ough appropriate public notice as cribed in §§ 256.16 and 256.17 and ough the OCS Advisory Board and committees, on a regional and nahal basis. Meetings of the OCS Ad>ry Board shall be held on specific ies as required by the Board's char FR 38276, June 29, 1979. Redesignated 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982; 47 FR 50684, v. 9, 1982] 56.20 Consideration of coastal zone management program. In the development of the leasing ogram, consideration shall be given the coastal zone management proam being developed or administered y an affected coastal State under secon 305 or 306 of the Coastal Zone anagement Act of 1972 as amended, 6 U.S.C. 1454, 1455). Information oncerning the relationship between a tate's coastal zone management proram and OCS oil and gas activity hall be requested from the Governors f the affected coastal States and rom the Secretary of Commerce prior o the development of the proposed easing program at the time informacion is requested under § 256.16 of this part. [44 FR 38276, June 29, 1979. Redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982; 47 FR 50684, Nov. 9, 1982] a For oil and gas lease sales shown in an approved leasing schedule and as the need arises for other mineral leasing, the Director shall prepare report describing the general geology and potential mineral resources of the area under consideration. The Director may request other interested Federal Agencies to prepare reports describing, to the extent known, any other valuable resources contained within the general area and the potential effect of mineral operations upon the resources or upon the total environment or other uses of the area. [51 FR 6107, Feb. 20, 1986] Subpart D-Call for Information and Nominations § 256.23 Information on areas. (a) The Director may receive and consider indications of interest in areas for mineral leasing. (b) In accordance with an approved program and schedule for the leasing of OCS lands which may contain oil and gas, the Director shall issue Calls for Information and Nominations on areas for leasing of such minerals in specified areas. The Call for Information and Nominations shall be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER and may be published in other publications as desirable. Information on areas shall be addressed to the appropriate regional Minerals Manager of the Minerals Management Service with a copy to any other office which may be specified in the Call. The Director shall also request comments on areas which should receive special concern and analysis. For an oil and gas lease sale Call area, the Director may request comments concerning geological conditions, including bottom hazards; archeological or cultural sites on the seabed or nearshore; multiple uses of the proposed leasing area, including navigation, recreation, and fisheries; and other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information. [47 FR 25970, June 16, 1982. Redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982 and amended at 51 FR 21345, June 12, 1986] § 256.25 Areas near coastal States. (a) At the time information is solicited for leasing of areas within 3 geographical miles seaward of the seaward boundary of any coastal State, the Secretary shall provide the Governor of that State information required under section 8(g)(1) of the Act. The Director shall furnish information identifying the areas for leasing as well as all relevant available environmental data for such areas (See 30 CFR 251.14). (b) After receipt of information on areas within the area described in paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary shall inform the Governor of those areas that are to be given further consideration for leasing. The nominations; public notice and partici- (a) During preparation of a proposed 30 CFR Ch. II (7-1-93 Edition) ernor of an affected State which is received at least 15 days prior to the submission of the proposed program to the Congress and publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER. All such correspondence between the Secretary and Governor of such State shall accompany the proposed program when it is submitted to the Congress. (b) The proposed leasing program 5-year leasing program, the Secretary shall be submitted to the Governors of shall invite and consider suggestions and relevant information for such pro the affected States for review and gram from Governors of affected the Congress and the Attorney Gener- other Federal agencies, including the Attorney General in consultation with State shall, upon request from any TER. The Governor of an affected the Federal Trade Commission, and all interested parties, including the general public. This request for information shall be issued as a notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER. Local governments wishing to respond to such request shall first submit their responses to the Governor of the State in which the local government is located. (b) The Secretary shall send letters to the Governors of the affected States requesting them to identify specific laws, goals, and policies which they believe should be considered by the Secretary in connection with the leasing program. The Secretary shall local government affected by the program, submit a copy of the proposed program to such local government. Comments and recommendations on any aspect of the proposed program may be submitted by a State or local Secretary within 90 days after the government or other persons to the