Please find below a link to a Federal Register notice that was just brought to our attention. Our friends at the Office of Natural Resource Revenue, specifically Sarah Inderbitzen, are trying to change the method of service of notices to your companies. We know that often they date their ‘Dear Reporter’ letters and we do not receive them until several weeks later (e.g., The August 8 ‘Dear Reporter’ letter received by most companies on September 6th by regular mail).

This Federal Register notice is a “final rule” stating that the Agency may now use “(4) Any electronic method of delivery that keeps information secure and provides for a receipt of delivery or, if there is no receipt, the date of delivery otherwise documented.” This means that an email with a date may be sent to some random person at your company and that notice could get caught in a spam filter, or worse, if that person has left your employ, the notice will remain in their inbox. This could have devastating and very expensive repercussions on your company–particularly with the Enforcement Division threatening penalties of up to $25,000 per day, per violation. At the IPANM presentation, Ms. Inderbitzen made it very clear that if your company has received the notice and you do nothing to respond or address the situation with ONRR, you will face ‘knowing and willful’ penalties. It is completely foreseeable that the electronic service provision of this proposed rule will cause lapses in response to the agency.

If we file ‘adverse comments’ on the Federal Register by September 23rd, the notice states that they will withdraw this rule. Please read this notice and file something electronically on the federal register site.

The link to file is:
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/08/23/2013-20634/amendments-to-onrrs-service-of-official-correspondence.

Tthe FR notice is at the above link. The most expeditious way to file comments is at www.federalregister.gov on the correct page (link above). And, you will receive a receipt stating the government received your comments.

This is very important, please file comments today. IPANM will also file comments on Friday. It is also my hope that members of the Congressional delegation will also weigh in on this issue.

Thank you,
Karin V. Foster

Click the link below for contact information for the experts who made presentations at the IPANM ONRR Training on June 24, 2013.
Expert Contact Information

Click the link below for contact information for the government representatives who made presentations at the IPANM ONRR Training on June 25, 2013.
Government Contact Information

Click on the link below for the presentations given by the experts at the IPANM ONRR Training on June 24, 2013.
Industry Expert Presentations

Click on the link below for the presentations given by the government representatives at the IPANM ONRR Training on June 25, 2013.
Government Presentations

July 2, 2013: ONRR UBT Updates Values;
The ONRR unbundling team has released the following notice regarding UCAs for the Val Verde Transportation System and Treatment Plant. As per our workshop discussion (IPANM ONRR Training, June 24-25, 2013), it would appear that any claims made between 2006 and 2010 will now need to be reversed and rebooked with the new numbers unless you have information in your files demonstrating a good faith basis for the deductibility percentages you used.

“On July 2nd, 2013, the Asset Valuation Unbundling Team (AVUT) updated the Unbundling Cost Allocations (UCAs) for the Val Verde Transportation System and Treatment Plant for calendar years 2006 through 2010. AVUT updated these values because the team received more accurate information concerning Val Verde. These UCAs are available at the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) website, onrr.gov/unbundling, and relate to the allowable portion of contractual transportation and processing fees. AVUT modified all values for Val Verde with the exception of the Processing UCAs. AVUT added a new set of values to distinguish between the El Paso andTranswestern mainlines. If you need to see previously published values, or have any questions, please direct these inquiries to onrrunbundling@onrr.gov.”

June 28, 2013: ONRR Publishes Changes to Regulations;
Most notable is the removal of the definition for RIK from the regulations. In addition, the Department changed the timing of the determination of transportation allowances to give them more flexibility.

§ 1206.57 Determination of transportation allowances
*** * *?(c) * * *?(3) ONNR may establish reporting
dates for individual lessees different from those specified in this subpart in order to provide more effective administration. * * *
*** * *?[FR Doc. 2013–15691 Filed 6–27–13; 8:45 am]

Pertinent Language
Federal Register