50 CFR Part 29 — Land Use Management

PART 29—LAND USE MANAGEMENT Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd, 685, 690d, 715i, 725, 3161; 30 U.S.C. 185; 31 U.S.C. 3711, 9701; 40 U.S.C. 319; 43 U.S.C. 315a; 113 Stat. 1501A-140. Source: 31 FR 16026, Dec. 15, 1966, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A—General Rules § 29.1 May we allow economic uses on national wildlife refuges? We may only authorize public or private economic use of the natural resources of any national wildlife refuge, in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 715s, where we determine that the use contributes to the achievement of the national wildlife refuge purposes or the National Wildlife Refuge System mission. We may authorize economic use by appropriate permit only when we have determined the use on a national wildlife refuge to be compatible. Persons exercising economic privileges on national wildlife refuges will be subject to the applicable provisions of this subchapter and of other applicable laws and regulations governing national wildlife refuges. Permits for economic use will contain such terms and conditions that we determine to be necessary for the proper administration of the resources. Economic use in this section includes but is not limited to grazing livestock, harvesting hay and stock feed, removing timber, firewood or other natural products of the soil, removing shell, sand or gravel, cultivating areas, or engaging in operations that facilitate approved programs on national wildlife refuges. [65 FR 62483, Oct. 18, 2000] § 29.2 Cooperative land management. Cooperative agreements with persons for crop cultivation, haying, grazing, or the harvest of vegetative products, including plantlife, growing with or without cultivation on wildlife refuge areas may be executed on a share-in-kind basis when such agreements are in aid of or benefit to the wildlife management of the area. §§ 29.3-29.4 [Reserved] § 29.5 Fees. Fees and charges for the grant of privileges on wildlife refuge areas and for the sale of products taken therefrom, where not otherwise prescribed by law or regulation, shall be set at a rate commensurate with fees and charges for similar privileges and products made by private land owners in the vicinity or in accordance with their local value. Fees or rates of charge for products and privileges may be based either on a monetary exchange or on a share in kind of the resource or product. Subpart B—Rights-of-Way General Regulations Source: 89 FR 99741, Dec. 11, 2024, unless otherwise noted. § 29.10 Definitions. In this subpart, the following terms will have the meanings set forth in this section. ANILCA et seq. Applicant Compatible use Department National Fish Hatchery System land National Wildlife Refuge System land Other lands e.g., Permit holder Permitted area Regional Director Right-of-way permit § 29.11 Purpose and scope. The regulations in this subpart prescribe the procedures for filing applications and the terms and conditions under which rights-of-way over and across the lands administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be permitted. (a) National Wildlife Refuge System lands except lands in Alaska. et seq. (b) National Wildlife Refuge System lands in Alaska. et seq. et seq. (c) National Fish Hatchery System lands. (d) National Wildlife Refuge System lands—less than fee interest. (e) Other lands outside the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System. et seq. § 29.12 Preexisting uses. The regulations in this subpart have no impact on permanent rights and rights-of-way in existence prior to acquisition by the United States, except those activities not explicitly authorized by a preexisting right-of-way, as well as activities that fall outside the footprint of such a right-of-way, are subject to § 26.41 of this chapter and the procedures in this subpart. § 29.13 Compatibility-determination requirement. The Service will not issue or renew a right-of-way permit across National Wildlife Refuge System land if the use would conflict with the goals or objectives in an approved refuge management plan. The Service will not issue or renew a right-of-way permit across National Wildlife Refuge System land unless the agency determines that the use is a compatible use in accordance with the requirements and procedures of § 25.21 of this chapter. The requirements and procedures of § 26.41(c) of this chapter apply to any requested maintenance of or modifications to an existing right-of-way except as modified by any other prevailing provision of law. None of the requirements in this subpart apply to the access of privately owned minerals or to activities explicitly authorized by a permanent right or right-of-way obtained prior to acquisition by the United States, nor do they apply when access is required by any other prevailing provision of law. No compatibility determination is necessary to permit or renew a right-of-way across lands outside the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System. § 29.14 Preapplication meeting. Before submitting an application for a new right-of-way permit or a modification of an existing right-of-way permit across lands managed by the Service, a potential applicant must contact the appropriate Regional Director to schedule a preapplication meeting with the Service. Contact information for the Service Regional Offices is available at https://www.regulations.gov § 29.15 General application procedures. (a) Preapplication meeting. https://www.regulations.gov (b) Application submission. et seq. (c) Payment for cost recovery. (d) Providing additional information for permit. (e) No guarantee of right-of-way permit. (1) Providing the information the Service requires to develop the right-of-way permit; (2) Agreeing to the permit's terms and conditions; and (3) Providing payment for use and occupancy of the land as well as for future right-of-way monitoring costs. § 29.16 Right-of-way permit application. (a) Complete application requirement. (b) Application form. (c) Required application attachments. (1) Map(s). (i) The area proposed to be included in the right-of-way permit, including the placement of proposed infrastructure; and (ii) Proposed access points and routes (including uses of existing roads), and other areas associated with the requested right-of-way. (2) Preliminary site and facility construction plans. (3) Proposed access. (4) Supplemental environmental information. (d) Other required documents. (1) Survey plat and legal description. (2) Detailed environmental analysis. et seq. et seq. et seq. et seq. et seq. (i) If the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement will be prepared by the Service or another Federal agency, rather than the applicant or the applicant's contractor, the applicant must provide sufficient data to enable the Service or the other agency to satisfy the requirements in this paragraph (d)(2) and reimburse the Service for its costs as described in § 29.18. (ii) For renewals of existing rights-of-way permitted that involve no changes to the permitted use, the environmental analysis need address only the impacts, including the cumulative effects, of the ongoing operation and maintenance of the right-of-way. The environmental analysis must also address any statutory requirements not in place when the original permit was issued and therefore not previously considered. (3) Proposed vegetation management plan. (i) Vegetation clearing that may occur as part of structural construction, maintenance, and removal. (ii) Routine vegetation management that may occur, including a description of all physical and mechanical methods that will be used, how equipment will be cleaned before and after entry to the right-of-way, and how the spread of nonnative species by equipment and activities will be minimized. (iii) Any pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals proposed for use, as well as the actions the applicant will take to minimize the adverse impacts of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals on native species including pollinators present in or adjacent to the right-of-way. (iv) Any revegetation and restoration activities, including how the applicant will incorporate regionally appropriate native seeds and plants, particularly those that provide breeding, feeding, and sheltering habitat for native species present in the area, including but not limited to native pollinators. (4) Financial assurance and liability insurance. (e) Submission instructions. (1) Electronic filing. (2) Certified mail. § 29.17 Survey plat and legal description. (a) Before the Service will issue or renew a right-of-way permit, the applicant must provide a final survey plat and legal description that shows and describes the right-of-way in such detail that the Service can accurately locate the right-of-way on the ground. (b) Survey plats and legal descriptions of the right-of-way area must be stamped and signed by a licensed professional land surveyor or other professional licensed or authorized by the State to carry out land-surveying activities. (1) Survey plats must meet the following standards: (i) Survey plats must be geodetically referenced to the current State or national datum. In some cases, new geodetic control points will need to be set within or near the right-of-way area. (ii) Survey plats must show ties to the monuments marking the boundaries of the Service-owned land that the right-of-way would affect, or from which those boundaries are calculated. In cases such as road construction that involve allowing full control of the right-of-way area, a boundary survey is required. (iii) The points where the right-of-way enters and leaves Service land must be annotated on the survey with distance ties to the nearest boundary monuments. (iv) For a linear strip right-of-way, the courses and distances of the center line and the width of the right-of-way on each side of the center line must be annotated. (v) If the right-of-way or site is located wholly within Service land, a minimum of two ties to boundary corners or geodetic control points that can be readily recovered must be shown. (vi) Survey plats must show the existing or proposed facilities in sufficient detail that an average person can determine the nature and extent of the proposed use. (vii) Survey plats must include all uses of Service-managed land required as part of the right-of-way, including access roads. (viii) Survey plats must show the location of any other right-of-way areas in the vicinity. (ix) Survey plats must show major natural or cultural features such as roads, rivers, fences, etc., required for orientation and intelligent interpretation. (x) The acreage contained within the right-of-way area must be shown. (xi) Letter-sized plats are preferred, but larger format plats, such as the right-of-way plan sets prepared for highway and utility projects, are acceptable if they meet the other requirements. (xii) A digital version of the plat in AutoCAD, ArcGIS, or similar format must be submitted along with a signed paper or document prepared in Adobe Acrobat or similar process. (2) The legal description must: (i) Be in metes-and-bounds, aliquot parts, or linear strip format; (ii) Conform to and reference the survey plat; (iii) Be tied to the controlling monuments shown on the plat; (iv) Reference the geodetic coordinates of the point of beginning or point of commencement, and have a clearly documented basis of bearing; and (v) For linear corridor projects, use a “strip description” format, based on a geometrically defined centerline. For example: “All that portion of [land unit description] lying within the following described strip of land.” (c) A licensed Service land surveyor may waive the requirement of a survey plat for a proposed right-of-way in a remote location if they determine that the GPS coordinates and supporting location information submitted by the applicant for inclusion in the right-of-way permit are adequate to locate the proposed right-of-way with minimal risk to the United States. § 29.18 Reimbursement of costs. (a) Application evaluation and processing activities. (i) These costs may include, but are not limited to, the Service's costs to review the application and related materials, conduct surveys of the proposed permit area, prepare a compatibility determination, obtain an appraisal, draft correspondence, and draft the permit. (ii) If the applicant or the applicant's contractor will prepare the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement necessary to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (2) If requested by the applicant during or after the required preapplication meeting, the Regional Director will provide the applicant a preliminary estimate of the Service's application evaluation and processing costs using the information provided by the applicant during or after the preapplication meeting. (3) After receiving