[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38412-38414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16438]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
Docket ID No. BOEM-2011-0036]
BOEMRE Information Collection Activity: Geological and
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the OCS, Revision of a Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
(BOEMRE), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of a revision of an information collection.
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
BOEMRE 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 the regulations for Geological and
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf, and in
particular, we are revising BOEMRE Form MMS-0327 to adapt to new
advances in technology (digital options) and clarifying requirements
for environmental compliance.
DATES: Submit written comments by August 29, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulation and form that requires
the subject collection of information. Also, you can view or print the
form via regulations.gov. See the instructions listed in the ADDRESSES
section.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods
listed below.
Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the
entry titled Enter Keyword or ID, enter BOEM-2011-0036 then click
search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view
supporting and related materials available for this collection. BOEMRE
will post all comments.
E-mail [email protected]. Mail or hand-carry
comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and Enforcement; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381
Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference
ICR 1010-0048 in your comment and include your name and return address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR Part 251, Geological and Geophysical (G&G)
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.
BOEMRE Form(s): MMS-0327.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
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.
The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1340) also states that ``any person
authorized by the Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical
explorations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not interfere
with or endanger actual operations under any lease maintained or
granted pursuant to this OCS Lands Act, and which are not unduly
harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' The section further requires
that permits to conduct such activities may only be issued if it is
determined that the applicant is qualified; the activities are not
polluting, hazardous, or unsafe; they do not interfere with other users
of the area; and do not disturb a site, structure, or object of
historical or archaeological significance. Applicants for permits are
required to submit BOEMRE Form MMS-0327 to provide the information
necessary to evaluate their qualifications.
The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1352) further requires that certain
costs be reimbursed to the parties submitting required G&G information
and data. Under the OCS Lands Act, permittees are to be reimbursed for
the costs of reproducing any G&G data required to be submitted.
Permittees are to be reimbursed also for the reasonable cost of
processing geophysical information required to be submitted when
processing is in a form or manner required by the Director of BOEMRE
and is not used in the normal conduct of the business of the permittee.
The Independent Offices Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701), the
Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26,
1996), and OMB Circular A-25, authorize Federal agencies to recover the
full cost of services that confer special benefits. Under the
Department of the Interior's implementing policy, BOEMRE is required to
charge the full cost for services that provide special benefits or
privileges to an identifiable non-Federal recipient above and beyond
those that accrue to the public at large. The G&G permits are subject
to cost recovery, and BOEMRE regulations specify the filing fee for the
application.
Regulations at 30 CFR part 251 implement these statutory
requirements. We use the information to ensure there is no
environmental degradation, personal harm or unsafe operations and
conditions, damage to historical or archaeological sites, or
interference with other uses; to analyze and evaluate preliminary or
planned drilling activities; to monitor progress and activities in the
OCS; to acquire G&G data and information collected under a Federal
permit offshore; and to determine eligibility for reimbursement from
the government for certain costs. The information is necessary to
determine if the applicants for permits or filers of notices meet the
qualifications specified by the OCS Lands Act. BOEMRE uses information
collected to understand the G&G characteristics of oil- and gas-bearing
physiographic regions of the OCS. It aids the Secretary in obtaining a
proper
[[Page 38413]]
balance among the potentials for environmental damage, the discovery of
oil and gas, and adverse impacts on affected coastal States.
Information from permittees is necessary to determine the propriety and
amount of reimbursement. Also, we are revising BOEMRE Form MMS-0327 to
adapt to new advances in technology (electronic options) and clarifying
requirements for environmental compliance.
We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary
according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), the Federal Oil and Gas
Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1733), and under regulations
at 30 CFR parts 250, 251, and 252.
No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are
mandatory.
Frequency: On occasion, annual; and as specified in permits.
Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal
OCS oil, gas, and sulphur permittees or notice filers.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 1,246 hours.
The following chart details the individual components and respective
burden estimates of this ICR. In calculating the burdens, 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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Hour burden
Reporting and ---------------
Citation 30 CFR 251 recordkeeping Non-hour cost
requirement burden
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30 CFR 251.1 through 251.6
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251.4(a), (b); 251.5(a), (b), Apply for permits 3
(d); 251.6; 251.7. (BOEMRE Form MMS-0327) $2,012
to conduct G&G application
exploration, including fee.
deep stratigraphic
tests/revisions when
necessary.
251.4(b); 251.5(c), (d); 251.6. File notices to conduct 1
scientific research
activities, including
notice to BOEMRE prior
to beginning and after
concluding activities.
251.6(b); 251.7(b)(5).......... Notify BOEMRE if 1
specific actions
should occur; report
archaeological
resources (no
instances reported
since 1982).
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30 CFR 251.7 through 251.9
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251.7.......................... Submit information on 0
test drilling
activities under a
permit, including
BOEMRE Forms MMS-0123
and MMS-0123S. Burden
included under 1010-
0141.
251.7(c)....................... Enter into agreement 1
for group
participation in test
drilling, including
publishing summary
statement; provide
BOEMRE copy of notice/
list of participants
(no agreements
submitted since 1989).
251.7(d)....................... Submit bond(s) on deep 0
stratigraphic test.
Burden included under
30 CFR part 256 (1010-
0006).
251.8(a)....................... Request reimbursement 1
for certain costs
associated with BOEMRE
inspections (no
requests in many
years).
251.8(b), (c).................. Submit modifications 2
to, and status/final
reports on, activities
conducted under a
permit.
251.9(c)....................... Notify BOEMRE to 1/2
relinquish a permit.
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30 CFR 251.10 through 251.13
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251.10(c)...................... File appeals. Exempt 0
under 5 CFR
1320.4(a)(2), (c).
251.11; 251.12................. Notify BOEMRE and 4
submit G&G data and/or
information collected
under a permit and/or
processed by
permittees or 3rd
parties, including
reports, logs or
charts, results,
analyses,
descriptions, etc.
251.13......................... Request reimbursement 2
for certain costs
associated with
reproducing data/
information.
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30 CFR 251.14
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251.14(a)...................... Submit comments on 1
BOEMRE intent to
disclose data and/or
information to the
public.
251.14(c)(2)................... Submit comments on 1
BOEMRE intent to
disclose data and/or
information to an
independent contractor/
agent.
251.14(c)(4)................... Contractor/agent 1
submits written
commitment not to
sell, trade, license,
or disclose data and/
or information without
BOEMRE consent.
251.1-251.14................... General departure and 1
alternative compliance
requests not
specifically covered
elsewhere in part 251
regulations.
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Extension for Permit Form & Recordkeeping
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BOEMRE Permit Form (Form MMS- Request extension of 1
0327). permit time period.
Retain G&G data/ 1
information for 10
years and make
available to BOEMRE
upon request.
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[[Page 38414]]
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have
identified one non-hour cost burden for this collection. In Sec.
251.5, BOEMRE charges a $2,012 G&G application fee. We have identified
no other non-hour paperwork cost burden.
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 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 Procedures: Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
BOEMRE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz
(703) 787-1025.
Dated: June 1, 2011.
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-16438 Filed 6-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P