Document VJD4nEyrgEg7Dgg6QmOaQy1qo

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PROPOSED TOP 10 PRIORITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2017 - 2021 1. WO-300: Rescind the Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands (80 Fed. Reg. 16128) regulation. 2. WO-300: Revise the Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation (81 Fed. Reg. 83008) regulation. 3. WO-700: Implement the Secretary's reform initiative by focusing on Administration priorities and emphasizing a capable workforce at the field level. 4. WO-200 & WO-300: Streamline business processes, with an emphasis on those related to NEPA, Planning, mining, and oil and gas. 5. WO-200 & WO-300: Update key regulations, manuals and handbooks consistent with Administration priorities, with an emphasis on: 1) grazing regulations, 2) good neighbor authority, 3) recreation, 4) leasing reform, 5) mining, and 6) energy. 6. WO-200: Complete priority land use plans - in particular, those related to updating the sage grouse plans, recreation, grazing, and energy independence. 7. WO-200: Increase timber harvest in Western Oregon and in the Public Domain. 8. WO-200: Develop and begin implementing a wild horse and burro plan for all herd management areas to hit appropriate management levels by 2026. 9. WO-300: Finalize coal recommendations report and begin implementation. 10. WO-200 & NIFC: Improve rangeland health by addressing invasive plants and focusing on appropriate fire management strategies to include fire suppression, reducing hazardous fuels, establishing fuel breaks, and rehabilitation. NOTES FOR ADs: When discussing key decisions and milestones per the templates below please include specific target dates. For priorities that have multiple focus areas (i.e. numbers 4, 5, 6, & 10) each focus area should have a bullet outlining its major milestones. Priority #1: Rescind the Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands (80 Fed. Reg. 16128) regulation. On March 28, 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13783, which directed the Secretary of the Interior to review the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 2015 final rule entitled, "Oil and Gas; Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands," (2015 HF Rule) for consistency with the Order's objective "to promote clean and safe development of our Nation's vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth and prevent job creation" and, as appropriate, take action to lawfully suspend, revise, or rescind those rules that are inconsistent with the policies set forth in the Order. Secretarial Order 3349 was issued on March 29, 2017, which directs the BLM to proceed expeditiously in proposing to rescind the 2015 HF Rule. In accordance with E.O. 13783 and Secretarial Order 3349, the BLM is now proposing a rule that would rescind, in its entirety, the 2015 HF Rule. Key Decisions and Milestones: A proposed rule to rescind the 2015 HF Rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on July 25, 2017. The publishing of the proposed rule will initiate a 60-day public review and comment period. After the public comment period closes, the BLM will review the comments received, prepare responses and take any other actions determined appropriate in order to address the substantive comments received. In addition, the BLM will be sending letters in order to initiate tribal consultation for the proposed rule with interested Indian tribes. In order to address key decisions that arise through the public review and comment period and tribal consultation, direction and/or approval from BLM leadership, the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), and the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy may be required. During the surname process for the proposed rule, approval was needed from the Office of the Solicitor, ASLM, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs (ExecSec), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in order to proceed. A similar surname process is expected for the final rule. Publication of a final rule in the Federal Register is tentatively expected in December 2017 or January 2018. Key milestones are summarized below: July 25, 2017 - Proposed rule is published in the Federal Register; July 25 to September 25, 2018 - Public review and comment period for the proposed rule; and December 2017/January 2018 (tentative) - Final rule is published in the Federal Register. Key Personnel and Staff: The BLM has formed an interdisciplinary team comprised of the following key staff for the project: project lead/policy analyst, solicitor (DOI), economist, regulatory affairs specialist, petroleum engineer, and a subject matter expert from the BLM Fluid Minerals Division. Assistance from various BLM state and field office personnel, including petroleum engineers and natural resource specialists, has also been provided and will likely continue to be needed. Start Date: March 2017 Anticipated Completion Date: December 2017/January 2018 Priority #2: Revise the Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation (81 Fed. Reg. 83008) regulation. The BLM is reviewing its Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule (or "Waste Prevention rule") published on November 18, 2016, to ensure that it is consistent with the policy articulated in Executive Order 13783, namely