In 2016, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), in consultation with the Osage Nation and Osage Minerals Council, determined that revision of the regulations in 25 CFR Part 226, governing mining of the Osage Mineral Estate for oil and gas, was necessary to improve BIA's administration of the Osage Mineral Estate. The last substantive revision to the regulations occurred in 1974, with many provisions remaining virtually unchanged since well before then.
On January 13, 2023, the BIA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to revise the regulations governing leasing Osage Mineral Estate for oil and gas mining. The proposed rule would allow the BIA to strengthen bonding, royalty payment and reporting, production valuation and measurement, site security, and operational requirements to address changes in technology and industry standards that have occurred in the 47 years since the regulations were issued.
Consultation Materials
Sessions
Comment Deadline
Please submit written comments by Friday, April 7, 2023, using one of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Enter "RIN 1076-AF59" in the search box and click "Search," then following the instructions for sending comments.
Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Oklahoma Region, Attn: Regional Director, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, OK 74402. Include "RIN 1076-AF59" on your submission.
Hand Delivery/Courier: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Oklahoma Region, Attn: Regional Director, 3100 W. Peak Boulevard, Muskogee, OK 74402. Include "RIN 1076- AF59" on your submission.