a complete application, the Regional Director will estimate the Service's application evaluation and processing costs using the information the applicant provided in the application and during or after the preapplication meeting. (4) Unless reimbursement is waived as provided under paragraph (c) of this section, the applicant must submit a payment to reimburse the Service for its estimated costs before the Service will evaluate and process the right-of-way permit application. (5) If the Service's cost to evaluate and process the right-of-way application exceeds the estimated amount, the Regional Director will promptly notify the applicant of the deficient amount, and the applicant must submit payment for the deficient amount before the Service will issue a right-of-way permit. The Regional Director will refund any overpayments at the request of the applicant. (b) Monitoring activities. (2) The Regional Director will estimate the total costs the Service expects to incur for monitoring activities over the permit term using the information the applicant provided in the application and during or after the preapplication meeting. (3) At the discretion of the Regional Director, the Service may require reimbursement for its estimated monitoring costs in a lump-sum payment before the Service issues a right-of-way permit, or at periodic intervals, not to exceed 5 years, specified in the permit. (4) When reimbursement for costs for monitoring activities is required at periodic intervals specified in the permit, the Regional Director will review the amount of reimbursement not more than every 5 years after the issuance of the permit. The Regional Director will provide the permit holder with written notice of intent to impose new charges to reflect current monitoring costs commencing with the ensuing charge year. The revised charges will be effective unless the permit holder files an appeal in accordance with § 29.26. (c) Waiver of reimbursement for Service costs. (i) State or local governments or agencies or related instrumentalities; (ii) Federal Government agencies; or (iii) Private individuals or organizations when the proposed right-of-way contributes to the Service's operation or maintenance of the refuge or fish hatchery as certified in writing by the Regional Director. (2) Additionally, the Regional Director has the discretion to waive reimbursement for Service costs for right-of-way application evaluation and processing activities and monitoring activities so long as there are appropriated funds for these activities. (3) When reimbursement for Service costs for monitoring activities is waived during the permit term, the permit will contain a statement to that effect. (4) Reimbursement of costs is required and cannot be waived for any right-of-way permit issued under section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq. (d) Service use of payments received for reimbursement of costs. § 29.19 Nature of interest granted. (a) Where the land administered by the Service is owned in fee by the United States and the right-of-way is compatible with the objectives of the area, the Service may issue a permit after it is approved in writing by the Regional Director. (b) For rights-of-way permitted under authority of section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq. (1) The permit term may not exceed 30 years. (2) The right-of-way may not exceed 50 feet in width, plus the area occupied by the pipeline and its related facilities, unless the Regional Director finds, and records in writing the reasons for the finding based on the analysis in a compatibility determination, that a wider right-of-way is necessary for operation and maintenance after construction and to protect the environment or public safety. “Related facilities” include but are not limited to valves, pump stations, supporting structures, bridges, monitoring and communication devices, surge and storage tanks, and terminals. (c) For rights-of-way other than those referred to in paragraph (b) of this section, the permit term may be up to 50 years when the Regional Director deems it appropriate, or a lesser term. (d) The Service may issue a temporary permit supplementing a right-of-way for additional land needed during construction, operation, maintenance, or termination of the pipeline, or to protect the natural environment or public safety. (e) Unless otherwise provided, no interest granted shall give the grantee any right whatsoever to remove any material, earth, or stone for construction or other purpose, except that stone or earth necessarily removed from the right-of-way in the construction of a project may be used elsewhere along the same right-of-way in the construction of the same project. § 29.20 Terms and conditions. (a) Prior rights. (b) Agreement of terms and conditions. (c) Terms and conditions required for all permit holders. (1) The permit is for the specific use described and may not be construed to authorize any other use within the permit area unless approved in writing by the Regional Director upon determination by the Service project manager that the additional use is a compatible use. (2) The permit may be amended only by a written instrument signed and executed by the Regional Director and the permit holder. (3) The permit holder may not transfer or assign the permit to another party without obtaining the Regional Director's prior written approval. (4) The permit holder may not allow another party to collocate equipment or activities on their infrastructure or right-of-way unless the other party first obtains a right-of-way permit from the Service. Any entity that wants to collocate equipment or activities must apply for its own Service right-of-way permit by following the procedures set forth in § 29.15. (5) The permit holder is responsible for ensuring that its officers, employees, representatives, agents, contractors, and subcontractors are familiar with the permit and comply with its terms and conditions. (6) The permit holder must provide the Service project manager with current contact information (company address, points of contact, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc.) for both routine and emergency communications, and, in the case of corporations, of the address of its principal place of business and the names and addresses of its principal officers. (7) Authorized representatives of the United States have the right to enter and inspect the permitted area at any time without providing prior notice to the permit holder. (8) The Regional Director may suspend or terminate all or any portion of the issued permit for failure of the permit holder to comply with any or all of the terms or conditions of the permit, or for abandonment. (i) A rebuttable presumption of abandonment is raised by deliberate failure of the permit holder to use the permit, for any continuous 2-year period, for the purpose for which the permit was issued or renewed. In the event of noncompliance or abandonment, the Regional Director will notify the permit holder in writing of any intention to suspend or terminate the permit 60 days from the date of the notice and state the reasons, unless prior to that time the holder completes such corrective actions as are specified in the notice. The Regional Director may allow an extension of time within which to complete corrective actions if the Regional Director believes that extenuating circumstances, not within the permit holder's control, such as adverse weather conditions, disturbance to wildlife during breeding periods or periods of peak concentration, or other compelling reasons, warrant an extension. (ii) Should the holder of a right-of-way permit issued under authority of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq. (iii) No administrative proceeding is required in cases in which the permit terminates under its terms. (9) The permit holder must prevent the disturbance or removal of any public land survey monument or project boundary monument unless and until the permit holder has requested and received from the Regional Director written approval of measures that the permit holder will take to perpetuate the location of the monument. (10) The permit holder must conduct operations, including by setting their time and location, in a manner that avoids or minimizes impacts to fish and wildlife or their habitats, including, but not limited to, impacts caused by exposure to physical and chemical hazards, disruption of hydrologic processes, lighting and visual disturbance, and duration and frequency of noise. (11) The permit holder must comply with State and Federal laws and regulations that are applicable to the project within which the permit is issued and to the lands that are included in the right-of-way. (i) The permit holder must comply with the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq. (ii) The permit holder must comply with the applicable requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-712), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. et seq. et seq. et seq. (iii) The permit holder must immediately suspend all activities and notify the Service project manager upon the discovery of any threatened or endangered species or archeological, paleontological, or historical resources within or near the permitted area. All natural and cultural resources discovered in the permitted area are the property of the United States. (12) The permit holder must clear and keep clear the lands within the permit area to the extent and in the manner directed by the Service project manager in charge; and to dispose of all vegetative and other material cut, uprooted, or otherwise accumulated during the construction and maintenance of the project so as to decrease the fire hazard and also in accordance with any instructions that the Service project manager specifies. (13) The permit holder must do everything reasonably within the permit holder's power, both independently and on request of any duly authorized representative of the United States, to prevent and suppress fires on or near the permitted area, including making available such construction and maintenance resources that are reasonably obtainable for the suppression of such fires. (14) After the expiration or termination of the permit, the permit holder must remove all facilities and equipment from the permitted area and restore the permitted area to its pre-permit condition as directed and approved by the Service project manager. Any facilities or equipment not removed within 6 months, unless more time is deemed necessary for conservation purposes by the Regional Director, will be deemed abandoned and will be disposed of in accordance with applicable Federal law. In that event, the permit holder will be liable to the Service for all of its costs in disposing of the facilities or equipment and restoring the permitted area. (15) In accordance with applicable Federal law, in the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project, the permit holder will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and must require an identical provision to be included in all subcontracts. (16) The permit holder must pay the United States the full value for all damages to the lands or other property of the United States caused by the permit holder or that person's employees, contractors, or agents of the contractors. (i) In cases in which the permit is issued to a State or other governmental agency that has no legal power to assume such a liability with respect to damages caused to lands or property, that agency will repair all such damages. (ii) In cases in which the permit involves lands that are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, the permit holder or his or her employees, contractors, or agents of the contractors will be liable to third parties for injuries incurred in connection with the permit area. (17) The permit holder will indemnify and hold harmless the United States and its officers, employees, agents, and representatives from and against all liability of any sort whatsoever arising out of the permit holder's activities under the permit. This agreement to indemnify and hold harmless from and against all liability includes liability under Federal or State environmental laws, including but not limited to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Restoration Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. chapter 103); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. (18) The Regional Director may require permit modifications at any future date to ensure that the permitted use is compatible with the Refuge System mission and the purpose(s) of the refuge. Required permit modifications could include but are not limited to changes to permit conditions and/or additional stipulations that a Regional Director deems necessary based on new information. (d) Terms and conditions required of most permit holders. (1) The