Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf (81 FR 18112) redesignated sections 
560.120 through 560.124 as sections 560.220 through 560.224. This 
document corrects section 560.222(b)(3) to reference sections 560.220 
through 560.224.

F. Section 560.224

    Section 560.224(b)(1) currently references section 560.114(d). As 
explained earlier, DOI previously recodified the regulations in section 
260.114 to section 560.114, and earlier, the MMS Royalty Relief for 
Deepwater Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leases--Conforming 
Regulations to Court Decision final rule (73 FR 58467) removed sections 
260.114(c), (d), and (e). The subsequent regulatory revisions did not 
account for this removal, and an incorrect reference to former section 
260.114(d) remained. It was carried forward as section 560.114(d). This 
document corrects that error by eliminating the reference to 
560.114(d). The regulatory text is clear as written and reference to 
another regulatory citation is unnecessary.

G. Section 560.230

    The introductory paragraph of section 560.230 currently cites 
section 560.110. The Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and Gas in the Outer 
Continental Shelf final rule (81 FR 18112) redesignated section 560.110 
as section 560.202. This document corrects section 560.110 to reference 
to section 560.202.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 560

    Government contracts, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, 
Continental shelf, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    This action by the Assistant Secretary is taken herein pursuant to 
an existing delegation of authority.

Lanny E. Erdos,
Director, Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement 
Exercising Authority of the Assistant Secretary--Land and Mineral 
Management.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of the 
Interior amends 30 CFR part 560 as follows:

PART 560--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OIL AND GAS LEASING

0
1. The authority citation for part 560 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Section 104, Public Law 97-451, 96 Stat. 2451 (30 
U.S.C. 1714), Public Law 109-432, Div C, Title I, 120 Stat. 3000; 30 
U.S.C. 1751; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 43 U.S.C.1334; 33 U.S.C. 2704, 2716; 
E.O. 12777, as amended; 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., 43 U.S.C.1337.

Subpart B--Bidding Systems

General Provisions

0
2. Amend Sec.  560.203 by revising paragraphs (a) and (e) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  560.203  What conditions apply to the bidding system that BOEM 
uses?

    (a) For each of the bidding systems in Sec.  560.202, we will 
include an annual rental fee. Other fees and provisions may apply as 
well. The Notice of OCS Lease Sale published in the Federal Register 
will specify the annual rental and any other fees the highest 
responsible qualified bidder must pay and any other provisions.
* * * * *
    (e) We may, by rule, add to or modify the bidding systems listed in 
Sec.  560.202, according to the procedural requirements of the OCSLA, 
43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., as amended by Public Law 95-372, 92 Stat. 629.

0
3. Amend Sec.  560.210 by revising the introductory paragraph to read 
as follows:


Sec.  560.210  How do royalty suspension volumes apply to eligible 
leases?

    Royalty suspension volumes, as specified in section 304 of the Act, 
apply to eligible leases that meet the criteria in Sec.  560.211. For 
purposes of this section and Sec. Sec.  560.211 through 560.214:
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec.  560.211 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  560.211  When does an eligible lease qualify for a royalty 
suspension volume?

    (a) Your eligible lease will receive a royalty suspension volume as 
specified in the Act. The bidding system in Sec.  560.202(g) applies.
* * * * *

0
5. Amend Sec.  560.220 by revising the introductory paragraph to read 
as follows:


Sec.  560.220  How does royalty suspension apply to leases issued in a 
sale held after November 2000?

    We may issue leases with suspension of royalties for a period, 
volume or value of production, as authorized in section 303 of the Act. 
For purposes of this section and Sec. Sec.  560.221 through 560.224:
* * * * *

0
6. Amend Sec.  560.222 by revising paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  560.222  How long will a royalty suspension volume be effective 
for a lease issued in a sale held after November 2000?

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Any production on which you must pay royalty under this 
paragraph will count toward the production volume determined under 
Sec. Sec.  560.220 through 560.224.
* * * * *

0
7. Amend Sec.  560.224 by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  560.224  How will royalty suspension apply if BOEM assigns a 
lease issued in a sale held after November 2000 to a field that has a 
pre-Act lease?

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Royalty-free production from your RS lease shares from and 
counts as part of any royalty suspension volume for the field to which 
we assign your lease; and
* * * * *

0
8. Amend Sec.  560.230 by revising the introductory paragraph to read 
as follows:


Sec.  560.230  What criteria does BOEM use for selecting bidding 
systems and bidding system components?

    In analyzing the application of one of the bidding systems listed 
in Sec.  560.202 to tracts selected for any OCS lease sale, we may, at 
our discretion, consider the following purposes and policies. We 
recognize that each of the purposes and

[[Page 65984]]

policies may not be specifically applicable to the selection process 
for a particular bidding system or tract, or may present a conflict 
that we will have to resolve in the process of bidding system 
selection. The order of listing does not denote a ranking.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2026-21346 Filed 10-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P


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