[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 45 (Thursday, March 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14824-14834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05286]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
[Docket No. ONRR-2012-0006]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of
Management and Budget Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of Natural Resources Revenue
(ONRR), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of an extension of a currently approved information
collection (OMB Control Number 1012-0005).
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we
are inviting comments on a collection of information requests that we
will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval. OMB formerly approved this information collection request
(ICR) under OMB Control Number 1010-0136. Subsequently, on March 6,
2012, OMB approved a new series number for ONRR and renumbered our
ICRs. This ICR covers the paperwork requirements in the regulations
under title 30, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 1202, 1204,
and 1206 (previously 30 CFR parts 202, 204, and 206). Also, this ICR
pertains to (1) Federal oil and gas valuation regulations, which
include transportation and processing regulatory allowance limits; and
(2) accounting and auditing relief for marginal properties. This ICR
includes Form MMS-4393, Request to Exceed Regulatory Allowance
Limitation. Effective January 1, 2014, ONRR will discontinue the
information collection requirements of the Stripper Oil royalty rate
reductions in this ICR. The revised title of this ICR is ``30 CFR Parts
1202, 1204, and 1206, Federal Oil and Gas Valuation.''
DATES: Submit written comments on or before May 6, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on this ICR to ONRR by any of the
following methods (please use ``ICR 1012-0005'' as an identifier in
your comment):
Electronically, go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the
entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter ``ONRR-2012-0006'' and then
click ``Search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments.
ONRR will review all comments.
Mail comments to Armand Southall, Regulatory Specialist,
Office of Natural Resources Revenue, P.O. Box 25165, MS 61030A, Denver,
Colorado 80225.
Hand-carry comments, or use an overnight courier service,
to ONRR. Our courier address is Building 85, Room A-614, Denver Federal
Center, West 6th Ave. and Kipling St., Denver, Colorado 80225.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Armand Southall, telephone (303) 231-
3221, or email [email protected]. You may also contact Mr.
Southall to obtain copies, at no cost, of (1) The ICR, (2) any
associated forms, and (3) the regulations that require the subject
collection of information. You may also review the information
collection online at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/PRAMain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR Parts 1202, 1204, and 1206, Federal Oil and Gas
Valuation.
OMB Control Number: 1012-0005.
Bureau Form Number: Form MMS-4393.
Note: ONRR will publish a rule updating our form numbers to Form
ONRR-4393.
Abstract: The Secretary of the United States Department of the
Interior is responsible for mineral resource development on Federal and
Indian lands and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Secretary is
required, by various laws, to manage mineral resource production from
Federal and Indian lands and the OCS, collect the royalties and other
mineral revenues due, and distribute the funds collected under those
laws. We have posted those laws pertaining to mineral leases on Federal
and Indian lands and the OCS at http://www.onrr.gov/Laws_R_D/PublicLawsAMR.htm.
Effective October 1, 2010, ONRR reorganized and transferred our
regulations from chapter II to chapter XII in 30 CFR, resulting in a
change to our citations. You can find the information collections
covered in this ICR at 30 CFR part 1202, subparts C and D, which
pertain to Federal oil and gas royalties; part 1204, subpart C, which
pertains to accounting and auditing relief for marginal properties; and
part
[[Page 14825]]
1206, subparts C and D, which pertain to Federal oil and gas product
valuation.
I. General Information
When a company or an individual enters into a lease to explore,
develop, produce, and dispose of minerals from Federal or Indian lands,
that company or individual agrees to pay the lessor a share in an
amount or value of production from the leased lands. The mineral lease
laws require the lessee, or his designee, to report various kinds of
information to the lessor relative to the disposition of the leased
minerals. Such information is generally available within the records of
the lessee or others involved in developing, transporting, processing,
purchasing, or selling of such minerals.
II. Information Collections
ONRR uses the information that we collect in this ICR to ensure
that lessees accurately value and appropriately pay royalties on oil
and gas produced from Federal onshore and offshore leases. Please refer
to the chart for all reporting requirements and associated burden
hours. All data submitted is subject to subsequent audit and
adjustment.
A. Federal Oil and Gas Valuation Regulations
The valuation regulations at 30 CFR part 1206, subparts C and D,
mandate that companies collect and/or submit information used to value
their Federal oil and gas, including (1) transportation and processing
allowances and (2) regulatory allowance limit information. Companies
report certain data on Form MMS-2014, Report of Sales and Royalty
Remittance (OMB Control Number 1012-0004, formerly 1010-0139). The
information that we request is the minimum necessary to carry out our
mission and places the least possible burden on respondents. If ONRR
does not collect this information, both Federal and State governments
may incur a loss of royalties.
