[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7250-7253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3248]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0086).
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS
is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork
requirements in
[[Page 7251]]
the regulations under ``30 CFR 250, Subpart P, Sulphur Operations.''
DATES: Submit written comments by April 13, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand carry comments to the Department of the
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Processing
Team; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.
If you wish to e-mail comments, the address is: [email protected].
Reference ``Information Collection 1010-0086'' in your e-mail subject
line and mark your message for return receipt. Include your name and
return address in your message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlene Bajusz, Rules Processing Team
at (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Arlene Bajusz to obtain a copy,
at no cost, of the regulations that require the subject collection of
information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart P, Sulphur Operations.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0086.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prescribe rules and
regulations to administer leasing of the OCS. Such rules and
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease.
Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and
natural gas resources in a manner that is consistent with the need to
make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as
rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development
with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure
the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and
to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition.
Section 5(a) of the OCS Lands Act requires the Secretary to
prescribe rules and regulations ``to provide for the prevention of
waste, and conservation of the natural resources of the Outer
Continental Shelf, and the protection of correlative rights therein''
and to include provisions ``for the prompt and efficient exploration
and development of a lease area.'' These authorities and
responsibilities are among those delegated to MMS under which we issue
regulations to ensure that operations in the OCS will meet statutory
requirements; provide for safety and protection of the environment; and
result in diligent exploration, development, and production of OCS
leases. This information collection request addresses the regulations
at 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart P, Sulphur Operations, and the associated
supplementary notices to lessees and operators intended to provide
clarification, description, or explanation of these regulations.
MMS uses the information collected to ascertain the condition of
drilling sites for the purpose of preventing hazards inherent in
drilling and production operations and to evaluate the adequacy of
equipment and/or procedures to be used during the conduct of drilling,
well-completion, well-workover, and production operations. For example,
MMS uses the information to:
Ascertain that a discovered sulphur deposit can
be classified as capable of production in paying quantities.
Ensure accurate and complete measurement of
production to determine the amount of sulphur royalty payments due the
United States; and that the sale locations are secure, production has
been measured accurately, and appropriate follow-up actions are
initiated.
Ensure that the drilling unit is fit for the
intended purpose.
Review expected oceanographic and meteorological
conditions to ensure the integrity of the drilling unit (this
information is submitted only if it is not otherwise available).
Review hazard survey data to ensure that the
lessee will not encounter geological conditions that present a hazard
to operations.
Ensure the adequacy and safety of firefighting
plans.
Ensure the adequacy of casing for anticipated
conditions.
Review log entries of crew meetings to verify
that crew members are properly trained.
Review drilling, well-completion, and well-
workover diagrams and procedures to ensure the safety of the proposed
drilling, well-completion, and well-workover operations.
Review production operation procedures to ensure
the safety of the proposed production operations.
Monitor environmental data during operations in
offshore areas where such data are not already available to provide a
valuable source of information to evaluate the performance of drilling
rigs under various weather and ocean conditions. This information is
necessary to make reasonable determinations regarding safety of
operations and environmental protection.
We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30
CFR 250.196, ``Data and information to be made available to the
public.'' No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are
mandatory.
Frequency: Varies by section, but is generally ``on occasion'' or
annual.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 1
Federal OCS sulphur lessee.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The
currently approved ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a
total of 903 hours. The following chart details the individual
components of this burden and estimated burden per response or record.
In calculating the burden, we assumed that respondents perform certain
requirements in the normal course of their activities. We consider
these to be usual and customary and took that into account in
estimating the burden.
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Reporting or recordkeeping
Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart P requirement Hour burden
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1600......................................................... Submit exploration or development 0
and production plan. [Burden
included under 30 CFR 250,
subpart B (1010-0049).].
1603(a)...................................................... Request determination whether 1
sulphur deposit can produce in
paying quantities.
1605(b)(3)................................................... Submit data and information on 4
fitness of drilling unit.
1605(c)...................................................... Report oceanographic, 1
meteorological, and drilling
unit performance data upon
request*.
1605(d)...................................................... Submit results of additional 1
surveys and soil borings upon
request*.
1605(e)(5)................................................... Request copy of directional 1
survey (by holder of adjoining
lease)*.
1605(f)...................................................... Submit application for 0
installation of fixed drilling
platforms or structures. [Burden
included under 30 CFR 250,
subpart I (1010-0058).].
1607......................................................... Request establishment, amendment, 8
or cancellation of field rules
for drilling, well- completion,
or well-workover.
[[Page 7252]]
1608......................................................... Submit well casing and cementing 5
plan or modification.
1610(d)(8)................................................... Request exception to ram-type 1
blowout preventer (BOP) system
components rated working
pressure.