that "it is in the national interest to promote clean and safe development of our Nation's vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth, and prevent job creation." Secretarial Order 3349 also directs the BLM to conduct this review to determine whether the rule is fully consistent with Executive Order 13783. Key Decisions and Milestones: The BLM will draft policy options for revising the Waste Prevention rule and will need the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM) and the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy to make key decisions about which policies to propose (between October and mid-November, 2017). After the public comment period, the BLM will summarize the key comments received and draft policy options, and will need the ASLM and the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy to make key decisions about which policies to finalize (between November and mid-December, 2018). In addition, during the surname process of each the proposed and final rules, the BLM will need the ASLM and the the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs (ExecSec) to surname the rule package. Finally, representatives of BLM, ASLM, or DOI may need to engage with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during its review. Key milestones are summarized below: October 1, 2017 - November 15, 2017. WO-100 and ASLM decision on proposed policy; February 26, 2018 - March 19, 2018. WO-100, ASLM, and ExecSec surname of proposed rule; April 2, 2018 - July 2, 2018. OMB review of proposed rule; July 16, 2018. Proposed rule published in Federal Register; July 16, 2018 - September 17, 2018. Public comment period; September 17, 2018 - December 17, 2018. WO-100 and ASLM decision on final policy, surname final rule package; December 17, 2018 - March 17, 2019. OMB review of final rule; and April 17, 2019. Publish final rule in Federal Register. Key Personnel and Staff: The BLM has formed an interdisciplinary team comprised of the following key staff: project manager, solicitor (DOI), policy analyst, economist, natural resource specialist, regulatory analyst, Washington Office petroleum engineer, and 3 field petroleum engineers. Start Date: August 2017 Anticipated Completion Date: April 2019 Priority #9: Finalize coal recommendations report and begin implementation. As part of the Department of the Interior's "Make America Great Again through Energy Independence" objective, the BLM, with the Office of Surface Mining, Exploration and Enforcement, is examining the federal coal program and is developing recommendations to streamline the leasing and permitting process. A multidisciplinary/multiagency team of experts has identified a number of recommended program revisions and enhancements that could be carried out through changes to policy, promulgation of regulations, or new legislation that will decrease the processing times for leasing and permitting federal coal and coal mines as well as to remove some of the administrative burdens to the industry. These recommendations have been outlined in a draft report to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals (ASLM) and will be presented to the Secretary upon ASLM approval. Key Decisions and Milestones: The draft coal recommendations report is currently with ASLM for review and comment. Once comments are received (expected in August 2017), a final draft will be prepared and sent through the BLM surnaming process for finalization (including the Office of the Solicitor, the BLM Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals and Realty Management and the BLM Director's Office). After the report is finalized (expected by late August), ASLM will present the report to the Secretary. Upon the Secretary's approval and identification of issues to address, the BLM will create an implementation team that will then begin the process of implementing those recommendations approved by the Secretary. Key Personnel and Staff: A multidisciplinary/multiagency team comprised of key staff from the BLM, Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement, Office of Valuation Services, and the DOI Office of the Solicitor was formed to develop the coal recommendations report. The team includes the Washington Office Solid Minerals Division Chief and Deputy Division Chief, mining engineers, NEPA specialists, economists, leasing specialists, air quality specialist, and solicitor (DOI). Since this is a national effort recommending Bureau-wide changes to the BLM coal program, implementation of the recommendations will be managed from the BLM Washington Office, Division of Solid Minerals. It is anticipated that a Project Manager will direct the effort. Start Date: Complete report by the end of August 2017 and start implementation of recommendations beginning in Fiscal Year 2018. Anticipated Completion Date: End of Fiscal Year 2017 for report. Depending on which recommendations will be pursued, implementation of recommendations is anticipated to range from less than one year to 3-4 years (i.e., those requiring legislation). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PROPOSED TOP 10 PRIORITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2017 - 2021 1. WO-300: Rescind the Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands (80 Fed. Reg. 16128) regulation. 