Transportation and Processing Regulatory Allowance Limits: Lessees
may deduct the reasonable, actual costs of transportation and
processing from Federal royalties. The lessees report these allowances
on Form MMS-2014. For oil and gas, regulations establish the allowable
limit on transportation allowance deductions at 50 percent of the value
of the oil or gas. For gas only, regulations establish the allowable
limit on processing allowance deductions at 66\2/3\ percent of the
value of each gas plant product.
Request to Exceed Regulatory Allowance Limitation, Form MMS-4393:
Lessees may request to exceed regulatory limitations. Upon proper
application from the lessee, ONRR may approve oil or gas transportation
allowance in excess of 50 percent or gas processing allowance in excess
of 66\2/3\ percent on Federal leases. Lessees use Form MMS-4393 for
both Federal and Indian leases to request to exceed allowance
limitations. This ICR covers only Federal leases; therefore, we have
not included burden hours of Form MMS-4393 for Indian leases in this
ICR. We include burden hours for Form MMS-4393 for Indian leases in OMB
Control Number 1012-0002.
B. Accounting and Auditing Relief for Marginal Properties
In 2004, we amended our regulations to comply with section 7 of the
Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996.
The regulations provide guidance for lessees and designees seeking
accounting and auditing relief for qualifying Federal marginal
properties. Under the regulations, both ONRR and the State concerned
must approve any relief granted for a marginal property.
C. Stripper Oil Royalty Rate Reduction Program
Under 43 CFR 3103.4-2, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the
surface management agency for Federal onshore leases, established the
Stripper Oil Royalty Rate Reduction Program (Stripper Oil Program).
ONRR, who administered the Stripper Oil Program for BLM, approved
royalty rate reductions for operators of stripper oil properties for
applicable sales periods from October 1, 1992, through January 31,
2006. Effective February 1, 2006, BLM terminated the reduced royalty
rates under this program. This change is not currently reflected in
title 30 CFR, chapter XII; however, on October 6, 2010, BLM published a
final rule (75 FR 61624) that removed this citation from their
regulations.
For production through January 31, 2006, reporters used Form MMS-
4377, Stripper Royalty Rate Reduction Notification, to notify ONRR of
royalty rate changes. Although BLM terminated the royalty rate
reductions, ONRR continues to verify previously submitted notifications
and may require the operator to submit an amended Form MMS-4377 through
December 31, 2013. Effective January 1, 2014, ONRR will discontinue the
Stripper Oil Program; therefore, ONRR will not request OMB approval for
the Stripper Oil information collection requirements.
III. OMB Approval
We will request OMB approval to continue to collect, from companies
and/or lessees and designees, information used (1) to value their
Federal oil and gas, including (a) transportation and processing
allowances and (b) regulatory allowance limit information and (2) to
request accounting and auditing relief approval for qualifying Federal
marginal properties. If ONRR does not collect this information, this
would limit the Secretary's ability to discharge fiduciary duties and
may also result in loss of royalty payments. ONRR protects the
proprietary information that we receive, and we do not collect items of
a sensitive nature.
ONRR requires lessees to respond to information collections
relating to valuation requirements.
Frequency: Annually and on occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 120 Federal
lessees/designees and 7 States for Federal oil and gas.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 9,198
hours.
We have not included in our estimates certain requirements
performed in the normal course of business and considered as usual and
customary. We display the estimated annual burden hours by CFR section
and paragraph in the following chart:
[[Page 14826]]
Respondents' Estimated Annual Burden Hours
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Average number
30 CFR 1202, 1204, 1206, and 1210 Reporting and recordkeeping requirement Hour burden of annual Annual burden
responses hours
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PART 1202--ROYALTIES
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Subpart C--Federal and Indian Oil
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1202.101................................ Standards for reporting and paying royalties. Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
Oil volumes are to be reported in barrels of clean oil of 42 0004.
standard U.S. gallons (231 cubic inches each) at 60 [deg]F.
