Wildlife Service Renews Oil Operation Paperwork Form
Published Date: 4/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing a paperwork form for companies doing oil and gas work on National Wildlife Refuge lands—no changes, just a fresh approval. If you’re involved in these operations, you can comment on this by June 12, 2026. This keeps things running smoothly without adding extra costs or hassles.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 7 costs, 0 mixed.
Extensive Operations Permit Application
To get an Operations Permit, applicants must complete Form 3-2469 (Parts 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10) with detailed maps, site plans, equipment lists, water and waste plans, and baseline testing. The notice estimates operations permit application burdens of 3,220 hours for hard copy filings and 2,415 hours for ePermits annually.
Up-Front Financial Assurance Requirement
Before operations begin, operators must submit financial assurance in the amount specified by the Service and proof of liability insurance that is sufficient to cover injuries or property damage. The collection lists a total estimated annual non-hour burden cost of $2,250,000 associated with financial assurances.
Paperwork Renewal Keeps Permits Unchanged
The Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing the existing information collection (OMB Control No. 1018-0162) for non-Federal oil and gas operations on National Wildlife Refuge lands without changes. The notice asks for comments by June 12, 2026 and reports a total estimated annual burden of 17,167 hours and a total estimated annual non-hour burden cost of $2,250,000 associated with financial assurances.
Quick Reporting and Emergency Notifications
Operators must notify the Service within 24 hours of any injuries to or mortality of fish, wildlife, or threatened/endangered plants, and must notify immediately of serious accidents, fires, or spills; a written accident report is due within 90 days. The agency also expects third-party monitor reports (estimated 5,100 annual hours).
Hydraulic Fracturing Disclosure Rules
If operations include hydraulic fracturing, operators must report the true vertical depth of the well, total water volume used, and for each additive provide trade name, supplier, purpose, ingredients, CAS number, and maximum concentrations; operators must also upload chemical disclosure information to FracFocus.
Operator Transfer and Acquirer Deadlines
When rights transfer, the transferring operator must notify the Service in writing within 30 calendar days, and the acquiring operator must provide documentation within 30 days and submit an operations permit application within 90 calendar days; the acquirer must also provide financial assurance acceptable to the Service.
Well Identification Sign Requirement
Operators must post durable signs identifying wells and related facilities that remain until wells are plugged and abandoned; signs must be legible at 50 feet and show the well name, operator name, and emergency contact phone number.
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