2. WO-300: Revise the Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation (81 Fed. Reg. 83008) regulation. 3. WO-700: Implement the Secretary's reform initiative by focusing on Administration priorities and emphasizing a capable workforce at the field level. 4. WO-200 & WO-300: Streamline business processes, with an emphasis on those related to NEPA, Planning, mining, and oil and gas. 5. WO-200 & WO-300: Update key regulations, manuals and handbooks consistent with Administration priorities, with an emphasis on: 1) grazing regulations, 2) good neighbor authority, 3) recreation, 4) leasing reform, 5) mining, and 6) energy. 6. WO-200: Complete priority land use plans - in particular, those related to updating the sage grouse plans, recreation, grazing, and energy independence. 7. WO-200: Increase timber harvest in Western Oregon and in the Public Domain. 8. WO-200: Develop and begin implementing a wild horse and burro plan for all herd management areas to hit appropriate management levels by 2026. 9. WO-300: Finalize coal recommendations report and begin implementation. 10. WO-200 & NIFC: Improve rangeland health by addressing invasive plants and focusing on appropriate fire management strategies to include fire suppression, reducing hazardous fuels, establishing fuel breaks, and rehabilitation. NOTES FOR ADs: When discussing key decisions and milestones per the templates below please include specific target dates. For priorities that have multiple focus areas (i.e. numbers 4, 5, 6, & 10) each focus area should have a bullet outlining its major milestones. Priority #1: Rescind the Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands (80 Fed. Reg. 16128) regulation. On March 28, 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13783, which directed the Secretary of the Interior to review the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 2015 final rule entitled, "Oil and Gas; Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands," (2015 HF Rule) for consistency with the Order's objective "to promote clean and safe development of our Nation's vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth and prevent job creation" and, as appropriate, take action to lawfully suspend, revise, or rescind those rules that are inconsistent with the policies set forth in the Order. Secretarial Order 3349 was issued on March 29, 2017, which directs the BLM to proceed expeditiously in proposing to rescind the 2015 HF Rule. In accordance with E.O. 13783 and Secretarial Order 3349, the BLM is now proposing a rule that would rescind, in its entirety, the 2015 HF Rule. Key Decisions and Milestones: A proposed rule to rescind the 2015 HF Rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on July 25, 2017. The publishing of the proposed rule will initiate a 60-day public review and comment period. After the public comment period closes, the BLM will review the comments received, prepare responses and take any other actions determined appropriate in order to address the substantive comments received. In addition, the BLM will be sending letters in order to initiate tribal consultation for the proposed rule with interested Indian tribes. In order to address key decisions that arise through the public review and comment period and tribal consultation, direction and/or approval from BLM leadership, the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), and the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy may be required. During the surname process for the proposed rule, approval was needed from the Office of the Solicitor, ASLM, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs (ExecSec), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in order to proceed. A similar surname process is expected for the final rule. Publication of a final rule in the Federal Register is tentatively expected in December 2017 or January 2018. Key milestones are summarized below: July 25, 2017 - Proposed rule is published in the Federal Register; July 25 to September 25, 2018 - Public review and comment period for the proposed rule; and December 2017/January 2018 (tentative) - Final rule is published in the Federal Register. Key Personnel and Staff: The BLM has formed an interdisciplinary team comprised of the following key staff for the project: project lead/policy analyst, solicitor (DOI), economist, regulatory affairs specialist, petroleum engineer, and a subject matter expert from the BLM Fluid Minerals Division. Assistance from various BLM state and field office personnel, including petroleum engineers and natural resource specialists, has also been provided and will likely continue to be needed. Start Date: March 2017 Anticipated Completion Date: December 2017/January 2018 Priority #2: Revise the Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation (81 Fed. Reg. 83008) regulation. The BLM is reviewing its Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule (or "Waste Prevention rule") published on November 18, 2016, to ensure that it is consistent with the policy articulated in Executive Order 13783, namely that "it is in the national interest to promote clean and safe development of our Nation's vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth, and prevent job creation." Secretarial Order 3349 also directs the BLM to conduct this review to determine whether the rule is fully consistent with Executive Order 13783. Key Decisions and