[Federal Register: February 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 31)]
[Notices]               
[Page 7995]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15fe06-118]                         


[[Page 7995]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-310-06-1310-EPAI]

 
Implementation of the Split Estate Section 1835 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005; Listening Sessions

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public listening sessions.

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SUMMARY: Listening sessions will be held by the Bureau of Land 
Management to solicit suggestions from the public on how best to 
implement the split estate provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 
Section 1835 of the Energy Policy Act directs the Secretary of the 
Interior to review current policies and practices for managing oil and 
gas resources in split estate situations, that is, how the BLM provides 
for oil and gas development and environmental protection where the 
surface estate is privately owned and the mineral estate is owned and 
administered by the Federal Government. The Act directs that this 
review be conducted in consultation with affected private surface 
owners, oil and gas industry, and other interested parties.
    Dates and Locations: Listening Sessions will be scheduled during 
late March 2006 in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming, and 
Washington, DC. The BLM will announce exact times and locations through 
the local media, e-mail, and on the Split Estate Web site at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.blm.gov/bmp
 at least 15 days prior to the listening sessions.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Perry, Senior Natural Resource 
Specialist for the BLM Fluid Minerals Program at (202) 452-5063, or 
visit the Split Estate Web site at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.blm.gov/bmp.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The listening sessions will begin with an 
overview of the split estate provisions of the Energy Policy Act and 
current split estate practices, policies, regulations, and laws that 
guide management of the Federal mineral estate. Participants who 
request to speak will be provided a set amount of time to provide 
recommendations for managing oil and gas resources in split estate 
situations.

    Dated: February 7, 2006.
Thomas P. Lonnie,
Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty and Resource Protection.
 [FR Doc. E6-2092 Filed 2-14-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-84-P