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Subpart D--Federal Gas
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1202.152(a) and (b)..................... Standards for reporting and paying royalties on gas. Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
(a)(1) If you are responsible for reporting production or 0004.
royalties you must:
(i) Report gas volumes and British thermal unit (Btu) heating
values, if applicable, under the same degree of water
saturation;
(ii) Report gas volumes in units of 1,000 cubic feet (mcf);
and
(iii) Report gas volumes and Btu heating value at a standard
pressure base of 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute (psia)
and a standard temperature base of 60 [deg]F.
(b) Residue gas and gas plant product volumes shall be
reported as specified in this paragraph.
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PART 1204--ALTERNATIVES FOR MARGINAL PROPERTIES
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Subpart C--Accounting and Auditing Relief
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1204.202(b)(1).......................... What is the cumulative royalty reports and payments relief 40 1 40
option?
(b) To use the cumulative royalty reports and payments relief
option, you must do all of the following:
(1) Notify ONRR in writing by January 31 of the calendar year
for which you begin taking your relief.
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1204.202(b)(2) and (b)(3)............... (b)(2) Submit your royalty report and payment by the end of Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
February of the year following the calendar year for which 0004.
you reported annually. If you have an estimated payment on
file, you must submit your royalty report and payment by the
end of March of the year following the calendar year for
which you reported annually; (3) Use the sales month prior to
the month that you submit your annual report and payment for
the entire previous calendar year's production for which you
are paying annually.
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1204.202(b)(4), (b)(5), (c), (d)(1), (b)(4) Report one line of cumulative royalty information on Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
(d)(2), (e)(1), and (e)(2). Form MMS-2014 for the calendar year; and 0004.
(5) Report allowances on Form MMS-2014 on the same annual
basis as the royalties for your marginal property production.
(c) If you do not pay your royalty by the date due in
paragraph (b) of this section, you will owe late payment
interest from the date your payment was due under this
section until the date ONRR receives it.
(d) If you take relief you are not qualified for, you may be
liable for civil penalties.
Also you must: (1) Pay ONRR late payment interest determined
under 30 CFR 1218.54 (2) Amend your Form MMS-2014.
(e) If you dispose of your ownership interest in a marginal
property for which you have taken relief you must:
(1) Report and pay royalties for the portion of the calendar
year for which you had an ownership interest; and
(2) Make the report and payment by the end of the month after
you dispose of the ownership interest in the marginal
property. If you do not report and pay timely, you will owe
interest from the date the payment was due.
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1204.203(b), 1204.205(a) and (b), and What is the other relief option? 200 1 200
1204.206(a)(3)(i) and (b)(1). (b) You must request approval from ONRR before taking relief
under this option.
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[[Page 14827]]
1204.208 (c)(1), (d)(1), and (e)........ May a State decide that it will or will not allow one or both 40 7 280
of the relief options under this subpart?
(c) If a State decides that it will or will not allow one or
both of the relief options within 30 days the State must: (1)
Notify the Director for Office of Natural Resources Revenue,
in writing, of its intent to allow or not allow one or both
of the relief options.
(d) If a State decides in advance that it will not allow one
or both of the relief options the State must: (1) Notify the
Director for Office of Natural Resources Revenue, in writing,
of its intent to allow one or both of the relief options.
(e) If a State does not notify ONRR the State will be deemed
to have decided not to allow either of the relief options.
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1204.209(b)............................. What if a property ceases to qualify for relief obtained under 6 1 6
this subpart?
(b) If a property is no longer eligible for relief the relief
for the property terminates as of December 31 of that
calendar year. You must notify ONRR in writing by December 31
that the relief for the property has terminated.
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1204.210(c) and (d)..................... What if a property is approved as part of a nonqualifying Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
agreement? 0004.
(c) the volumes on which you report and pay royalty must be
amended to reflect all volumes produced on or allocated to
your lease under the nonqualifying agreement as modified by
BLM. Report and pay royalties for your production using the
procedures in Sec. 1204.202(b).
(d) If you owe additional royalties based on the retroactive
agreement approval and do not pay your royalty by the date
due in Sec. 1204.202(b), you will owe late payment interest
determined under Sec. 1218.54 from the date your payment
was due under Sec. 1204.202(b)(2) until the date ONRR
receives it.
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1204.214(b)(1) and (b)(2)............... Is minimum royalty due on a property for which I took relief? Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
(b) If you pay minimum royalty on production from a marginal 0004.
property during a calendar year for which you are taking
cumulative royalty reports and payment relief, and:
(1) The annual payment you owe under this subpart is greater
than the minimum royalty you paid, you must pay the
difference between the minimum royalty you paid and your
annual payment due under this subpart; or
(2) The annual payment you owe under this subpart is less than
the minimum royalty you paid, you are not entitled to a
credit because you must pay at least the minimum royalty
amount on your lease each year.