permit holder may not restrict public access to any portion of the permitted area unless the Service project manager concurs in writing that making the area accessible to the public would pose a threat to public safety or the environment. (2) The permit holder must notify the Service project manager in writing at least 5 business days before conducting any maintenance or nonemergency repair work within the permitted area. The written notice must describe the location of the proposed work, the equipment to be used, and the size of work crews anticipated to be working on Service land. The Service project manager may require an onsite meeting before any maintenance or nonemergency repair work commences and may assign a site monitor to be present during such work. Except in emergencies, all work in the permitted area must be conducted during normal business hours. To respond to an emergency, the permit holder may enter the permitted area at other times to conduct repair work after calling the Service project manager. (3) The permit holder must erect and maintain appropriate warning signs, barricades, or other warning devices during all periods when the permit holder is using the permitted area, including periods of maintenance or repair. (4) The permit holder must rebuild and repair such roads, fences, structures, and trails as may be destroyed or injured by construction work. (5) Notwithstanding the issuance of the permit, the Service may establish trails, roads, or other improvements across, over, on, or through the permitted area for use by the Service, by visitors, or by others. (6) Upon request by the Regional Director, the permit holder must build and maintain necessary and suitable crossings for all roads and trails that intersect the works constructed, maintained, or operated under the right-of-way. (7) The permit holder must take any soil and resource conservation and protection measures, including weed control, on the land covered by the permit that the Service project manager in charge requests. (8) The permit holder must provide for habitat connectivity on the land covered by the permit to the maximum extent possible, for example through use of wildlife-friendly fencing, perches or perch deterrents for birds, fish-passable culverts, vegetative screening or hiding cover, that the Service project manager in charge requests. (9) The permit holder must promptly notify the Service project manager in charge of the amount of merchantable timber, if any, that will be cut, removed, or destroyed in the construction and maintenance of the project, and to pay the United States in advance of construction such sum of money that the project manager determines to be the full stumpage value of the timber to be cut, removed, or destroyed. (10) Issuance of the permit is subject to the express condition that the exercise of the permit will not unduly interfere with the management, administration, or disposal by the United States of the land to be affected. The permit holder agrees and consents to the occupancy and use by the United States, or its grantees, permittees, or lessees, of any part of the permit area not actually occupied for the purpose of the permitted rights to the extent that the use does not unreasonably interfere with the permit holder's use of the permitted area. (11) Any facility constructed on the permit area will be modified or adapted, if modification is found by the Regional Director to be necessary, without liability or expense to the United States, so that the facility will not conflict with the use and occupancy of the land for any authorized works that may be constructed on the land under the authority of the United States. The modification will be planned and scheduled so as not to interfere unduly with or to have minimal effect upon continuity of energy and delivery requirements for Service facilities. (e) General liability insurance. (f) Bonds. (1) No bond will be required of a Federal, State, or local government or its agent or instrumentality, except those that are: (i) Using the facility, system, space, or any part of the right-of-way area for commercial purposes; or (ii) A municipal utility or cooperative whose principal source of revenue is customer charges. (2) When the Service requires a bond, the permit holder must agree to the following terms and conditions: Before the permit's effective date, the permit holder must file with the Service a performance bond payable to the Service, issued by a surety satisfactory to the Service, to guarantee its compliance with all terms and conditions of the permit and with all applicable laws and regulations. The Regional Director will determine the amount of the bond and with whom it must be filed. (g) Communications facilities. (1) The permit holder agrees that use of wireless communications equipment is contingent upon the possession of a valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) authorization/license (if required), and the operation of the equipment is in strict compliance with applicable requirements of FCC or NTIA. A copy of each applicable license or authorization must be maintained at all times by the permit holder for each transmitter being operated. The permit holder must provide the Service project manager, when requested, with current copies of all licenses for equipment in or on facilities covered by the permit. (2) The permit holder must, at the permit holder's sole cost and expense, take all necessary actions to comply with all applicable FCC radio frequency (RF) exposure regulations and requirements, and take reasonable precautions so that neither workers nor the public are subject to RF exposures above the FCC specific levels. (3) The permit holder agrees that the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 431 (contracts by Member of Congress) and 41 U.S.C. 6306 (prohibition on Members of Congress making contracts with the Federal Government) apply to the permit, as if set forth in full. § 29.21 Construction. (a) If construction is not commenced within 2 years after the date of the right-of-way grant, the right-of-way may be canceled by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (b) Upon completion of construction, the applicant shall file a certification of completion with the Regional Director. § 29.22 Disposal, transfer, or termination of interest. (a) Change in jurisdiction over and disposal of lands. (b) Transfer of permit. (c) Disposal of property on termination of right-of-way. (1) The holder of the right-of-way must, within 6 months after termination of the right-of-way, remove all property or improvements placed there by the holder, other than a road and usable improvements to a road. (2) After 6 months, all property and improvements in the right-of-way area become the property of the United States. (3) The Regional Director may use discretion to extend this timeframe. § 29.23 Required payment for use and occupancy of National Wildlife Refuge System land. (a) Payment for use and occupancy of lands under the regulations of this subpart is required for the fair market value or fair market rental value as determined by the Regional Director using any method approved by the Department of the Interior to determine those values. (1) At the discretion of the Regional Director, the payment may be a fair market rental payment, paid annually, or a lump-sum payment, made before permit issuance. (2) If any Federal, State, or local agency is exempt from payment under any other provision of Federal law, the agency must inform the Service of the applicable Federal law during the preapplication meeting required by § 29.14. The agency must also otherwise compensate the Service by any other means acceptable to the Regional Director, including, but not limited to, making other land available or loaning of equipment or personnel, except that any such compensation must relate to, and be consistent with, the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. For agencies exempted from payment by law, the Regional Director may waive the requirement for other compensation upon finding this requirement to be impracticable or unnecessary. (b) The terms of the permit will specify the amount of the lump sum paid by the applicant for use and occupancy during the current permit term, or, if applicable, the initial annual rental payment amount for use and occupancy of the permitted area. (c) When annual rental payments are used, the Regional Director will periodically review and adjust the charges to reflect fair market value. The Regional Director will provide the permit holder with written notice of intent to impose new charges to reflect fair market value commencing with the ensuing charge year. The revised charges will be effective unless the permit holder files an appeal in accordance with § 29.26. (d) Payments received by the Service for use and occupancy of rights-of-way on Refuge lands and interests in land will be deposited into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to carry out the land-acquisition provisions of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq. et seq. § 29.24 Electric power transmission line rights-of-way. By accepting a right-of-way for a power transmission line, the applicant thereby agrees and consents to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions, except those which the Secretary may waive in a particular case, in addition to those specified in § 29.20. (a) To protect in a workmanlike manner, at crossings and at places in proximity to the transmission lines on the right-of-way authorized, in accordance with the rules prescribed in the National Electric Safety Code, all Government and other telephone, telegraph, and power transmission lines from contact and all highways and railroads from obstruction and to maintain the transmission lines in such manner as not to menace life or property. (b) Neither the privilege nor the right to occupy or use the lands for the purpose authorized shall relieve the applicant of any legal liability for causing inductive or conductive interference between any project transmission line or other project works constructed, operated, or maintained by the applicant on the servient lands, and any radio installation, telephone line, or other communication facilities now or hereafter constructed and operated by the United States or any agency thereof. § 29.25 Rights-of-way for pipelines for the transportation of oil, natural gas, synthetic liquid, or gaseous fuels, or any refined product produced from these substances. (a) Application procedure. (2) Any portion of the facility occupying land of the National Wildlife Refuge System is subject to the provisions of the regulations in this part. (b) Right-of-way permits. et seq. (1) Pipeline safety. et seq. (2) Environmental protection. (i) Restoration, revegetation, and curtailment of erosion of the surface; (ii) That activities in connection with the right-of-way or permit will not violate applicable air- and water-quality standards in related facilities siting standards established by law; (iii) Control or prevention of damage to the environment, including damage to fish and wildlife habitat, public or private property, and public health and safety; and (iv) Protection of the interests of individuals living in the general area of the right-of-way who rely on the fish, wildlife, and biotic resources of the area for subsistence purposes. (c) Disclosure. (1) The name and address of each partner; (2) The name and address of each shareholder owning 3 percent or more of the shares, together with the number and percentage of any class of voting shares that the shareholder is authorized for voting purposes; and (3) The name and address of each affiliate of the entity, together with, in the case of an affiliate controlled by the entity, the number of shares and the percentage of any class of voting stock of that affiliate owned, directly or indirectly, by that entity, and in the case of an affiliate that controls the entity, the number of shares and the percentage of any class of voting stock of the entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the affiliate. (d) Technical and financial capability. (e) Reimbursement of costs. (2) Payments received by the Service to reimburse the United States for the costs incurred in monitoring the construction, operation, maintenance, and termination of any pipeline or related facilities will be deposited into the United States Treasury until such time that any provision of law allows these payments to supplement the Service's appropriation. (f) Public hearing. Federal Register, (g) Bonding. (h) Suspension of right-of-way. (i) Joint use of rights-of-way. (j) Common carriers. (1) The owners or operators of pipelines subject to the regulations in this subpart will accept, convey, transport, or purchase without discrimination all oil or gas delivered to the pipeline without regard to whether such oil or