[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 43, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 43CFR3140.2-3]

[Page 397-398]
 
                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR
 
    CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 3140_COMBINED HYDROCARBON LEASING--Table of Contents
 
Subpart 3140_Conversion of Existing Oil and Gas Leases and Valid Claims 
                       Based on Mineral Locations
 
Sec. 3140.2-3  Application requirements.

    (a) The applicant shall submit to the State Director, Utah State 
Office of the Bureau of Land Management, a written request for a 
combined hydrocarbon lease signed by the owner of the lease or valid 
claim which shall be accompanied by 3 copies of a plan of operations 
which shall meet the requirements of 43 CFR 3592.1 and which shall 
provide for reasonable protection of the environment and diligent 
development

[[Page 398]]

of the resources requiring enhanced recovery methods of development or 
mining.
    (b) A plan of operations may be modified or amended before or after 
conversion of a lease or valid claim to reflect changes in technology, 
slippages in schedule beyond the control of the lessee, new information 
about the resource or the economic or environmental aspects of its 
development, changes to or initiation of applicable unit agreements or 
for other purposes. To obtain approval of a modification or amended 
plan, the applicant shall submit a written statement of the proposed 
changes or supplements and the justification for the changes proposed. 
Any modifications shall be in accordance with 43 CFR 3592.1(c). The 
approval of the modification or amendment is the responsibility of the 
authorized officer. Changes or modification to the plan of operations 
shall have no effect on the primary term of the lease. The authorized 
officer shall, prior to approving any amendment or modification, review 
the modification or amendment with the appropriate surface management 
agency. For leases within units of the National Park System, no 
amendment or modification shall be approved without the consent of the 
Regional Director of the National Park Service in accordance with Sec. 
3140.7 of this title.
    (c) The plan of operations may be for a single existing oil and gas 
lease or valid claim or for an area of proposed unit operation.
    (d) The plan of operations shall identify by lease number all 
Federal oil and gas leases proposed for conversion and identify valid 
claims proposed for conversion by the recordation number of the mining 
claim.
    (e) The plan of operations shall include any proposed designation of 
operator or proposed operating agreement.
    (f) The plan of operations may include an exploration phase, if 
necessary, but it shall include a development phase. Such a plan can be 
approved even though it may indicate work under the exploration phase is 
necessary to perfect the proposed plan for the development phase as long 
as the overall plan demonstrates reasonable protection of the 
environment and diligent development of the resources requiring enhanced 
recovery methods of mining.
    (g)(1) Upon determination that the plan of operations is complete, 
the authorized officer shall suspend the term of the Federal oil and gas 
lease(s) as of the date that the complete plan was filed until the plan 
is finally approved or rejected. Only the term of the oil and gas lease 
shall be suspended, not any operation and production requirements 
thereunder.
    (2) If the authorized officer determines that the plan of operations 
is not complete, the applicant shall be notified that the plan is 
subject to rejection if not completed within the period specified in the 
notice.
    (3) The authorized officer may request additional data after the 
plan of operations has been determined to be complete. This request for 
additional information shall have no effect on the suspension of the 
running of the oil and gas lease.

[47 FR 22478, May 24, 1982, as amended at 55 FR 12351, Apr. 3, 1990]