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Accounting and Auditing Relief Subtotal 10 526
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Part 1206--Product Valuation
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Subpart C--Federal Oil
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1206.102(e)(1).......................... How do I calculate royalty value for oil that I or my AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
affiliate sell(s) under an arm's-length contract?
(e) If you value oil under paragraph (a) of this section: (1)
ONRR may require you to certify that your or your affiliate's
arm's-length contract provisions include all of the
consideration the buyer must pay, either directly or
indirectly, for the oil.
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[[Page 14828]]
1206.103(a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3)...... How do I value oil that is not sold under an arm's-length 45 5 225
contract?
This section explains how to value oil that you may not value
under Sec. 1206.102 or that you elect under Sec.
1206.102(d) to value under this section. First determine
whether paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section applies to
production from your lease, or whether you may apply
paragraph (d) or (e) with ONRR approval.
(a) Production from leases in California or Alaska. Value is
the average of the daily mean ANS spot prices published in
any ONRR-approved publication during the trading month most
concurrent with the production month.
(1) To calculate the daily mean spot price.
(2) Use only the days.
(3) You must adjust the value.
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1206.103(a)(4).......................... (a)(4) After you select an ONRR-approved publication, you may 8 2 16
not select a different publication more often than once every
2 years,
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1206.103(b)(1).......................... (b) Production from leases in the Rocky Mountain Region. 400 2 800
(1) If you have an ONRR-approved tendering program, you must
value oil.
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1206.103(b)(1)(ii)...................... (b)(1)(ii) If you do not have an ONRR-approved tendering 400 2 800
program, you may elect to value your oil under either
paragraph (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section.
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1206.103(b)(4).......................... (4) If you demonstrate to ONRR's satisfaction that paragraphs 400 2 800
(b)(1) through (b)(3) of this section result in an
unreasonable value for your production as a result of
circumstances regarding that production, the ONRR Director
may establish an alternative valuation method.
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1206.103(c)(1).......................... (c) Production from leases not located in California, Alaska 50 10 500
or the Rocky Mountain Region. (1) Value is the NYMEX price,
plus the roll, adjusted for applicable location and quality
differentials and transportation costs under Sec. 1206.112.
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1206.103(e)(1) and (e)(2)............... (e) Production delivered to your refinery and the NYMEX price 330 2 660
or ANS spot price is an unreasonable value. (1) . . . you may
apply to the ONRR Director to establish a value (2) You must
provide adequate documentation and evidence demonstrating the
market value at the refinery. representing the market at the
refinery if:
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1206.105................................ What records must I keep to support my calculations of value Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
under this subpart? 0004.
If you determine the value of your oil under this subpart, you
must retain all data relevant to the determination of royalty
value.
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1206.107(a)............................. How do I request a value determination? 40 10 400
(a) You may request a value determination from ONRR.
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1206.109(c)(2).......................... When may I take a transportation allowance in determining 8 2 16
value?
(c) Limits on transportation allowances. (2) You may ask ONRR
to approve a transportation allowance in excess of the
limitation in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. . . . Your
application for exception (using Form MMS-4393, Request to
Exceed Regulatory Allowance Limitation) must contain all
relevant and supporting documentation necessary for ONRR to
make a determination.
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1206.110(a)............................. How do I determine a transportation allowance under an arm's- AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
length transportation contract?
(a) . . . You must be able to demonstrate that your or your
affiliate's contract is at arm's length.
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1206.110(d)(3).......................... (d) If your arm's-length transportation contract includes more 20 2 40
than one liquid product, and the transportation costs
attributable to each product cannot be determined.
(3) You may propose to ONRR a cost allocation method.
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[[Page 14829]]
1206.110(e)............................. (e) If your arm's-length transportation contract includes both 20 1 20
gaseous and liquid products, and the transportation costs
attributable to each product cannot be determined from the
contract, then you must propose an allocation procedure to
ONRR.
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1206.110(e)(1) and (e)(2)............... (e)(1) . . . If ONRR rejects your cost allocation, you must Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
amend your Form MMS-2014. 0004.
(2) You must submit your initial proposal, including all
available data, within 3 months after first claiming the
allocated deductions on Form MMS-2014.
