Federal Register Final Rules

Please search our ONRR Federal Register Archives for Proposed Rules or use the "Search" tool on top of the page.

You may access Federal Register Notices dating back to 1994 for all agencies at the following website for the National Archives and Records Administration: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/index.htm 

2012 ONRR Final Rule

AA03
Debt Collection
The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) is promulgating regulations to establish procedures governing collection of delinquent royalties, rentals, bonuses, and other amounts due under leases and other agreements for the production of oil, natural gas, coal, geothermal energy, other minerals, and renewable energy from Federal lands onshore, Indian tribal and allotted lands, and the Outer Continental Shelf. The regulations include provisions for administrative offset and clarify and implement the provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (DCA) and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA).

AA10
May 2, 2012 -- 77 FR 25877
ONRR amends its Web site and mailing addresses and payment definitions listed in parts of title 30 CFR chapter XII.

2011 ONRR Final Rule

AA07
December 8, 2011--76 FR 76612
The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) reorganized its regulations and repromulgate them in chapter XII, title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). ONRR amends the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers for information collection requirements, certain form numbers, and corresponding technical corrections to part and position titles, agency names, and acronyms listed in 30 CFR chapter XII.

AA06
July 1, 2011--76 FR 38555
The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) published a rule in the Federal Register on October 4, 2010, announcing that the Minerals Revenue Management Program (MRM) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) (formerly known as the Minerals Management Service (MMS)) was renamed the Office of Natural Resources Revenue by the Secretary of the Interior and was separated from BOEMRE and transferred to the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget. In the rule, ONRR also announced the reorganization of title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR) resulting from the division of BOEMRE into two separate agencies. The rule removed certain regulations from chapter II in 30 CFR, which pertains to BOEMRE and recodified them in new chapter XII, which pertains to ONRR. This document corrects the rule published on October 4, 2010.

2010 - ONRR Final Rule

AD70
October 4, 2010--75 FR 61051
On May 19, 2010, the Secretary of the Interior separated the responsibilities previously performed by the former Minerals Management Service (MMS) and reassigned those responsibilities to three separate organizations. As part of this reorganization, the Secretary renamed MMS’s Minerals Revenue Management Program (MRM) the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) and directed that ONRR transition to the Office of the Assistant Secretary—Policy, Management and Budget (PMB). This change requires reorganization of title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR). This direct final rule amends chapter II in 30 CFR, establishes a new chapter XII in 30 CFR, removes certain regulations from chapter II, and recodifies them in the new chapter XII.

2008 - ONRR Final Rule

AD20
Reporting Amendments
The MMS is  amending existing regulations for reporting production and royalties on oil, gas, coal, and geothermal resources produced on Federal and Indian leases in order to align the regulations with current MMS business practices. These amendments reflect changes that were implemented as a result of a major reengineering of MMS’s financial system and other legal requirements.

2007 - ONRR Final Rule

AD00
Indian Oil Valuation
The rule amends the existing regulations regarding valuation, for royalty purposes, of oil produced from Indian leases. These amendments clarify and update the existing regulations. This rule is intended to bring added certainty to the valuation of oil produced from American Indian lands. The effective date of the rule is February 1, 2008. The MMS plans to convene a negotiated rulemaking committee to address major portion valuation.

AD32
Geothermal Royalty Payments, Direct Use Fees, and Royalty Valuation
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is publishing new regulations to implement the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) governing the payment of royalty on geothermal resources produced from Federal leases and the payment of direct use fees in lieu of royalties. The EPAct provisions amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (GSA). The new regulations amend the current MMS geothermal royalty valuation regulations and simplify the royalty calculations for geothermal resources. The new regulations also amend various related provisions in the MMS rules.

Prior Years

 AC40
Electronic Reporting
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is amending its regulations to require reporters to submit selected royalty and production reports electronically, to extend the due date for production reports filed electronically, and to eliminate the reporting of most wells that are in drilling status. This rulemaking provides electronic reporting exceptions for reporters who meet certain criteria. These amendments will reduce administrative costs and increase operating efficiencies for industry and MMS.

 AC51
Change to Delegated State Audit Functions
The MMS is amending its regulations to allow States which choose to assume audit duties to do so for less than all of the Federal mineral leases within the State or leases offshore of the State. Section 205 of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1735, gives MMS the authority to delegate audit functions to States.

AC70
Small Refiner Administrative Fee
The MMS is eliminating the cost recovery fees it charges small refiners to participate in the Small Refiner Royalty-in-Kind (RIK) Program. The MMS believes these fees are no longer justified under the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A–25.

AC86
Solid Minerals Reporting Requirements
The MMS is updating its solid minerals reporting regulations to implement our reengineered royalty compliance strategy. The new reporting requirements will provide the necessary information to timely verify that mineral revenues due the government are correctly paid in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and lease terms. The new reporting requirements replace several existing information collections and decrease the reporting burden for solid mineral reporters.

AD22
Service of Official Correspondence
A Direct Final Rule: this rule establishes updated procedures for businesses to use when supplying the Minerals Management Service (MMS) with their control information. The effective date of the rule is November 29, 2006.

AD28
Immediate Temporary Reporting Relief
This rule provides immediate temporary relief to reporters in the aftermath of  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The changes provide for extensions to pay royalties owed on Federal oil and gas leases and report corresponding royalty and production reports.

AD04
Federal Oil Valuation
MMS is amending the existing regulations governing the valuation of crude oil produced from Federal leases for royalty purposes, and related provisions governing the reporting thereof. The current regulations became effective on June 1, 2000.These amendments primarily affect which published market prices are most appropriate to value crude oil not sold at arm’s length and what transportation deductions should be allowed.

AD05
Federal Gas Valuation
The MMS is amending the existing regulations governing the valuation of gas produced from Federal leases for royalty purposes, and related provisions governing the reporting thereof. The current regulations became effective on March 1, 1988, and were amended in 1996 and 1998. These amendments primarily affect the calculation of transportation deductions and the changes necessitated by judicial decisions since the regulations were last amended.

AC30
Accounting Relief for Marginal Properties
This rule allows reporters to seek accounting, reporting, and auditing relief for their marginal properties in accordance with section 117(c) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 as amended by the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996.   (Completed Action 12/2004)

AB57
Indian Gas Valuation
Major Portion Prices and Due Dates for Additional Royalty Payments on Indian Gas Production in Designated Areas Not Associated with an Index Zone
(Completed Action 11/1999)

AC06
Amendments to Transportation Allowance Regulations for Federal and Indian Leases to Specify Allowable Costs and Related Amendments to Gas Valuation Regulations
(Completed Action 4/1998)

AC08
Policy for Release of Third-Party Proprietary Information for the Administrative Appeals Process and for Alternative Dispute Resolution
(Completed Action 10/1997)
(Rule withdrawn April 1, 1998)

AC21
Administrative Appeal Procedures
(formerly titled: Preliminary Statement of Issues and Fee Waiver)
(Completed Action 11/1999)

AC25
Delegation of Royalty Management Functions to States
(Completed Action 10/1997)

AC72
Indian Gas Valuation
Amendments to Gas Valuation Regulations
(Completed Action 5/2001)

AD01
MMS-Offshore - (Interest/affects to MRM)
Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates--Deep Gas Provisions

Additional Offshore Rule Information