ONRR Delays Effective Date and Reopens Comment Period on 2020 Valuation Reform and Civil Penalties Rule

On February 12, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resource Revenue (ONRR) issued a notice delaying the effective date of a final rule to amend the procedures by which the agency values coal and gas produced from federal leases for the purposes of collecting royalties. The agency stated that this action is in response to White House and Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-21-14 dated January 20, 2021 that directs agencies to consider delaying the effective date of rules that have not yet become effective for the purpose of reviewing questions of fact, law, or policy. The final rule outlines several amendments including updating the values for coal produced from federal leases, and procedures for assessing civil penalties for violations of mineral lease statutes. The final rule will now take effect on April 16, 2021. ONRR is also reopening the comment period on the final rule. Comments are due by March 15, 2021.

• Read the Federal Register notice and submit comments here.
• Read the text of the final rule here.
• Advocacy contact: Prianka Sharma at (202) 205-6938.