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1206.110(g)(2).......................... (g) If your arm's-length sales contract includes a provision 5 1 5
reducing the contract price by a transportation factor,
(2) You must obtain ONRR approval before claiming a
transportation factor in excess of 50 percent of the base
price of the product.
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1206.111(g)............................. How do I determine a transportation allowance if I do not have 30 1 30
an arm's-length transportation contract or arm's-length
tariff?
(g) To compute depreciation, you may elect to use either . . .
After you make an election, you may not change methods
without ONRR approval.
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1206.111(k)(2).......................... (k)(2) You may propose to ONRR a cost allocation method on the 30 1 30
basis of the values.
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1206.111(l)(1) and (l)(3)............... (l)(1) Where you transport both gaseous and liquid products 20 1 20
through the same transportation system, you must propose a
cost allocation procedure to ONRR. . . .
(3) You must submit your initial proposal, including all
available data, within 3 months after first claiming the
allocated deductions on Form MMS-2014.
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1206.111(l)(2).......................... (l)(2) . . . If ONRR rejects your cost allocation, you must Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
amend your Form MMS-2104 for the months that you used the 0004.
rejected method and pay any additional royalty and interest
due.
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1206.112(a)(1)(ii)...................... What adjustments and transportation allowances apply when I 80 1 80
value oil production from my lease using NYMEX prices or ANS
spot prices?
(a)(1)(ii) . . . under an exchange agreement that is not at
arm's length, you must obtain approval from ONRR for a
location and quality differential.
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1206.112(a)(1)(ii)...................... (a)(1)(ii) . . . If ONRR prescribes a different differential, 20 2 40
you must apply. . . . You must pay any additional royalties
owed . . . plus the late payment interest from the original
royalty due date, or you may report a credit.
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1206.112(a)(3) and (a)(4)............... (a)(3) If you transport or exchange at arm's length (or both 80 4 320
transport and exchange) at least 20 percent, but not all, of
your oil produced from the lease to a market center,
determine the adjustment between the lease and the market
center for the oil that is not transported or exchanged (or
both transported and exchanged) to or through a market center
as follows:
(4) If you transport or exchange (or both transport and
exchange) less than 20 percent of your crude oil produced
from the lease between the lease and a market center, you
must propose to ONRR an adjustment between the lease and the
market center for the portion of the oil that you do not
transport or exchange (or both transport and exchange) to a
market center. . . . If ONRR prescribes a different
adjustment. . . . You must pay any additional royalties owed
. . . plus the late payment interest from the original
royalty due date, or you may report a credit.
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[[Page 14830]]
1206.112(b)(3).......................... (b)(3) . . . you may propose an alternative differential to 80 4 320
ONRR. . . . If ONRR prescribes a different differential. . .
. You must pay any additional royalties owed . . . plus the
late payment interest from the original royalty due date, or
you may report a credit.
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1206.112(c)(2).......................... (c)(2) . . . If quality bank adjustments do not incorporate or 80 2 160
provide for adjustments for sulfur content, you may make
sulfur adjustments, based on the quality of the
representative crude oil at the market center, of 5.0 cents
per one-tenth percent difference in sulfur content, unless
ONRR approves a higher adjustment.
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1206.114................................ What are my reporting requirements under an arm's-length
transportation contract?
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You or your affiliate must use a separate entry on Form MMS- Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
2014 to notify ONRR of an allowance based on transportation 0004.
costs you or your affiliate incur.
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ONRR may require you or your affiliate to submit arm's-length AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
transportation contracts, production agreements, operating
agreements, and related documents.
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1206.115(a)............................. What are my reporting requirements under a non-arm's-length Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
transportation arrangement? 0004.
(a) You or your affiliate must use a separate entry on Form
MMS-2014 to notify ONRR of an allowance based on
transportation costs you or your affiliate incur.
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1206.115(c)............................. (c) ONRR may require you or your affiliate to submit all data AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
used to calculate the allowance deduction.
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Subpart D--Federal Gas
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1206.152(b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(iii)....... Valuation standards--unprocessed gas. AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
(b)(1)(i) . . . The lessee shall have the burden of
demonstrating that its contract is arm's-length. . . . (iii)
. . . When ONRR determines that the value may be
unreasonable, ONRR will notify the lessee and give the lessee
an opportunity to provide written information justifying the
lessee's value.