gas was produced on Federal or non-Federal lands. (2) In the case of oil or gas produced from Federal lands or from the resources on the Federal lands in the vicinity of the pipelines, the Secretary may, after a full hearing following due notice to the interested parties and a proper finding of facts, determine the proportionate amounts to be accepted, conveyed, transported, or purchased. (3) The common carrier provisions of this section will not apply to any natural gas pipeline operated by any person subject to regulation under the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 15B, sec. 717 et seq. (4) The owners or operators of pipelines will purchase, without discrimination, any natural gas produced in the vicinity of the pipeline that is offered for sale unless that natural gas is subject to State regulatory or conservation laws governing its purchase by owners or operators of pipelines. (k) Required information. (1) Conditions for and agreements among owners or operators regarding the addition of pumping facilities, looping, or otherwise increasing the pipeline or terminal's throughput capacity in response to actual or anticipated increases in demand; (2) Conditions for adding or abandoning intake, offtake, or storage points or facilities; and (3) Minimum shipment or purchase tenders. (l) State standards. (m) Congressional notification. § 29.26 Hearing and appeals procedures. (a) Application for a right-of-way. (b) Existing authorized right-of-way. (c) Grant of a requested right-of-way. (d) Appeals to the Secretary. § 29.27 Severability. If a court holds any provisions of the regulations in this subpart or their applicability to any person or circumstance invalid, the remainder of the regulations in this subpart and their applicability to other people or circumstances will not be affected. Subpart C—Mineral Operations § 29.31 Mineral ownerships in the United States. Where mineral rights to lands in wildlife refuge areas are vested in the United States, the provisions of 43 CFR 3101.3-3, 3109.4, 3201.1-6 and 3501.2-2 govern. [31 FR 16026, Dec. 15, 1966, as amended at 44 FR 42976, July 23, 1979] § 29.32 Non-Federal mineral rights. (a) Non-Federal mineral rights owners within the National Wildlife Refuge System, not including coordination areas, must, to the greatest extent practicable, conduct all exploration, development, and production operations in such a manner as to prevent damage, erosion, pollution, or contamination to Service-administered lands, waters, facilities, and to wildlife thereon. So far as is practicable, such operations must also be conducted without interference to the operation of the refuge and disturbance to the wildlife thereon. (1) Physical occupancy must be kept to the minimum space necessary to conduct efficient mineral operations. (2) Persons conducting mineral operations on Service-administered lands and waters must comply with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations for the protection of wildlife and the administration of the area. (3) All waste and contaminating substances must be kept in the smallest practicable area, confined so as to prevent escape as a result of rains and high water or otherwise, and removed from Service-administered lands and waters as quickly as practicable in such a manner as to prevent contamination, pollution, damage, or injury to Service-administered lands, waters, or facilities, or to wildlife thereon. (4) Structures and equipment must be removed when the need for them has ended, and, upon the cessation of operations, the habitat in the area of operations must be restored to the extent possible to pre-operation conditions. (b) Nothing in this section will be applied so as to contravene or nullify rights vested in holders of mineral interests on refuge lands. [81 FR 79971, Nov. 14, 2016] Subpart D—Management of Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights Source: 81 FR 79971, Nov. 14, 2016, unless otherwise noted. Purpose and Scope § 29.40 What are the purpose and scope of the regulations in this subpart? (a) The purpose of this subpart is to ensure that operators exercising non-Federal oil and gas rights within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) outside of Alaska use technologically feasible, least damaging methods to: (1) Protect Service-administered lands and waters, and resources of refuges; (2) Protect refuge wildlife-dependent recreational uses and experiences and visitor or employee health and safety; and (3) Conserve refuges for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. (b) This subpart applies to all operators conducting non-Federal oil and gas operations outside of Alaska on Service-administered lands held in fee or less-than fee (excluding coordination areas) or Service-administered waters to the extent necessary to protect those property interests. These regulations do not apply to non-Federal surface locations within the boundaries of a refuge ( i.e., (c) This subpart is not intended to result in a taking of any property interest. The purpose of this subpart is to reasonably regulate operations to protect Service-administered lands and waters, resources of refuges, visitor uses and experiences, and visitor or employee health and safety. § 29.41 When does this subpart apply to me? This subpart applies to you if you are an operator who conducts or proposes to conduct non-Federal oil or gas operations on Service-administered lands or waters outside of Alaska. § 29.42 What authorization do I need to conduct operations? (a) You must demonstrate to the Service that you have the right to operate in order to conduct operations on Service-administered lands or waters. (b) Except as provided in §§ 29.43 or 29.44, before starting operations, you must obtain a temporary access permit under §§ 29.70 through 29.73 for reconnaissance surveys and/or an operations permit under §§ 29.90 through 29.97. § 29.43 If I am already operating under Service authorization, what do I need to do? If you already have a Service-issued permit, you may continue to operate according to the terms and conditions of that approval, subject to the provisions of this subpart. If you propose to conduct new operations, modify your existing operations, conduct well plugging or reclamation operations, or obtain an extension of the well plugging requirement to maintain your well in shut-in status, you must either amend your current authorization or obtain an operations permit in accordance with §§ 29.90 through 29.97, Operations Permit: Application, and such new operations or modifications will be subject to the applicable provisions of this subpart. Additionally, your existing operations are subject to the following regulations: (a) § 29.120(b) and (d)-(g) and § 29.121(a) and (c)-(f); (b) § 29.170(a); (c) §§ 29.180 and 29.181; (d) § 29.190; and (e) § 29.200. § 29.44 If I am operating without prior Service authorization, what do I need to do? Any operator that has commenced operations prior to December 14, 2016 in accordance with applicable local, State, and Federal laws and regulations may continue without an operations permit. However, your operation is subject to the requirements of §§ 29.60 through 29.64, Pre-Existing Operations, and the requirements that when you propose to conduct new operations, modify your pre-existing operations, conduct well plugging and reclamation operations, or obtain an extension of the well plugging requirement to maintain your well in shut-in status, you must obtain an operations permit in accordance with §§ 29.90 through 29.97, Operations Permit: Application, and all applicable requirements of this subpart. Definitions § 29.50 What do the terms used in this subpart mean? In addition to the definitions in §§ 25.12, 29.21, and 36.2 of this subchapter, the following definitions apply to this subpart: Access Area of operations Contaminating substance et seq. Gas Oil Modifying Operations (1) Operations include, but are not limited to: Access by any means to or from an area of operations; construction; geological and geophysical exploration; drilling, well servicing, workover, or recompletion; production; hydraulic fracturing, well simulation, and injection wells; gathering (including installation and maintenance of flowlines and gathering lines); storage, transport, or processing of petroleum products; earth moving; excavation; hauling; disposal; surveillance, inspection, monitoring, or maintenance of wells, facilities, and equipment; reclamation; road and pad building or improvement; shot hole and well plugging and abandonment, and reclamation; and all other activities incident to any of the foregoing. (2) Operations do not include reconnaissance surveys as defined in this subpart or oil and gas pipelines that are located within a refuge under authority of a deeded or other right-of-way. Operations permit Operator Reconnaissance survey (1) Includes identification of the area of operations and collection of natural and cultural resource information within and adjacent to the proposed area of operations. (2) Does not include surface disturbance activities except for minimal disturbance necessary to perform cultural resource surveys, natural resource surveys, and location surveys required under this subpart. Right to operate Service, we, us our Technologically feasible, least damaging methods Temporary access permit Third-party monitor Usable water (1)(i) Supplies any public water system; or (ii) Contains a sufficient quantity of ground water to supply a public water system and either: (A) Currently supplies drinking water for human consumption; or (B) Contains fewer than 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids; and (2) Is not an exempted aquifer. Waste You Pre-Existing Operations § 29.60 Do I need an operations permit for my pre-existing operation? No. Pre-existing operations are those conducted as of December 14, 2016 without an approved permit from the Service or prior to a boundary change or establishment of a new refuge. Your pre-existing operations may be continued without an operations permit, but you are required to operate in accordance with applicable local, State, and Federal laws and regulations, and are subject to applicable provisions of this subpart, including requirements for a permit when you propose to conduct new operations or to modify pre-existing operations. § 29.61 What information must I provide to the Service? You must submit the following information to the Service where your pre-existing operation is occurring by February 13, 2017 or 90 days after a boundary change or establishment of a new refuge: (a) Documentation demonstrating that you hold the right to operate on Service-administered lands or waters. (b) The names, phone numbers, and addresses of your: (1) Primary company representative; (2) Representative responsible for field supervision; and (3) Representative responsible for emergency response. (c) A brief description of your current operations, and any anticipated changes to current operations, including: (1) A scaled map clearly delineating your existing area of operations; (2) Documentation of the current operating methods, surface equipment, materials produced or used, and monitoring methods; and (3) Copies of all plans and permits required by local, State, and Federal agencies, including a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan if required by Environmental Protection Agency regulations at 40 CFR part 112. § 29.62 What if I intend to conduct new operations or modify my pre-existing operations? (a) You must obtain an operations permit before conducting operations that are begun after December 14, 2016 for those new operations in accordance with §§ 29.90 through 29.97, Operations Permit: Application, and all applicable requirements of this subpart. (b) You must obtain an operations permit prior to modifying your pre-existing operations for that modification in accordance with §§ 29.90 through 29.97, Operations Permit: Application, and all applicable requirements of this subpart. § 29.63 What plugging and reclamation requirements apply to my pre-existing operations? Upon completion of your production operation, you are subject to the reclamation standards in § 29.117(d). You must obtain an operations permit in accordance with §§ 29.90 through 29.97, Operations Permit: Application, and all applicable requirements of this subpart, prior to plugging your well and conducting site reclamation. § 29.64 What other provisions apply to my operations? Your pre-existing operations are also subject to the following regulations in this part 29: (a) § 29.120(b), (d), (f), and (g) and § 29.121(a) and (c)-(f); (b) § 29.170(a); (c) §§ 29.180 and 29.181; (d) § 29.190; and (e) § 29.200. Temporary Access Permits § 29.70 When do I need a temporary access permit? You must apply to the Service and obtain a temporary access permit to access your proposed area of operations in order to conduct