Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 154 / Thursday, August 8, 1996 / Notices 41423 for Removing Offshore Structures’’ • Ecological role of natural reefs and areas already under concurrent (Marine Board Study). Each working oil and gas production platforms on jurisdiction in . group made specific recommendations rocky reef fishes, EFFECTIVE DATE: Concurrent legislative to improve offshore decommissioning. • Ecology of invertebrate jurisdiction within NPS units became The proceedings of the International communities on platform structures, effective on June 20, 1996. • Workshop will be published in the fall Casing removal depths and removal FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: of 1996. methods, • Einar Olsen, Ranger Services Division, The April 1996 International The effects of explosives on cement National Capitol Field Area, National Workshop primarily focused on plugs, Park Service, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, • Deep-water pipeline abandonment decommissioning activities in the Gulf Washington, DC 20242. Telephone 202– procedures, of Mexico. However, MMS is also 619–7065. investigating opportunities to solicit • Advanced explosive and views and recommendations concerning nonexplosive removal techniques, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June other offshore areas, including • Deep-water artificial reefs, 19, 1996, pursuant to Annotated Code of California. • Attraction vs. production in cold- Maryland Section 14–102, the MMS is discussing sponsoring an water environments with ample hard- Honorable Parris Glendening, Governor additional decommissioning workshop bottom, of the State of Maryland, ceded by in California (the first California • Habitat and water depth profile for agreement to the NPS concurrent workshop was held in March 1994). fish kill from explosives, legislative jurisdiction over lands and On a national level, MMS is working • The effects of platform size on waters, owned, leased or on an action plan to respond to various fish, administratively controlled by the NPS, recommendations made by the Marine • Forecasts of Federal platform within the boundaries of the 17 NPS Board Study and the general comments removals, units in the State of Maryland. Acting in from the International Workshop. • Offshore and onshore facility accordance with the provisions of 16 Our general plan is to: disposal methods, and U.S.C. 1a–3 and 40 U.S.C. 255, Secretary 1. Improve our partnering and • An environmental and safety risk of the Interior Bruce Babbitt signed the consultations on lease decommissioning assessment for platform and pipeline agreement on January 4, 1995. In issues—MMS is continuing to meet with decommissioning and removals. addition, the United States retrocedes the National Marine Fisheries Service MMS is also issuing a request for and relinquishes exclusive jurisdiction (NMFS), fishing interests, the oil and research proposals in the ‘‘Commerce over those NPS areas in the State where gas industry, and other concerned Business Daily’’ concerning the United States had exclusive members of the public. For example, we decommissioning research. jurisdiction. The agreement became are discussing survey requirements for Our goal is to decommission wells, effective on the date of the last turtles and marine mammals, platforms, pipelines, and other signature, June 20, 1996. limitations of charge sizes and the structures to prevent or minimize The 17 NPS Areas Include number of detonations, and loss of environmental impacts and to ensure nursery habitats. Recently, MMS met that a location is cleared of obstructions Antietam National Battlefield with NMFS and the oil and gas industry to other uses of the Outer Continental (Washington County) to discuss the impact of structure Shelf (OCS). MMS will achieve its goal Assateague Island National Seashore removals on endangered species. by enhancing its partnerships with the (Worchester County) MMS also plans to participate on other OCS stakeholders and by using Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National relevant committees concerning science to evaluate the techniques, Historical Park (Montgomery, international decommissioning policies policies, and regulations associated with Frederick, Washington, and of offshore oil and gas installations. One decommissioning. Allegheny Counties) Clara Barton National Historic Site of the committees will develop Dated: July 29, 1996. (Montgomery County) guidelines for disposing of platforms. Lucy R. Querques, 2. Analyze our policies and Park (Prince George’s Acting Associate Director for Offshore County) regulations— Minerals Management. MMS is working with other agencies Fort McHenry National Monument and [FR Doc. 96–20231 Filed 8–7–96; 8:45 am] and sponsoring scientific studies to help Historic Shrine ( City) us analyze our policies and regulations BILLING CODE 4310±MR±M (Prince George’s on decommissioning. In 1997, MMS County) Clara Barton Parkway (Montgomery plans to publish a Notice to Lessee and/ or regulations to clarify MMS’s policy County) on structure severing depths, partial Concurrent Jurisdiction in Maryland Hampton National Historical Site facility removals, deep-water (Baltimore County) decommissioning, and site clearance AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. Harmony Hall (Prince George’s County) requirements (including liability). ACTION: Notice of Concurrent Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 3. Conduct research and Jurisdiction. (Washington County) environmental studies— Monocacy National Battlefield MMS is conducting or will initiate SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that (Frederick County) research on the following topics in 1996 the State of Maryland has ceded to the Oxon Cove Park (Prince George’s and early 1997: National Park Service (NPS) concurrent County) • Turtle detection techniques, legislative jurisdiction over lands and , including Colonial • Fish and turtle scare devices, waters, owned, leased or Farms and Marshall Hall (Prince • The effects of removal depths on administratively controlled by the NPS, George’s County) soil transport, within the boundaries of the 17 NPS Piscataway Park (Charles County) • Improved well abandonment units in the State of Maryland. This Thomas Stone National Historic Site techniques, jurisdiction is in addition to those park (Charles County) 41424 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 154 / Thursday, August 8, 1996 / Notices

Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Anne of sacred sites. The Executive Order ACTION: Notice. Arundel County) supplements the protection afforded by SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of Dated: August 2, 1996. the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the American Indian proposed contractual actions that are Chris Andress, Religious Freedom Act Amendments of new, modified, discontinued, or Chief, Division of Ranger Activities, National 1994. completed since the last publication of Park Service. On June 8, 1996, the United States this notice on April 30, 1996. The [FR Doc. 96–20207 Filed 8–7–96; 8:45 am] District Court for the District of February 5, 1996, notice should be used BILLING CODE 4310±70±P Wyoming issued a preliminary order in as a reference point to identify changes. Bear Lodge Multiple Use Association v. The number in parenthesis corresponds Babbitt, C.A. No. 96–CV–0063D. The to the number in the February 5, 1996, National Monument, court’s order enjoined the NPS from notice. This notice is one means in Wyoming restricting commercial guide climbing which the public is informed about AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. activities during the month of June contractual actions for capital recovery ACTION: Notice—reconsideration of a pending a final decision of the court. and management of project resources portion of the Devils Tower Climbing The order upheld the Plan’s voluntary and facilities. Additional Bureau of Management Plan. program to encourage climbers not to Reclamation (Reclamation) climb in the month of June. announcements of individual contract SUMMARY: The National Park Service In light of these circumstances, NPS actions may be published in the Federal (NPS) has decided to reconsider certain has decided to reconsider those portions Register and in newspapers of general portions of the Climbing Management of the Plan which address climbing circulation in the areas determined by Plan for Devils Tower National limitations based on concerns about Reclamation to be affected by the Monument which address climbing Indian religious and cultural values. proposed action. Announcements may limitations based on concerns about Pending the outcome of this be in the form of new releases, legal Indian religious and cultural values. reconsideration and in accordance with notices, official letters, memorandums, DATES: Written comments will be the court’s order, the NPS will not or other forms of written material. accepted through September 23, 1996. enforce the Plan’s requirements Meetings, workshops, and/or hearings ADDRESSES: Comments should be regarding commercial guide climbing in may also be used, as appropriate, to addressed to: Superintendent, Devils the month of June. Except with respect provide local publicity. The public Tower National Monument, P.O. Box to commercial guide activities in the participation procedures do not apply to 10, Devils Tower, Wyoming 82714– month of June, the Plan remains in full proposed contracts for sale of surplus or 0010. force and effect. interim irrigation water for a term of 1 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Through this notice, the public is year or less. Either of the contracting Deborah O. Liggett, Superintendent, asked to comment on the Plan’s parties may invite the public to observe Devils Tower National Monument. climbing limitations based on concerns any contract proceedings. All public Telephone 307–467–5283. about Indian religious and cultural participation procedures will be values. Particularly, the public is asked coordinated with those involved in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: to comment on appropriate means for complying with the National Background the NPS at Devils Tower to comply with Environmental Policy Act. the President’s Executive Order ADDRESSES: In March 1995, the NPS adopted a The identity of the regarding Indian Sacred sites. NPS, approving officer and other information Final Climbing Management Plan (Plan) upon consideration of all public for Devils Tower National Monument. pertaining to a specific contract comments received, will determine proposal may be obtained by calling or In general, the Plan states that Devils whether to continue the Plan or to Tower will be managed primarily as a writing the appropriate regional office at modify it with respect to climbing the address and telephone number given crack climbing site and that climbing limitations based on concerns about will be managed taking into account the for each region in the supplementary Indian religious and cultural values. It information. religious and cultural significance of is expected that this reconsideration Devils Tower as a site sacred to some FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: will be completed by December 1, 1996. Alonzo Knapp, Manager, Reclamation Native Americans. Copies of the Plan, the court’s order Law, Contract, and Repayment Office, To this end, the Plan calls for and Executive Order 13007 will be Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 25007, technical rock climbers to voluntarily made available upon request from Denver, Colorado 80225–0007; refrain from climbing Devils Tower Devils Tower National Monument. during the culturally significant month telephone 303–236–1061 extension 224. of June. In addition, the Plan states that Dated: August 2, 1996. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant commercial use licenses for climbing Chris Andress, to section 226 of the Reclamation will not allow commercially guided Chief, Division of Ranger Activities, National Reform Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 1273) and climbing during June (starting in 1996). Park Service. 43 CFR 426.20 of the rules and On May 24, 1996, Executive Order [FR Doc. 96–20208 Filed 8–7–96; 8:45 am] regulations published in 52 FR 11954, 13007 was issued by the President. It BILLING CODE 4310±70±P Apr. 13, 1987, Reclamation will publish generally states that federal agencies notice of proposed or amendatory with land management responsibilities, contract actions for any contract for the to the extent practicable, permitted by Bureau of Reclamation delivery of project water for authorized law, and not clearly inconsistent with Quarterly Status Report of Water uses in newspapers of general essential agency functions, are to Service and Repayment Contract circulation in the affected area at least accommodate access to and ceremonial Negotiations 60 days prior to contract execution. use of Indian sacred sites by Indian Pursuant to the ‘‘Final Revised Public religious practitioners and to avoid AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Participation Procedures’’ for water adversely affecting the physical integrity Interior. resource-related contract negotiations,