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1206.152(b)(2).......................... (b)(2) . . . The lessee must request a value determination in 80 1 80
accordance with paragraph (g) of this section for gas sold
pursuant to a warranty contract;
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1206.152(b)(3).......................... (b)(3) ONRR may require a lessee to certify that its arm's- AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
length contract provisions include all of the consideration
to be paid by the buyer, either directly or indirectly, for
the gas.
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1206.152(e)(1).......................... (e)(1) Where the value is determined pursuant to paragraph (c) Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
of this section, the lessee shall retain all data relevant to 0004.
the determination of royalty value.
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1206.152(e)(2).......................... 206.152(e)(2) Any Federal lessee will make available upon AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
request to the authorized ONRR or State representatives, to
the Office of the Inspector General of the department of the
Interior, or other person authorized to receive such
information, arm's-length sales and volume data for like-
quality production sold, purchased or otherwise obtained by
the lessee from the field or area or from nearby fields or
areas.
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1206.152(e)(3).......................... (e)(3) A lessee shall notify ONRR if it has determined value 10 10 100
pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) or (c)(3) of this section.
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1206.152(g)............................. (g) The lessee may request a value determination from ONRR. . 40 5 200
. . The lessee shall submit all available data relevant to
its proposal.
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[[Page 14831]]
1206.153(b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(iii)....... Valuation standards--processed gas. AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
(b)(1)(i) . . . The lessee shall have the burden of
demonstrating that its contract is arm's-length.
(iii) . . . When ONRR determines that the value may be
unreasonable, ONRR will notify the lessee and give the lessee
an opportunity to provide written information justifying the
lessee's value.
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1206.153(b)(2).......................... (b)(2) . . . The lessee must request a value determination in 80 1 80
accordance with paragraph (g) of this section for gas sold
pursuant to a warranty contract;
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1206.153(b)(3).......................... (b)(3) ONRR may require a lessee to certify that its arm's- AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
length contract provisions include all of the consideration
to be paid by the buyer, either directly or indirectly, for
the residue gas or gas plant product.
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1206.153(e)(1).......................... (e)(1) Where the value is determined pursuant to paragraph (c) Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
of this section, the lessee shall retain all data relevant to 0004.
the determination of royalty value.
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1206.153(e)(2).......................... (e)(2) Any Federal lessee will make available upon request to AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
the authorized ONRR or State representatives, to the Office
of the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior,
or other persons authorized to receive such information,
arm's-length sales and volume data for like-quality residue
gas and gas plant products sold, purchased or otherwise
obtained by the lessee from the same processing plant or from
nearby processing plants.
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1206.153(e)(3).......................... (e)(2) A lessee shall notify ONRR if it has determined any 10 2 20
value pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) or (c)(3) of this section.
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1206.153(g)............................. 206.153(g) The lessee may request a value determination from 80 15 1,200
ONRR. . . . The lessee shall submit all available data
relevant to its proposal.
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1206.154(c)(4).......................... Determination of quantities and qualities for computing 40 1 40
royalties.
(c)(4) . . . A lessee may request ONRR approval of other
methods for determining the quantity of residue gas and gas
plant products allocable to each lease.
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1206.156(c)(3).......................... Transportation allowances--general. 40 3 120
(c)(3) Upon request of a lessee, ONRR may approve a
transportation allowance deduction in excess of the
limitation prescribed by paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this
section. . . . An application for exception (using Form MMS-
4393, Request to Exceed Regulatory Allowance Limitation) must
contain all relevant and supporting documentation necessary
for ONRR to make a determination.
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1206.157(a)(1)(i)....................... Determination of transportation allowances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Arm's-length transportation contracts. (1)(i) . . . The AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
lessee shall have the burden of demonstrating that its
contract is arm's-length.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lessee must claim a transportation allowance by reporting Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
it on a separate line entry on the Form MMS-2014. 0004.
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1206.157(a)(1)(iii)..................... (a)(1)(iii) . . . When ONRR determines that the value of the AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
transportation may be unreasonable, ONRR will notify the
lessee and give the lessee an opportunity to provide written
information justifying the lessee's transportation costs.
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1206.157(a)(2)(ii)...................... (a)(2)(ii) . . . the lessee may propose to ONRR a cost 40 1 40
allocation method on the basis of the values of the products
transported.
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[[Page 14832]]
1206.157(a)(3).......................... (a)(3) If an arm's-length transportation contract includes 40 1 40
both gaseous and liquid products and the transportation costs
attributable to each cannot be determined from the contract,
the lessee shall propose an allocation procedure to ONRR. . .