date of its publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER. Comments and recommendations from local governments shall be submitted first to the Governor of the State in which the local government is located. (e) At least 60 days prior to approv also request from the Secretary of ing the final leasing program ani any Energy information on regional and national energy markets, on OCS production goals and on transportation later significant revision, th and the Congress together 244 F5 38276, Jame ested The Se de cou through appropriate public notice as described in §§ 256.16 and 256.17 and through the OCS Advisory Board and its committees, on a regional and national basis. Meetings of the OCS Advisory Board shall be held on specific issues as required by the Board's charter. [44 FR 38276, June 29, 1979. Redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982; 47 FR 50684, Nov. 9, 1982] § 256.20 Consideration of coastal zone management program. In the development of the leasing program, consideration shall be given to the coastal zone management program being developed or administered by an affected coastal State under section 305 or 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 as amended, (16 U.S.C. 1454, 1455). Information concerning the relationship between a State's coastal zone management program and OCS oil and gas activity shall be requested from the Governors of the affected coastal States and from the Secretary of Commerce prior to the development of the proposed leasing program at the time information is requested under § 256.16 of this part. [44 FR 38276, June 29, 1979. Redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982; 47 FR 50684, Nov. 9, 1982] a For oil and gas lease sales shown in an approved leasing schedule and as the need arises for other mineral leasing, the Director shall prepare report describing the general geology and potential mineral resources of the area under consideration. The Director may request other interested Federal Agencies to prepare reports describing, to the extent known, any other valuable resources contained within the general area and the potential effect of mineral operations upon the resources or upon the total environment or other uses of the area. [51 FR 6107, Feb. 20, 1986] Subpart D-Call for Information and Nominations § 256.23 Information on areas. (a) The Director may receive and consider indications of interest in areas for mineral leasing. (b) In accordance with an approved program and schedule for the leasing of OCS lands which may contain oil and gas, the Director shall issue Calls for Information and Nominations on areas for leasing of such minerals in specified areas. The Call for Information and Nominations shall be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER and may be published in other publications as desirable. Information on areas shall be addressed to the appropriate regional Minerals Manager of the Minerals Management Service with a copy to any other office which may be specified in the Call. The Director shall also request comments on areas which should receive special concern and analysis. For an oil and gas lease sale Call area, the Director may request comments concerning geological conditions, including bottom hazards; archeological or cultural sites on the seabed or nearshore; multiple uses of the proposed leasing area, including navigation, recreation, and fisheries; and other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information. [47 FR 25970, June 16, 1982. Redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982 and amended at 51 FR 21345, June 12, 1986] Secretary shall enter into consultation with the Governor to determine whether the area may contain oil or gas pools or fields underlying both the OCS and lands subject to the jurisdiction of the State. (c) After selection for leasing of those tracts which may have oil or gas pools or fields underlying both the OCS and lands under State jurisdiction, the Secretary shall offer the Governor an opportunity to enter into an agreement for the equitable disposition of revenues from such tracts under section 8(g)(2) of the Act. (d) If no agreement can be reached within 90 days of the Secretary's offer, the tracts may be leased and all revenues deposited in a separate Treasury account pending equitable disposition of the revenues under sections 8(g) (3) and (4) of the Act. [44 FR 38276, June 29, 1979, as amended at 47 FR 25971, June 16, 1982. Redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982] Subpart E-Area Identification and Tract Size § 256.26 General. (a) The Director, in consultation with appropriate Federal Agencies, shall recommend to the Secretary areas identified for environmental analysis and consideration for leasing. The Director, on his/her own motion, may include in the recommendation areas in which interest has not been indicated in response to a call. In making a recommendation, the Director shall consider all available environmental information, multiple-use conflicts, resource potential, industry interest and other relevant information. Comments received from States and local governments and interested parties in response to calls for information and nominations shall be considered in making recommendations. For supplemental sales provided for by § 256.12 of this part, the Director's recommendation shall be replaced by a statement describing the results of the Director's consideration of the factors specified above in this