(a) The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 1334) (“Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978”).

(b) The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act, as amended (FOGRMA) (30 U.S.C. 1711), including the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996, (30 U.S.C. 1701 note).

(c) The Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1952 (31 U.S.C. 9701).

(d) Public Law 89-554, 1966 (5 U.S.C. 301).

This part 560 implements the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., as amended, by providing regulations to foster competition including, but not limited to:

(a) Implementing alternative bidding systems;

(b) Prohibiting joint bidding for development rights by certain types of joint ventures; and

(c) Establishing diligence requirements for Federal OCS leases.

(a) Terms used in this part have the meaning given in the Act and as defined in this part.

(b) The following definitions apply to this part:

Area or region means the geographic area or region over which the BOEM authorized officer has jurisdiction, unless the context in which those words are used indicates that a different meaning is intended.

BOEM means Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Designated official means a representative of DOI subject to the direction and supervisory authority of the Directors, BOEM, and the appropriate Regional Manager of the BOEM authorized and empowered to supervise and direct all oil and gas operations and to perform other duties prescribed in this chapter.

Director means Director, BOEM, DOI.

DOI means the Department of the Interior, including the Secretary of the Interior, or his or her delegate.

Federal lease means an agreement which, for consideration, including, but not limited to, bonuses, rents or royalties conferred, and covenants to be observed, authorizes a person to explore for, or develop, or produce (or to do any or all of these) oil and gas, coal, oil shale, tar sands, and geothermal resources on lands or interests in lands under Federal jurisdiction.

Gas or Natural Gas means a mixture of hydrocarbons and varying quantities of non-hydrocarbons that exist in the gaseous phase.

Oil means a mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in a liquid or gaseous phase in an underground reservoir and which remains or becomes liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities, including condensate recovered by means other than a manufacturing process.

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) means all submerged lands lying seaward and outside of the area of lands beneath navigable waters as defined in the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301-1315) and of which the subsoil and seabed appertain to the United States and are subject to its jurisdiction and control.

OCSLA means the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as amended (Act of August 7, 1953, Ch. 345, 67 Stat. 462, 43 U.S.C. 1331-1356a,as. L. 95-372, 92 Stat. 629).

Person means a natural person, where so designated, or an entity, such as a partnership, association, State, political subdivision of a State or territory, or a private, public, or municipal corporation.

We means the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

You means the lessee or operating rights owner.

(a) The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) requires us to inform you that 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. The information collection under 30 CFR part 560 is either exempt from the PRA (5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c)) or refers to requirements covered under 30 CFR parts 203 and 556.

(b) You may send comments regarding any aspect of the collection of information under this part, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.