. The lessee shall submit all relevant data to support its
proposal.
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1206.157(a)(5).......................... (a)(5) . . . The transportation factor may not exceed 50 10 3 30
percent of the base price of the product without ONRR
approval.
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1206.157(b)(1).......................... (b) Non-arm's-length or no contract. (1) The lessee must claim Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
a transportation allowance by reporting it on a separate line 0004.
entry on the Form MMS-2014.
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1206.157(b)(2)(iv) and (b)(2)(iv)(A).... (b)(2)(iv) . . . After a lessee has elected to use either 100 1 100
method for a transportation system, the lessee may not later
elect to change to the other alternative without approval of
the ONRR.
(A) . . . After an election is made, the lessee may not change
methods without ONRR approval.
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1206.157(b)(3)(i)....................... (b)(3)(i) . . . Except as provided in this paragraph, the 100 1 100
lessee may not take an allowance for transporting a product
which is not royalty bearing without ONRR approval.
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1206.157(b)(3)(ii)...................... (b)(3)(ii) . . . the lessee may propose to the ONRR a cost 100 1 100
allocation method on the basis of the values of the products
transported.
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1206.157(b)(4).......................... (b)(4) Where both gaseous and liquid products are transported 100 1 100
through the same transportation system, the lessee shall
propose a cost allocation procedure to ONRR. . . . The lessee
shall submit all relevant data to support its proposal.
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1206.157(b)(5).......................... (b)(5) You may apply for an exception from the requirement to 100 1 100
compute actual costs under paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(4)
of this section.
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1206.157(c)(1)(i)....................... (c) Reporting Requirements. (1) Arm's-length contracts. (i) Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
You must use a separate entry on Form MMS-2014 to notify ONRR 0004.
of a transportation allowance.
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1206.157(c)(1)(ii)...................... (c)(1)(ii) ONRR may require you to submit arm's-length AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
transportation contracts, production agreements, operating
agreements, and related documents.
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1206.157(c)(2)(i)....................... (c)(2) Non-arm's-length or no contract. (i) You must use a Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
separate entry on Form MMS-2014 to notify ONRR of a 0004.
transportation allowance.
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1206.157(c)(2)(iii)..................... (c)(2)(iii) ONRR may require you to submit all data used to AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
calculate the allowance deduction.
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1206.157(e)(2), (e)(3), and (f)(1)...... (e) Adjustments. (2) For lessees transporting production from Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
onshore Federal leases, the lessee must submit a corrected 0004.
Form MMS-2014 to reflect actual costs, together with any
payment, in accordance with instructions provided by ONRR.
(3) For lessees transporting gas production from leases on
the OCS, if the lessee's estimated transportation allowance
exceeds the allowance based on actual costs, the lessee must
submit a corrected Form MMS-2014 to reflect actual costs,
together with its payments, in accordance with instructions
provided by ONRR.
(f) Allowable costs in determining transportation allowances.
. . . (1) Firm demand charges paid to pipelines. . . . if you
receive a payment or credit from the pipeline for penalty
refunds, rate case refunds, or other reasons, you must reduce
the firm demand charge claimed on the Form MMS-2014 by the
amount of that payment. You must modify Form MMS-2014 by the
amount received or credited for the affected reporting period
and pay any resulting royalty and late payment interest due;
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[[Page 14833]]
1206.158(c)(3).......................... Processing allowances--general. 80 8 640
(c)(3) Upon request of a lessee, ONRR may approve a processing
allowance in excess of the limitation prescribed by paragraph
(c)(2) of this section. . . . An application for exception
(using Form MMS-4393, Request to Exceed Regulatory Allowance
Limitation) shall contain all relevant and supporting
documentation for ONRR to make a determination.
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1206.158(d)(2)(i)....................... (d)(2)(i) If the lessee incurs extraordinary costs for 80 1 80
processing gas production from a gas production operation, it
may apply to ONRR for an allowance for those costs.
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1206.158(d)(2)(ii)...................... (d)(2)(ii) . . . to retain the authority to deduct the Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
allowance the lessee must report the deduction to ONRR in a 0004.
form and manner prescribed by ONRR.