reconnaissance surveys within a refuge. This permit will describe the means, routes, timing, and other terms and conditions of your access determined by the Service to result in only the minimum disturbance necessary to perform surveys. § 29.71 How do I apply for a temporary access permit? You must submit the information requested in FWS Form 3-2469 (Oil and Gas Operations Special Use Permit Application) to the refuge in which you propose to conduct operations. Information includes, but is not limited to: (a) The name, legal address, and telephone number of the operator, employee, agent, or contractor responsible for overall management of the proposed operations; (b) Documentation demonstrating that you hold the right to operate on Service-administered lands or waters; (c) The name, legal address, telephone number, and qualifications of all specialists responsible for conducting the reconnaissance surveys (only required if the assistants/subcontractors/subpermittees will be operating on Service-administered lands or waters without the permittee being present); (d) A brief description of the intended operation so that we can determine reconnaissance survey needs; (e) A description of the survey methods you intend to use to identify the natural and cultural resources; (f) A map (to-scale and determined by us to be acceptable) delineating the proposed reconnaissance survey area in relation to the refuge boundary and the proposed area of operations; and (g) A description of proposed means of access and routes for conducting the reconnaissance surveys. § 29.72 When will the Service grant a temporary access permit? Within 30 calendar days of receipt of the application for a reconnaissance survey, we will advise you whether the application fulfills the requirements of §§ 29.70 through 29.71 and issue you a temporary access permit or provide you with a statement of additional information that is needed for us to conduct review of your application. § 29.73 How much time will I have to conduct my reconnaissance surveys? Your temporary access permit will be in effect for a maximum of 60 calendar days from the date of issuance, unless a longer term is approved in the permit. We may extend the term of the permit for a reasonable period of time, based upon your written request that explains why an extension is necessary. Accessing Oil and Gas Rights From a Non-Federal Surface Location § 29.80 Do I need a permit for accessing oil and gas rights from a non-Federal location? No. Using directional drilling from a non-Federal surface location to reach your oil and gas rights within a refuge is exempt from these regulations. However, you are encouraged to provide the Service the names, phone numbers, and addresses of your primary company representative, representative responsible for field supervision, and representative responsible for emergency response at least 60 calendar days prior to conducting your operation. If you require access across Service-administered lands or waters, that access is subject to applicable provisions of this subpart, including obtaining an operations permit for any new access or modification of existing access. Operations Permit: Application § 29.90 Who must apply for an operations permit? Except as otherwise provided in §§ 29.43, 29.44, 29.70, and 29.80, if you are proposing to conduct operations on Service-administered lands or waters outside of Alaska, you must submit an application (FWS Form 3-2469) for an operations permit to the Service. § 29.91 What should I do before filing an application? You should participate in a pre-application meeting with the Service to allow for an early exchange of information between you and the Service with the intent of avoiding delays in your application process. (a) For the meeting, you should provide: (1) Documentation demonstrating that you hold the legal right to operate on Service-administered lands or waters; and (2) An overview of your proposed operation and timing. (b) The Service will provide guidance on the permitting process and information on available resource data, and identify additional data needs. § 29.92 May I use previously submitted information? Yes. (a) You do not need to resubmit information that is already on file with the Service, provided that such information is still current and accurate. You should reference this information in your oil and gas operations permit application. (b) You may submit documents and materials submitted to other Federal and State agencies noting how the information meets the specific requirements of §§ 29.93 through 29.97. § 29.93 Do I need to submit information for all possible future operations? No. You need only provide information for those operations for which you are seeking immediate approval. Approval of activities beyond the scope of your application may be subject to a new application and approval process. § 29.94 What information must be included in all applications? All applications must include the information requested on FWS Form 3-2469, including, but not limited to: (a) The name, legal address, and telephone number of the operator, employee, agent, or contractor responsible for overall management of the proposed operations. (b) Documentation demonstrating that you hold the legal right to operate within the refuge. (c) A description of the natural features of your proposed area of operations, such as: Streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, estimated depths to the top and bottom of zones of usable water and topographic relief. (d) The location of existing roads, trails, railroad tracks, pipeline rights-of-way, pads, and other disturbed areas. (e) The location of existing structures that your operations could affect, including buildings, pipelines, oil and gas wells including both producing and plugged and abandoned wells, injection wells, freshwater wells, underground and overhead electrical lines, and other utility lines. (f) Descriptions of the natural and cultural resource conditions from your reconnaissance survey reports or other sources collected for your proposed area of operations, including any baseline testing of soils and surface and near-surface ground waters within your area of operations that reasonably may be impacted by your surface operations. (g) Locations map(s) (to-scale and determined by us to be acceptable) that clearly identifies: (1) Proposed area of operations, existing conditions, and proposed new surface uses, including the boundaries of each of your oil and gas tracts in relation to your proposed operations and the relevant refuge boundary. (2) Proposed access routes of new surface disturbances as determined by a location survey. (3) Proposed location of all support facilities, including those for transportation ( e.g., (h) The method and diagrams, including cross-sections, of any proposed pad construction, road construction, cut-and-fill areas, and surface maintenance, including erosion control. (i) The number and types of equipment and vehicles, including an estimate of vehicular round trips associated with your operation. (j) An estimated timetable for the proposed operations, including any operational timing constraints. (k) The type and extent of security measures proposed at your area of operations. (l) The power sources and their transmission systems for the proposed operations. (m) The types and quantities of all solid and liquid waste generated and the proposed methods of storage, handling, and disposal. (n) The source, quantity, access route, and transportation/conveyance method for all water to be used in operations, including hydraulic fracturing, and estimations of any anticipated wastewater volumes generated, including flowback fluids from hydraulic fracturing, and the proposed methods of storage, handling, and recycling or disposal. (o) The following information regarding mitigation actions and alternatives considered: (1) A description of the steps you propose to take to mitigate anticipated adverse environmental impacts on refuge resources and uses, including, but not limited to, the refuge's land features, land uses, fish and wildlife, vegetation, soils, surface and subsurface water resources, air quality, noise, lightscapes, viewsheds, cultural resources, and economic environment. (2) A description of any anticipated impacts that you cannot mitigate. (3) A description of alternatives considered that meet the criteria of technologically feasible, least damaging methods of operations, as well as the costs and environmental effects of such alternatives. (p) You must submit the following information about your spill control and emergency preparedness plan. You may use a spill prevention control and countermeasure plan prepared under 40 CFR part 112 if the plan includes all of the information required by this section. You must submit: (1) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the people whom the Service can contact in the event of a spill, fire, or accident, including the order in which the individuals should be contacted. (2) The notification procedures and steps taken to minimize damage in the event of a spill, fire, or accident. (3) Identification of contaminating substances used within your area of operations or expected to be encountered during operations. (4) Trajectory analysis for potential spills that are not contained on location. (5) Identification of abnormal pressure, temperature, toxic gases or substances, or other hazardous conditions at your area of operations or expected to be encountered during operations. (6) Measures ( e.g., (7) Steps to prevent accumulations of oil or other materials deemed to be fire hazards from occurring in the vicinity of well locations and lease tanks. (8) The equipment and methods for containment and cleanup of contaminating substances, including a description of the equipment available at your area of operations and equipment available from local contractors. (9) A stormwater drainage plan and actions intended to mitigate stormwater runoff. (10) Material safety data sheets for each material you will use or encounter during operations, including expected quantities maintained at your area of operations. (11) A description of the emergency actions you will take in the event of injury or death to fish and wildlife or vegetation. (12) A description of the emergency actions you will take in the event of accidents causing human injury. (13) Contingency plans for conditions and emergencies other than spills, such as if your area of operations is located in areas prone to hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, fires, or earthquakes. (q) A description of the specific equipment, materials, methods, and schedule that will be used to meet the operating standards for reclamation at § 29.117. (r) An itemized list of the estimated costs that a third party would charge to complete reclamation. § 29.95 What additional information must be included if I am proposing geophysical exploration? If you propose to conduct geophysical exploration, you must submit the information requested on FWS Form 3-2469, including, but not limited to: (a) A map showing the positions of each survey line including all source and receiver locations as determined by a locational survey, and including shot point offset distances from wells, buildings, other infrastructure, cultural resources, and environmentally sensitive areas; (b) The number of crews and numbers of workers in each crew; (c) A description of the acquisition methods, including the procedures and specific equipment you will use, and energy sources ( e.g., (d) A description of the methods of access along each survey line for personnel, materials, and equipment; and (e) A list of all explosives, blasting equipment, chemicals, and fuels you will use in the proposed operations, including a description of proposed disposal methods, transportation methods, safety measures, and storage facilities. § 29.96 What additional information must be included if I am proposing drilling operations? If you are proposing to drill a well, you must submit the information requested on FWS Form 3-2469, including, but not limited to: (a) A description of the well pad construction, including dimensions and cross sections of cut-and-fill areas and excavations for ditches, sumps, and spill control equipment or structures, including lined areas; (b) A description of the drill rig and equipment layout, including rig components, fuel tanks, testing equipment, support facilities, storage areas, and all other well-site equipment and facilities; (c) A description of the type and characteristics of the proposed drilling mud systems; and (d) A description of the equipment, materials, and methods of surface operations associated with your drilling, well casing and cementing, well control, well evaluation and testing, well completion, hydraulic fracturing or other well stimulation, and well plugging programs. § 29.97 What