section. (b) The Director shall evaluate fully the potential effect of leasing on the human, marine and coastal environments, and develop measures to miti gate adverse impacts, including lease stipulations. The views and recommendations of Federal agencies, State agencies, local governments, organizations, industries and the general public shall be used as appropriate. The Director may hold public hearings on the environmental analysis after appropriate notice. (c) In general, the Director shall seek to inform the public as soon as possible of additions or deletions that occur after the identification of areas. [47 FR 25971, June 16, 1982. Redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982 and amended at 51 FR 21345, June 12, 1986; 53 FR 29886, Aug. 9, 1988] § 256.29 Proposed notice of sale. (a) The Director shall in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies develop measures, including lease stipulations and conditions, to mitigate adverse impacts on the environments. For oil and gas lease sales, appropriate proposed stipulations and conditions shall be contained or referenced in the proposed notice of lease sale. (b) A proposed notice of lease sale shall be submitted to the Secretary for approval. All comments and recommendations received and the Director's findings or actions thereon, shall also be forwarded to the Secretary. (c) Upon approval by the Secretary, the proposed Notice of Sale shall be sent to the Governor of any affected State and a notice of its availability shall be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER. [44 FR 38276, June 29, 1979, as amended at 47 FR 25971, June 16, 1982. Redesignated at (a) Within 60 days after notice of a proposed lease sale, a Governor of any affected State or any affected local government in such State may submit recommendations to the Secretary regarding the size, timing or location of the proposed lease sale. Prior to submitting recommendations to the Secretary, any affected local government shall forward such recommendation to the Governor. (b) The Secretary shall accept such recommendations of the Governor and may accept recommendations of any affected local government if he determines, after having provided the opportunity for consultation, that they provide for a reasonable balance between the national interest and the well-being of the citizens of the affected State. A determination of the national interest shall be based on the findings, purposes and policies of the Act. (c) The Secretary shall communicate to the Governor, in writing, the reasons for his determination to accept or reject such Governor's recommendations, or to implement any alternative means identified in consultation with the Governor to provide for a reasonable balance between the national interest and the well-being of the citizens of the affected State. § 256.32 Notice of sale. (a) Upon approval of the Secretary, the Director shall publish the notice of lease sale in the FEDERAL REGISTER as the official publication, and may publish the notice in other publications. The publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER shall be at least 30 days prior to the date of the sale. The notice shall state the place and time at which bids shall be filed, and the place, date and hour at which bids shall be opened. The notice shall contain or reference a description of the areas to be offered for lease and any stipulations, terms and conditions of the sale. (b) Tracts shall be offered for lease by competitive sealed bidding under conditions specified in the notice of lease sale and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. A suggested format for bidder submissions appears in appendix A of this part. (c) The notice of lease sale shall contain a reference to the OCS lease form which shall be issued to successful bidders. (d) With the approval of the Secretary, the Director may defer any part of the payment of the cash bonus according to a schedule announced at the time of the notice of lease sale. Payment shall be made no later than 5 years after the date of the lease sale. The schedule shall contain provisions for guaranteed payment of a deferred bonus. (e) In order to obtain statistical information to determine which bidding alternatives best accomplish the purposes and policies of the Act, the Director may, until September 18, 1983, require each bidder to submit bids for any OCS area in accordance with more than one of the bidding systems described in section 8(a)(1) of the Act. No more than 10 percent of the tracts offered each year shall contain such a requirement. Leases may be awarded using a bidding alternative selected at random for statistical purposes, if it is otherwise consistent with the purposes and policies of the Act. [44 FR 38276, June 29, 1979. Redesignated and amended at 47 FR 25971, June 16, 1982. Further redesignated at 47 FR 47006, Oct. 22, 1982] Subpart G-Issuance of Leases § 256.35 Qualifications of lessees. (a) In accordance with section 8 of the Act, leases shall be awarded only to the highest responsible qualified bidder. (b) Mineral leases issued pursuant to section 8 of the Act may be held only by: (1) Citizens and nationals of the United States, (2) aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20); (3) private, public or municipal corporations organized under the laws of the United States or of any State or of the District of Columbia or territory thereof, or (4) associations of such citizens, nationals, resident |