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1206.159(a)(1)(i)....................... Determination of processing allowances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Arm's-length processing contracts. AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
(1)(i). . .The lessee shall have the burden of demonstrating
that its contract is arm's-length.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lessee must claim a processing allowance by reporting it Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
on a separate line entry on the Form MMS-2014. 0004.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1206.159(a)(1)(iii)..................... (a)(1)(iii) . . . When ONRR determines that the value of the AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
processing may be unreasonable, ONRR will notify the lessee
and give the lessee an opportunity to provide written
information justifying the lessee's processing costs.
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1206.159(a)(3).......................... (a)(3) If an arm's-length processing contract includes more 20 1 20
than one gas plant product and the processing costs
attributable to each product cannot be determined from the
contract, the lessee shall propose an allocation procedure to
ONRR. . . . The lessee shall submit all relevant data to
support its proposal.
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1206.159(b)(1).......................... (b) Non-arm's-length or no contract. (1). . . The lessee must Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
claim a processing allowance by reflecting it as a separate 0004.
line entry on the Form MMS-2014.
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1206.159(b)(2)(iv) and (b)(2)(iv)(A).... (b)(2)(iv) . . . When a lessee has elected to use either 100 1 100
method for a processing plant, the lessee may not later elect
to change to the alternative without approval of the ONRR.
(A) . . . After an election is made, the lessee may not change
methods without ONRR approval.
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1206.159(b)(4).......................... (b)(4) A lessee may apply to ONRR for an exception from the 100 1 100
requirements that it compute actual costs in accordance with
paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(3) of this section.
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1206.159(c)(1)(i)....................... (c) Reporting requirements--(1) Arm's-length contracts. (i) Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
The lessee must notify ONRR of an allowance based on incurred 0004.
costs by using a separate line entry on the Form MMS-2014.
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1206.159(c)(1)(ii)...................... (c)(1)(ii) ONRR may require that a lessee submit arm's-length AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
processing contracts and related documents.
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1206.159(c)(2)(i)....................... (c)(2) Non-arm's-length or no contract. (i) The lessee must Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
notify ONRR of an allowance based on incurred costs by using 0004.
a separate line entry on the Form MMS-2014.
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1206.159(c)(2)(iii)..................... (c)(2)(iii) Upon request by ONRR, the lessee shall submit all AUDIT PROCESS. See note.
data used to prepare the allowance deduction.
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[[Page 14834]]
1206.159(e)(2) and (e)(3)............... (e) Adjustments . . . (2) For lessees processing production Burden covered under OMB Control Number 1012-
from onshore Federal leases, the lessee must submit a 0004.
corrected Form MMS-2014 to reflect actual costs, together
with any payment, in accordance with instructions provided by
ONRR. (3) For lessees processing gas production from leases
on the OCS, if the lessee's estimated processing allowance
exceeds the allowance based on actual costs, the lessee must
submit a corrected Form MMS-2014 to reflect actual costs,
together with its payment, in accordance with instructions
provided by ONRR.
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Oil and Gas Valuation Subtotal 117 8,672
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TOTAL 127 9,198
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Note: AUDIT PROCESS--The Office of Regulatory Affairs determined that the audit process is exempt from the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 because ONRR
staff asks non-standard questions to resolve exceptions.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-hour'' Cost
Burden: We have not identified a ``non-hour'' cost burden associated
with the collection of information.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person does
not have to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires each agency to
``* * * provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register * * * 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 that ONRR collects; and (d) minimize the
burden on the respondents, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
The PRA also requires agencies to estimate the total annual
reporting ``non-hour cost'' burden to respondents or recordkeepers
resulting from the collection of information. 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 that you use to estimate (1) Major cost factors,
including system and technology acquisition, (2) expected useful life
of capital equipment, (3) discount rate(s), and (4) the period over
which you incur costs. Capital and startup costs include, among other
items, computers and software that you purchase to prepare for
collecting information and monitoring, sampling, and testing equipment,
and record storage facilities. Generally, your estimates should not
include 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 Federal 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 ICR submission for OMB approval, including appropriate
adjustments to the estimated burden. We will provide a copy of the ICR
to you, without charge, upon request. We also will post the ICR at
http://www.onrr.gov/Laws_R_D/FRNotices/FRInfColl.htm.
Public Comment Policy: We will post all comments, including names
and addresses of respondents, at http://www.regulations.gov. 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
view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Office of the Secretary, Information Collection Clearance Officer:
David Alspach (202) 219-8526.
Dated: February 26, 2013.
Gregory J. Gould,
Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
[FR Doc. 2013-05286 Filed 3-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-T2-P