Milestones: The BLM will draft policy options for revising the Waste Prevention rule and will need the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM) and the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy to make key decisions about which policies to propose (between October and mid-November, 2017). After the public comment period, the BLM will summarize the key comments received and draft policy options, and will need the ASLM and the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy to make key decisions about which policies to finalize (between November and mid-December, 2018). In addition, during the surname process of each the proposed and final rules, the BLM will need the ASLM and the the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs (ExecSec) to surname the rule package. Finally, representatives of BLM, ASLM, or DOI may need to engage with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during its review. Key milestones are summarized below: October 1, 2017 - November 15, 2017. WO-100 and ASLM decision on proposed policy; February 26, 2018 - March 19, 2018. WO-100, ASLM, and ExecSec surname of proposed rule; April 2, 2018 - July 2, 2018. OMB review of proposed rule; July 16, 2018. Proposed rule published in Federal Register; July 16, 2018 - September 17, 2018. Public comment period; September 17, 2018 - December 17, 2018. WO-100 and ASLM decision on final policy, surname final rule package; December 17, 2018 - March 17, 2019. OMB review of final rule; and April 17, 2019. Publish final rule in Federal Register. Key Personnel and Staff: The BLM has formed an interdisciplinary team comprised of the following key staff: project manager, solicitor (DOI), policy analyst, economist, natural resource specialist, regulatory analyst, Washington Office petroleum engineer, and 3 field petroleum engineers. Start Date: August 2017 Anticipated Completion Date: April 2019 Priority #9: Finalize coal recommendations report and begin implementation. As part of the Department of the Interior's "Make America Great Again through Energy Independence" objective, the BLM, with the Office of Surface Mining, Exploration and Enforcement, is examining the federal coal program and is developing recommendations to streamline the leasing and permitting process. A multidisciplinary/multiagency team of experts has identified a number of recommended program revisions and enhancements that could be carried out through changes to policy, promulgation of regulations, or new legislation that will decrease the processing times for leasing and permitting federal coal and coal mines as well as to remove some of the administrative burdens to the industry. These recommendations have been outlined in a draft report to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals (ASLM) and will be presented to the Secretary upon ASLM approval. Key Decisions and Milestones: The draft coal recommendations report is currently with ASLM for review and comment. Once comments are received (expected in August 2017), a final draft will be prepared and sent through the BLM surnaming process for finalization (including the Office of the Solicitor, the BLM Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals and Realty Management and the BLM Director's Office). After the report is finalized (expected by late August), ASLM will present the report to the Secretary. Upon the Secretary's approval and identification of issues to address, the BLM will create an implementation team that will then begin the process of implementing those recommendations approved by the Secretary. (Early August 2017. ASLM provides comments on draft coal report. Middle-Late August 2017. BLM prepares final report and submits for surnaming. Late August 2017. ASLM presents report to the Secretary | Fall 2017. The Secretary identifies which issues to address & BLM creates implementation team. October 2017 - January 2021. BLM implements recommendations. Key Personnel and Staff: A multidisciplinary/multiagency team comprised of key staff from the BLM, Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement, Office of Valuation Services, and the DOI Office of the Solicitor was formed to develop the coal recommendations report. The team includes the Washington Office Solid Minerals Division Chief and Deputy Division Chief, mining engineers, NEPA specialists, economists, leasing specialists, air quality specialist, and solicitor (DOI). Since this is a national effort recommending Bureau-wide changes to the BLM coal program, implementation of the recommendations will be managed from the BLM Washington Office, Division of Solid Minerals. It is anticipated that a Project Manager will direct the effort. Start Date: |Complete report by the end of August 2017 |and start implementation of recommendations beginning in Fiscal Year 2018. Commented [OKA1]: Adjust as needed based on comment below. Commented [OKA2]: Given that you still need to receive comments back from ASLM is this still realistic? Need enough time to cover receiving comments, completing any necessary revisions, and routing final for review and surname. Anticipated Completion Date: End of Fiscal Year 2017 for report. Depending on which recommendations will be pursued, implementation of recommendations is anticipated to range from less than one year to 3-4 years (i.e., those requiring legislation).