1611(b); 1625(b)............................................. Request exception to water-rated 1
working pressure to test ram-
type and annular BOPs and choke
manifold.
1611(f); 1625(f)............................................. Request exception to recording 1
pressure conditions during BOP
tests on pressure charts*.
1612......................................................... Request exception to Sec. 250.408 1
requirements for well-control
drills*.
1615......................................................... Request exception to blind-shear 1
ram or pipe rams and inside BOP
to secure wells.
1617; 1618; 1619(b); 1622.................................... Submit forms MMS-123 (Application 0
for Permit to Drill), MMS-124
(Sundry Notices and Reports on
Wells), Form MMS-125 (Well
Summary Report). [Burden
included with forms: MMS-123
(1010-0044); MMS-124 (1010-
0045); MMS-125 (1010-0046).].
1619(c), (d), (e)............................................ Submit copies of records, logs, 1
reports, charts, etc., upon
request.
1628(b), (d)................................................. Submit application for design and 4
installation features of sulphur
production facilities and fuel
gas safety system; certify new
installation conforms to
approved design.
1629(b)(3)................................................... Request approval of firefighting 4
systems.
1630(a)(5)................................................... Notify MMS of pre-production test 2
and inspection of safety system
and commencement of production.
1633(b)...................................................... Submit application for method of 2
production measurement.
1634(b)...................................................... Report evidence of mishandling of 1
produced sulphur or tampering or
falsifying any measurement of
production.
1600 thru 1634............................................... General departure and alternative 2
compliance requests not
specifically covered elsewhere
in subpart P.
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Recordkeeping
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1604(f)...................................................... Check traveling-block safety 3
device for proper operation
weekly and after each drill-line
slipping; enter results in log.
1609(a)...................................................... Pressure test casing; record 2
time, conditions of testing, and
test results in log.
1611(d)(3); 1625(c)(3)....................................... Record in driller's report the **10
date, time, and reason for
postponing pressure testings.
1611(f), (g); 1625(f), (g)................................... Conduct tests, actuations, 6
inspections, maintenance, and
crew drills of BOP systems at
least weekly; record results in
driller's report; retain records
for 2 years following completion
of drilling activity.
1613(e)...................................................... Pressure test diverter sealing 2
element/valves weekly; actuate
diverter sealing element/valves/
control system every 24 hours;
test diverter line for flow
every 24 hours; record test
times and results in driller's
report.
1616(c)...................................................... Retain training records for 0
lessee and drilling contractor
personnel. [Burden included
under 30 CFR 250, subpart O
(1010-0128).].
1619(a)...................................................... Retain records for each well and 12
all well operations for 2 years.
1621......................................................... Conduct safety meetings prior to 1
well-completion or well-workover
operations; record date and time.
1628(d)...................................................... Maintain information on approved 1
design and installation features
for the life of the facility.
1629(b)(1)(ii) and (iii)..................................... Retain pressure-recording charts 12
used to and determine operating
pressure ranges for 2 years;
post firefighting system diagram.
1630(b)...................................................... Maintain records for each safety 1
device installed for 2 years.
1631......................................................... Conduct safety device training 1
prior to production operations
and periodically thereafter;
record date and time.
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* We included a minimal burden, but it has not been necessary to request these data and/or no submissions
received for many years.
** Minutes.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We
have identified no ``non-hour cost'' burdens.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.)
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated
to respond.
Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section
3506(c)(2)(A) requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies
concerning each proposed collection of information * * *''.
Agencies must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
agency to perform its duties, including whether the information is
useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Agencies must also estimate the ``non-hour cost'' burdens to
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of
information. Therefore, if you have costs to generate, maintain, and
disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total
capital and startup cost components or annual operation, maintenance,
and purchase of service components. You should describe the methods you
use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology
acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount
rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup
costs include, among other items, computers and
[[Page 7253]]
software you purchase to prepare for collecting information,
monitoring, and record storage facilities. You should not include
estimates for equipment or services purchased: (i) Before October 1,
1995; (ii) to comply with requirements not associated with the
information collection; (iii) for reasons other than to provide
information or keep records for the Government; or (iv) as part of
customary and usual business or private practices.
We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them
in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we
will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to
OMB.
Public Comment Policy: MMS's practice is to make comments,
including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public
review during regular business hours. If you wish your name and/or
address to be withheld, you must state this prominently at the
beginning of your comment. MMS will honor this request to the extent
allowable by law; however, anonymous comments will not be considered.
All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their
entirety.
MMS Federal Register Liaison Officer: Denise Johnson (202) 208-
3976.
Dated: February 5, 2004.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 04-3248 Filed 2-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P