additional information must be included if I am proposing production operations? If you are proposing to produce a well, you must submit the information requested on FWS Form 3-2469, including, but not limited to: (a) The dimensions and the to-scale layout of the well pad, clearly identifying well locations, noting partial reclamation areas; gathering, separation, metering, and storage equipment; electrical lines; fences; spill control equipment or structures, including lined areas, artificial lift equipment, tank batteries, treating and separating vessels, secondary or enhanced recovery facilities, water disposal facilities, gas compression and/or injection facilities; metering points; sales point (if on lease); tanker pickup points; gas compressor, including size and type (if applicable); and any other well site equipment. (b) A general description of anticipated stimulations, servicing, and workovers. (c) A description of the procedures and equipment used to maintain well control. (d) A description of the method and means used to transport produced oil and gas, including vehicular transport; flowline and gathering line construction and operation, pipe size, and operating pressure; cathodic protection methods; surface equipment use; surface equipment location; maintenance procedures; maintenance schedules; pressure detection methods; and shutdown procedures. (e) A road and well pad maintenance plan, including equipment and materials to maintain the road surface and control erosion. (f) A vegetation management plan on well sites, roads, pipeline corridors, and other disturbed surface areas, including control of noxious and invasive species. (g) A stormwater management plan on the well site. (h) A produced water storage and disposal plan. (i) A description of the equipment, materials, and procedures proposed for well plugging. Operations Permit: Application Review and Approval § 29.100 How will the Service process my application? We will conduct initial review of your application to determine if all information is complete. Once your information is complete, we will begin formal review. § 29.101 How will the Service conduct an initial review? (a) Within 30 calendar days of receipt of your application, the Service will notify you in writing that one of the following situations exists: (1) Your application is complete, and the Service will begin formal review; (2) Your application does not meet the information requirements, in which case we will identify the additional information required to be submitted before the Service will be able to conduct formal review of your application; or (3) More time is necessary to complete the review, in which case the Service will provide the amount of additional time reasonably needed along with a justification. (b) If you submit additional information as requested under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, and the Service determines that you have met all applicable information requirements, the Service will notify you within 30 calendar days from receipt of the additional information that either: (1) Your application is complete, and the Service will begin formal review; or (2) More time is necessary to complete the initial review, in which case the Service will provide the amount of additional time reasonably needed along with a justification. § 29.102 How will the Service conduct a formal review? For those applications for which the Service determines that the applicant holds a valid property right, the Service will conduct a formal review of your application by: (a) Evaluating the potential impacts of your proposal on Service-administered lands and waters, or resources of refuges; visitor uses or experiences; or visitor or employee health and safety in compliance with applicable Federal laws; and (b) Identifying any additional operating conditions that would apply to your approved application. § 29.103 What standards must be met to approve my application? (a) In order to approve your operations permit application, the Service must determine that your operations will: (1) Use technologically feasible, least damaging methods; and (2) Meet all applicable operating standards. (b) Before operations begin, you must submit to the Service: (1) Financial assurance in the amount specified by the Service and in accordance with the requirements of §§ 29.150 through 29.154, Financial Assurance; (2) Proof of liability insurance with limits sufficient to cover injuries to persons or property caused by your operations; and (3) A statement under penalty of perjury, signed by an official who is authorized to legally bind the company, stating that proposed operations are in compliance with any applicable Federal law or regulation or any applicable State law or regulation related to non-Federal oil and gas operations and that all information submitted to the Service is true and correct. § 29.104 What actions may the Service take on my operations permit application? (a) We will make a decision on your application within 180 days from the date we deem your application complete unless: (1) We and you agree that such decision will occur within a shorter or longer period of time; or (2) We determine that an additional period of time is required to ensure that we have, in reviewing the permit application, complied with all applicable legal requirements. (b) We will notify you in writing that your permit application is: (1) Approved, with or without operating conditions; or (2) Denied, and provide justification for the denial. Any such denial must be consistent with § 29.40(c). Operating Standards § 29.110 What are the purposes of the Service's operating standards? The purposes are to: (a) Protect Service-administered lands and waters, and refuge resources; wildlife-dependent visitor uses and experiences; and visitor and employee health and safety; and (b) Ensure use of technologically feasible, least damaging methods. The operating standards give us and the operator flexibility to consider using alternative methods, equipment, materials design, and conduct of operations. § 29.111 What general facility design and management standards must I meet? As a permittee, you must: (a) Design, construct, operate, and maintain access to your operational site to cause the minimum amount of surface disturbance needed to safely conduct operations and to avoid areas we have identified as containing sensitive resources. (b) Install and maintain secondary containment materials and structures for all equipment and facilities using or storing contaminating substances. The containment system must be sufficiently impervious to prevent discharge and must have sufficient storage capacity to contain, at a minimum, the largest potential spill incident. (c) Keep temporarily stored waste in the smallest area feasible, and confine the waste to prevent escape as a result of percolation, rain, high water, or other causes. You must regularly remove waste from the refuge and lawfully dispose of the waste in a direct and workable timeframe. You may not establish a solid waste disposal site on a refuge. (d) Use engines that adhere to applicable Federal and State emission standards. (e) Construct, maintain, and use roads in a manner to minimize fugitive dust emissions. (f) Design, operate, and maintain your operations and equipment in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practices so as to minimize emissions and leaks of air pollutants and hydrocarbons, including intentional releases or flaring of gases. (g) Control the invasion of noxious and invasive plant and animal species in your area of operations from the beginning through final reclamation. (h) Avoid conducting ground-disturbing operations within 500 feet of any surface water, including an intermittent or ephemeral watercourse, or wetland, or any refuge structure or facility used by refuges for interpretation, public recreation, or administration. We may increase or decrease this distance consistent with the need to protect Service-administered structures or facilities, visitor uses or experiences, or visitor or employee health and safety; or to ensure that you have reasonable access to your non-Federal oil and gas. Measurements for purposes of this paragraph are by map distance. § 29.112 What fish and wildlife protection standards must I meet? To protect fish and wildlife resources on the refuge, you must: (a) Along with your employees and contractors, adhere to all refuge regulations for the protection of fish, wildlife, and plants; (b) Ensure that you, your employees, and contractors have been informed and educated by the refuge staff on the appropriate protection practices for wildlife conservation; (c) Conduct operations in a manner that does not create an unsafe environment for fish and wildlife by avoiding or minimizing exposure to physical and chemical hazards; and (d) Conduct operations in a manner that avoids or minimizes impacts to sensitive wildlife, including timing and location of operations. § 29.113 What hydrologic standards must I meet? You must: (a) Construct facilities in a manner that maintains hydrologic movement and function. (b) Not cause measurable degradation of surface water or groundwater beyond that of existing conditions. (c) Conduct operations in a manner that maintains natural processes of erosion and sedimentation. § 29.114 What safety standards must I meet? To ensure the safety of your operations, you must: (a) Maintain your area of operations in a manner that avoids or minimizes the cause or spread of fire and does not intensify fire originating outside your operations area; (b) Maintain structures, facilities, improvements, and equipment in a safe and professional manner in order not to create an unsafe environment for refuge resources, visitors, and employees, by avoiding or minimizing exposure to physical and chemical hazards; and (c) Provide site-security measures to protect visitors from hazardous conditions resulting from your operations. § 29.115 What lighting and visual standards must I meet? (a) You must design, shield, and focus lighting to minimize the effects of spill light on the night sky or adjacent areas; and (b) You must reduce visual contrast in the landscape in selecting the area of operations, avoiding unnecessary disturbance, choosing appropriate colors and materials for roads and permanent structures, and other means. § 29.116 What noise reduction standards must I meet? You must prevent or minimize all noise that: (a) Adversely affects refuge resources or uses, taking into account frequency, magnitude, or duration; or (b) Exceeds levels that have been identified through monitoring as being acceptable to or appropriate for uses at the sites being monitored. § 29.117 What reclamation and protection standards must I meet? (a) You must promptly clean up and remove from the refuge any released contaminating substances in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws. (b) You must perform partial reclamation of areas that are no longer necessary to conduct operations. You must begin final reclamation within 6 months after you complete your authorized operations unless we authorize a different reclamation period in writing. (c) You must protect all survey markers ( e.g., (d) You must complete reclamation by: (1) Plugging all wells; (2) Removing all above-ground structures, equipment, roads, and all other manmade material and debris resulting from operations; (3) Removing or neutralizing any contaminating substances; (4) Reestablishing native vegetative communities, or providing for conditions where ecological processes typical of the ecological zone ( e.g., (5) Grading to conform the contours to pre-existing elevations as necessary to maximize ecological function; (6) Restoring conditions to pre-disturbance hydrologic movement and functionality; (7) Restoring natural systems using native soil material that is similar in character to the adjacent undisturbed soil profiles; (8) Ensuring that reclamation does not interfere with visitor use or with administration of the refuge; (9) Attaining conditions that are consistent with the management objectives of the refuge, designed to meet the purposes for which the refuge was established; and (10) Coordinating with us or with other operators who may be using a portion of your area of operations to ensure proper and equitable apportionment of reclamation responsibilities. § 29.118 What additional operating standards apply to geophysical operations? If you conduct geophysical operations, you must do all of the following: (a) Use surveying methods that minimize the need for vegetative trimming and removal. (b) Locate source points using industry-accepted minimum safe-offset distances from pipelines, telephone lines, railroad tracks, roads, power lines, water wells, oil and gas wells, oil- and gas-production facilities, and buildings. (c) Use equipment and methods that, based upon the specific