Oil and Gas Leasing: Onshore Oil and Gas Operations: Delay of Effective Date

In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled "Regulatory Review Plan," 66 FR 7701 (January 24, 2001), this document temporarily delays for 60 days the effective date of the rule entitled "Oil and Gas Leasing: Onshore Oil and Gas Operations," published in the Federal Register on January 10, 2001 (66 FR 1883). The final rule will: clarify the responsibilities of oil and gas lessees and operating rights owners for protecting Federal and Indian oil and gas resources from drainage; specify when the obligations of the lessee or operating rights owner to protect against drainage begin and end; clarify what steps to take to determine if drainage is occurring; and specify the responsibilities of assignors and assignees for reclamation and other lease obligations.