environment, will minimize impacts to Service-administered lands and waters, and resources of refuges; visitor uses and experiences; and visitor and employee health and safety. (d) If you use shot holes, you must: (1) Use biodegradable charges; (2) Plug all shot holes to prevent a pathway for migration for fluids along any portion of the bore; and (3) Leave the site in a clean and safe condition that will not impede surface reclamation or pose a hazard to wildlife or human health and safety. § 29.119 What additional operating standards apply to drilling and production operations? If you conduct drilling and production operations, you must meet all of the following standards: (a) To conduct drilling operations, you must: (1) Use containerized mud circulation systems for operations; (2) Not create or use earthen pits; (3) Take all necessary precautions to keep your wells under control at all times, using only employees, contractors, or subcontractors trained and competent in well control procedures and equipment operation, and using industry-accepted well control equipment and practices; and (4) Design, implement, and maintain integrated casing, cementing, drilling fluid, completion, stimulation, and blowout prevention programs to prevent escape of fluids to the surface and to isolate and protect usable water zones throughout the life of the well, taking into account all relevant geologic and engineering factors. (b) To conduct production operations, in addition to meeting the standards of paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section, you must do all of the following: (1) Monitor producing conditions for early indications that could lead to loss of mechanical integrity of producing equipment. (2) Maintain all surface equipment and the wellhead to prevent leaks or releases of any fluids or air pollutants. (3) Identify wells and related facilities with appropriate signage. Signs must remain in place until the well is plugged and abandoned and the related facilities are removed. Signs must be of durable construction, and the lettering must be legible and large enough to be read under normal conditions at a distance of at least 50 feet. Each sign must show the name of the well, name of the operator, and the emergency contact phone number. (4) Remove all equipment and materials when not needed for the current phase of your operation. (5) Plug all wells, leaving the surface in a clean and safe condition that will not impede surface reclamation or pose a hazard to wildlife or human health and safety, in accordance with § 29.117. General Terms and Conditions § 29.120 What terms and conditions apply to all operators? The following terms and conditions apply to all operators, regardless of whether these terms and conditions are expressly included in the permit: (a) You must comply with all applicable operating standards in §§ 29.111 through 29.119; these operating standards will be incorporated in the terms and conditions of your operations permit. Violation of these operating standards, unless otherwise provided in your operations permit, will subject you to the Prohibited Acts and Penalties provisions of §§ 29.190 through 29.192. (b) You are responsible for ensuring that all of your employees, agents, contractors, and subcontractors comply fully with the requirements of this subpart. (c) You may be required to reimburse the Service for the costs of processing and administering temporary access permits and operations permits. (d) You may not use any surface water or groundwater from a source located on a refuge unless you have demonstrated a right to use that water or the use has been approved by the Service as the technologically feasible, least damaging method. (e) You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the United States and its officers and employees from and against any and all liability of any kind whatsoever arising out of or resulting from the acts or omissions of you and your employees, agents, representatives, contractors, and subcontractors in the conduct of activities under a Service-issued permit. (f) You will be required to take all reasonable precautions to avoid, minimize, rectify, or reduce the overall impacts of your proposed oil and gas activities to the refuge. You may be required to mitigate for impacts to refuge resources and lost uses. Mutually agreed to mitigation tools for this purpose may include providing alternative habitat creation or restoration, land purchase, or other resource compensation. (g) You are responsible for unanticipated and unauthorized damages as a direct or indirect result of your operations. You will be responsible for the actions and consequences of your employees and subcontractors. You will also be responsible for any reclamation of damages to refuge resources directly or indirectly caused by your operations through the occurrence of severe weather, fire, earthquakes, or the like thereof. § 29.121 What monitoring and reporting is required for all operators? (a) The Service may access your area of operations at any time to monitor the effects of your operations to ensure compliance with the regulations in this subpart. (b) The Service may determine that third-party monitors are necessary to ensure compliance with your operations permit and to protect Service-administered lands and waters, or the resources of refuges, visitor uses and experiences, and visitor or employee health and safety. (1) The Service's determination will be based on the scope and complexity of the proposed operation, reports that you are required to submit under paragraph (e) of this section, and whether the refuge has the staff and technical ability to ensure compliance with the operations permit and any provision of this subpart. (2) A third-party monitor will report directly to the Service at intervals determined by the Service. We will make the information reported available to you upon your request. (3) You will be responsible for the cost of the third-party monitor. (c) You must notify the Service within 24 hours of any injuries to or mortality of fish, wildlife, or endangered or threatened plants resulting from your operations. (d) You must notify the Service of any accidents involving serious personal injury or death and of any fires or spills on the site immediately after the accident occurs. You must submit a full written report on the accident to the Service within 90 days after the accident occurs. (e) Upon our request, you must submit reports or other information necessary to verify compliance with your permit or with any provision of this subpart. To fulfill this request, you may submit to us reports that you have submitted to the State under State regulations, or that you have submitted to any other Federal agency to the extent they are sufficient to verify compliance with permits or this subpart. (f) If your operations include hydraulic fracturing, you must provide the Service with a report including the true vertical depth of the well, total water volume used, and a description of the base fluid and each additive in the hydraulic fracturing fluid, including the trade name, supplier, purpose, ingredients, Chemical Abstract Service Number (CAS), maximum ingredient concentration in additive (percent by mass), and maximum ingredient concentration in hydraulic fracturing fluid (percent by mass). The report must be either submitted through FracFocus or another Service-designated database. § 29.122 For how long is my operations permit valid? Operations permits remain valid for the duration of the operation. Provisions of § 29.160 apply. Access Fees § 29.140 May I cross Federal property to reach the boundary of my oil and gas right? The Service may grant you the privilege of access on, across, or through Service-administered lands or waters to reach the boundary of your oil and gas right. You should contact the Service to determine if additional permits are necessary for access. § 29.141 Will the Service charge me a fee for access? (a) The Service will charge you a fee if you require use of Service-administered lands or waters outside the boundary or scope of your oil and gas right: (1) If you require new use of Service-administered lands or waters, we will charge you a fee based on the fair market value of that use. (2) Fees under this section will not be charged for access within the scope of your oil and gas right or access to your right that is otherwise provided for by law. (b) If access to your oil and gas right is across an existing refuge road, we may charge a fee according to a posted fee schedule. § 29.142 Will I be charged a fee for emergency access to my operations? No. (a) The Service will not charge a fee for access across Service-administered lands or waters beyond the scope of your oil and gas right as necessary to respond to an emergency situation at your area of operations if we determine after the fact that the circumstances required an immediate response to either: (1) Prevent or minimize injury to refuge resources; or (2) Ensure public health and safety. (b) You will remain liable for any damage caused to refuge resources as a result of such emergency access. Financial Assurance § 29.150 When do I have to provide financial assurance to the Service? You will need to provide financial assurance as a condition of approval for your operations permit when you submit your application. You must file financial assurance with us in a form acceptable to the Service and payable upon demand. This financial assurance is in addition to any financial assurance required by any other Federal or State regulatory authority. § 29.151 How does the Service establish the amount of financial assurance? (a) You are responsible for completing reclamation of your disturbances, whether within or outside your permit area, in accordance with this subpart and the terms of your permit. If you fail to properly complete reclamation, you will be liable for the full costs of completing the reclamation. We will base the financial assurance amount upon the estimated cost that a third-party contractor would charge to complete reclamation in accordance with this subpart. If the cost of reclamation exceeds the amount of your financial assurance, you will remain liable for all costs of reclamation in excess of the financial assurance. (b) The Service will reduce the required amount of your financial assurance during the pendency of operations by the amount we determine is represented by in-kind reclamation you complete during your operations. § 29.152 Will the Service adjust the amount required for my financial assurance? The Service may require, or you may request, an adjustment to the financial assurance amount because of any circumstances that increase or decrease the estimated costs established under § 29.151. § 29.153 When will the Service release my financial assurance? (a) Your responsibility under the financial assurance will continue until either: (1) The Service determines that you have met all applicable reclamation operating standards and any additional reclamation requirements that may be included in your operations permit; or (2) A new operator assumes your operations, as provided in § 29.170(b). (b) You will be notified by the Service within 30 calendar days of our determination that your financial assurance has been released. § 29.154 Under what circumstances will I forfeit my financial assurance? (a) You may forfeit all or part of your financial assurance if we cannot secure your compliance with the provisions of your operations permit or a provision of this subpart. The part of your financial assurance forfeited is based on costs to the Service to remedy your noncompliance. (b) In addition to forfeited financial assurance, we may temporarily: (1) Prohibit you from removing all structures, equipment, or other materials from your area of operations; (2) Require you to secure the operations site and take any necessary actions to protect Service-administered lands and waters, and resources of the refuge; visitor uses; and visitor or employee health and safety; and (3) Suspend review of any permit applications you have submitted until we determine that all violations of permit provisions or of any provision of this subpart are resolved. (4) Seek recovery as provided in § 29.151 for all costs of reclamation in excess of the posted financial assurance. Modification to an Operation § 29.160 Can I modify operations under an approved permit? The Service may amend an approved temporary access permit or an operations permit to adjust to changed conditions or to address unanticipated conditions, either upon our own action or at your request. (a) To request a modification to your operation, you must provide, in writing, to the Service, your assigned permit number, a description of the proposed modification, and an explanation of why the modification is needed. We will review your request for modification under the approval standards at §§ 29.72 or 29.103. You may not implement any modification until you have received the Service's written approval. (b) If the Service needs to amend your temporary access permit or operations permit, you will receive a written notice that: (1) Describes the modification required and justification; (2) Specifies the time within which you must notify the Service that you either accept the modifications to your permit or explain any concerns you may have; and (3) Absent any concerns, specifies the time within which you must incorporate the modification into your operations. Change of Operator § 29.170 What are my responsibilities if I transfer my right to operate? (a) If your operations are being conducted under § 29.44, you must notify the Service in writing within 30 calendar days from the date the new operator acquires the rights to conduct operations. Your written notification must include: (1) The names and addresses of the person or entity conveying the right and of the person or entity acquiring the right; (2) The effective date of transfer; (3) The description of the rights, assets, and liabilities being transferred and which ones, if any, are being reserved by the previous operator; and (4) A written acknowledgement from the new operator that the contents of the notification are true and correct. (b) If your operations are being conducted under § 29.43 or an operations permit: (1) You must provide notice under paragraph (a) of this section. (2) You remain responsible for compliance with your operations permit, and we will retain your financial assurance until the new operator: (i) Adopts and agrees in writing to conduct operations in accordance with all terms and conditions of your operations permit; (ii) Provides financial assurance with us that is acceptable to the Service and made payable to the Service; and (iii) Receives written notification from the Service that transfer of the operations permit has been approved. § 29.171 What must I do if operations are transferred to me? (a) If another operator transfers operations conducted under § 29.44, as the transferee you may continue operating under the requirements of that section, but: (1) Within 30 calendar days from the date of the transfer, you must provide to the Service: (i) Documentation demonstrating that you hold the right to operate; and (ii) The names, phone numbers, and addresses of your: (A) Primary company representative; (B) Representative responsible for field supervision; and (C) Representative responsible for emergency response. (2) Within 90 days, or as otherwise agreed to by the Service, submit an operations permit application in compliance with §§ 29.90-29.97, Operations Permit: Application, that must be approved in compliance with applicable provisions of this subpart and under the timelines outlined in §§ 29.100-29.103, Operations Permit: Application Review and Approval. (b) If another operator transfers operations conducted under § 29.43 or an operations permit, you must within 30 days of commencing transferred operations: (1) Provide documentation demonstrating that you hold the right to operate. (2) Provide the names, phone numbers, and addresses of your: (i) Primary company representative; (ii) Representative responsible for field supervision; and (iii) Representative responsible for emergency response. (3) Agree in writing to conduct operations in accordance with all terms and conditions of the previous operator's permit. (4) File financial assurance with us that is acceptable to the Service and made payable to the Service. (5) Receive written approval from the Service for the transfer of the operation's permit. (c) You may modify operations transferred to you in accordance with § 29.160. Well Plugging § 29.180 When must I plug my well? Except as provided in § 29.181, you must plug your well, in accordance with the standards and procedures outlined in this subpart, when any of the following occurs: (a) Your drilling operations have ended and you have taken no further action on your well within 60 calendar days; (b) Your well, which has been completed for production operations, has no measurable production quantities for 12 consecutive months; or (c) The period approved in your permit to maintain your well in shut-in status has expired. § 29.181 Can I get an extension to the well plugging requirement? (a) You may apply for either an operations permit or a modification to your approved operations permit to maintain your well in a shut-in status for up to 5 years. Provide the information requested on FWS Form 3-2469, including, but not limited to: (1) An explanation of why the well is shut-in or temporarily abandoned and your future plans for utilization; (2) A demonstration of the mechanical integrity of the well; and (3) A description of the manner in which your well, equipment, and area of operations will be maintained in accordance with the standards in the subpart. (b) Based on the information provided under this section, we may approve your application to maintain your well in shut-in status for a period up to 5 years. We may condition an extension on an adjustment of your financial assurance. (c) You may apply for additional extensions by submitting a new application under paragraph (a) of this section. Prohibited Acts and Penalties § 29.190 What acts are prohibited under this subpart? The following acts are prohibited: (a) Operating in violation of the terms or conditions of a temporary access permit, an operations permit, a permit under § 29.43, or any applicable provision of this subpart, including §§ 29.60-29.64 for pre-existing operations. (b) Damaging Service-administered lands or waters, or resources of a refuge, as a result of failure to comply with the terms or conditions of a temporary access permit, an operations permit, operations being conducted under §§ 29.43 or 29.44, or any provision of this subpart. (c) Conducting operations without a temporary access permit or an operations permit, unless conducting operations under §§ 29.43 or 29.44. (d) Failure to comply with any suspension or revocation order issued under this subpart. (e) Failure to comply with the applicable provisions of Federal law or regulation including this subchapter. (f) Failure to comply with the applicable provisions of the laws and regulations of the State wherein any operation is located unless further restricted by Federal law or regulation including this subchapter. § 29.191 What enforcement actions can the Service take? If you engage in a prohibited act: (a) The Service may suspend and/or revoke your approved operations permit and your authorization for operations as set forth at § 29.43 and § 29.44; and/or (b) All prohibited acts are subject to the penalty provisions set forth at § 28.31 of this subchapter. § 29.192 How do violations affect my ability to obtain a permit? Until you comply with the regulations in this subpart, we will not consider a request to conduct any new operations, except plugging and reclamation operations, on Service-administered lands or waters. Appeals § 29.200 Can I, as operator, appeal Service decisions? Yes. If you disagree with a decision made by the Service under this subpart, you may use the appeals process in § 25.45 of this subchapter. The process set forth in § 25.45 will be used for appeal of any written decision concerning approval, denial, or modification of an operation made by the Service under this subpart. No Service decision under this subpart that is subject to appeal to the Regional Director or the Director shall be considered final agency action subject to judicial review under 5 U.S.C. 704 until the Regional Director has rendered his or her decision on the matter. The decision of the Regional Director will constitute the Service's final agency action, and no further appeal will lie in the Department from that decision. Public Information § 29.210 How can the public learn about oil and gas activities on refuge lands? (a) Interested parties may view publicly available documents at the refuge's office during normal business hours or by other means prescribed by the refuge. The availability for public inspection of information about the nature, location, character, or ownership of refuge resources will conform to all applicable laws and implementing regulations, standards, and guidelines. (b) The refuge will make available for public inspection any documents that an operator submits to the Service under this subpart except those that the operator has identified as proprietary or confidential. (c) For the information required in § 29.121(f), the operator and the owner of the information will be deemed to have waived any right to protect from public disclosure information submitted through FracFocus or another Service-designated database. (d) For information required under this subpart that the owner of the information claims to be exempt from public disclosure and is withheld from the Service, a corporate officer, managing partner, or sole proprietor of the operator must sign and the operator must submit to the authorized officer an affidavit that: (1) Identifies the owner of the withheld information and provides the name, address, and contact information for a corporate officer, managing partner, or sole proprietor of the owner of the information; (2) Identifies the Federal statute or regulation that would prohibit the Service from publicly disclosing the information if it were in the Service's possession; (3) Affirms that the operator has been provided the withheld information from the owner of the information and is maintaining records of the withheld information, or that the operator has access and will maintain access to the withheld information held by the owner of the information; (4) Affirms that the information is not publicly available; (5) Affirms that the information is not required to be publicly disclosed under any applicable local, State, tribal, or Federal law; (6) Affirms that the owner of the information is in actual competition and identifies competitors or others that could use the withheld information to cause the owner of the information substantial competitive harm; (7) Affirms that the release of the information would likely cause substantial competitive harm to the owner of the information and provides the factual basis for that affirmation; and (8) Affirms that the information is not readily apparent through reverse engineering with publicly available information. (e) If the operator relies upon information from third parties, such as the owner of the withheld information, to make the affirmations in paragraphs (d)(6) through (d)(8) of this section, the operator must provide a written affidavit from the third party that sets forth the relied-upon information. (f) The Service may require any operator to submit to the Service any withheld information, and any information relevant to a claim that withheld information is exempt from public disclosure. (g) If the Service determines that the information submitted under paragraphs (d) or (e) of this section is not exempt from disclosure, the Service will make the information available to the public after providing the operator and owner of the information with no fewer than 10 business days' notice of the Service's determination. (h) The operator must maintain records of the withheld information until the later of the Service's release of the operator's financial assurance or 7 years after completion of operations on refuge lands. Any subsequent operator will be responsible for maintaining access to records required by this paragraph during its operation of the well. The operator will be deemed to be maintaining the records if it can promptly provide the complete and accurate information to the Service, even if the information is in the custody of its owner. (i) If any of the chemical identity information required in this subpart is withheld, the operator must provide the generic chemical name in the submission required. The generic chemical name must be only as nonspecific as is necessary to protect the confidential chemical identity, and should be the same as or no less descriptive than the generic chemical name provided to the Environmental Protection Agency. Information Collection § 29.220 Has the Office of Management and Budget approved the collection of information? The Office of Management and Budget reviewed and approved the information collection requirements contained in this subpart and assigned OMB Control No. 1018-0162. We use the information collected under this subpart to manage non-Federal oil and gas operations on Service-administered lands or waters for the purpose of protecting wildlife and habitat, water quality and quantity, wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, and the health and safety of employees and visitors on the NWRS. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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