[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72693-72699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28834]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
[Docket ID BSEE-2013-0005; OMB Control Number 1014-NEW; 134E1700D2
EEEE500000 ET1SF0000.DAQ000]
Information Collection Activities: Application for Permit To
Modify; Proposed Collection; Comment Request
ACTION: 60-day notice.
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) 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
submission of this information collection request (ICR) is necessary so
that both industry and BSEE have a better understanding of the
regulatory requirements associated with all supporting data and
information that is submitted with an Application for Permit to Modify
(APM) under the multiple subparts. This ICR will separate out the hours
and non-hour cost burdens associated with APMs from its currently
approved IC into its own separate collection; it will also reflect more
accurate burden estimates.
DATES: You must submit comments by February 3, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods
listed below.
Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the
Search box, enter BSEE-2013-0005 then click search. Follow the
instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials.
We will post all comments.
Email [email protected]. Mail or hand-carry comments
to the Department of the Interior; BSEE; Regulations and Standards
Branch; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 Elden Street, HE3313; Herndon,
Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference ICR 1014-0017 in your comment and
include your name and return address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1607 to request additional information
about this ICR.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR 250, Application for Permit to Modify (APM), BSEE-
0124.
Form: BSEE-0124.
OMB Control Number: 1014-NEW.
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 to prescribe rules and regulations to
administer leasing of mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease,
right-of-way, or a right-of-use and easement. 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 1332(6) states that
``operations in the Outer Continental Shelf should be conducted in a
safe manner by well trained personnel using technology, precautions,
and other techniques sufficient to prevent or minimize the likelihood
of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, spillages, physical
obstructions to other users of the waters or subsoil and seabed, or
other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to
property or endanger life or health.''
In addition to the general authority of OCSLA, section 301(a) of
the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C.
1751(a), grants authority to the Secretary to prescribe such rules and
regulations as are reasonably necessary to carry out FOGRMA's
provisions. While the majority of FOGRMA is directed to royalty
collection and enforcement, some provisions apply to offshore
operations. For example, section 108 of FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 1718, grants
the Secretary broad authority to inspect lease sites for the purpose of
determining whether there is compliance with the mineral leasing laws.
Section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 U.S.C. 1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose
substantial civil penalties for failure to permit lawful inspections
and for knowing or willful preparation or submission of false,
inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or other information. The
Secretary has delegated some of the authority under FOGRMA to BSEE.
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, the Bureau of Safety
and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is required to charge fees for
services that provide special benefits or privileges to an identifiable
non-Federal recipient above and beyond those which accrue to the public
at large. Applications for permits to drill are subject to cost
recovery, and BSEE regulations specify a service fee for this request.
Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those
delegated to BSEE. The regulations at 30 CFR part 250 stipulate the
various requirements that must be submitted with an Application for
Permit to Modify (APM), Form BSEE-0124, which are the subject of this
collection. Currently, an APM is covered under 30
[[Page 72694]]
CFR part 250, subpart D, 1014-0018, and when discussed in Subparts E,
F, H, P, Q, they are cross referenced. It is difficult to correlate the
APM burden requirements in the other subparts with their respective
burden. By putting APMs, along with all the required documentation
throughout the various subparts into one ICR, we feel that this
situation will be alleviated and will reflect more accurate burden
estimates. This request also covers the related Notices to Lessees and
Operators (NTLs) that we issue to clarify, supplement, or provide
additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations.
In this ICR, we have included a certification statement on the form
to state that false submissions are subject to criminal penalties.
Also, we clarified some sections of Form BSEE-0124. This poses minor
edits and they are as follows:
Question 8 was split into 8a. and 8b. Current question 8
is now 8a. Question 8b. asks for the well status (current), and
Question 18 updated the regulatory citations.
The BSEE uses the information to ensure safe well completion,
workover and decommissioning operations and to protect the human,
marine, and coastal environment. Among other things, BSEE specifically
uses the information to ensure: The well completion, workover and
decommissioning unit is fit for the intended purpose; equipment is
maintained in a state of readiness and meets safety standards; each
well completion, workover and decommissioning crew is properly trained
and able to promptly perform well-control activities at any time during
well operations; compliance with safety standards; and the current
regulations will provide for safe and proper field or reservoir
development, resource evaluation, conservation, protection of
correlative rights, safety, and environmental protection. We also
review well records to ascertain whether the operations have
encountered hydrocarbons or H2S and to ensure that H2S detection
equipment, personnel protective equipment, and training of the crew are
adequate for safe operations in zones known to contain H2S and zones
where the presence of H2S is unknown.
We also use the information to determine the conditions of the site
to avoid hazards inherent in well completion, workover and
decommissioning operations. Specifically, we use the information to
evaluate and approve the adequacy of the equipment, materials, and/or
procedures that the lessee or operator plans to use during well
completion, workover and decommissioning plan modifications and changes
in major equipment. In addition, except for proprietary data, BSEE is
required by the OCS Lands Act to make available to the public certain
information that is submitted.
The BSEE will protect proprietary information according to the
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing
regulations (43 CFR part 2); 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be
made available to the public or for limited inspection; and 30 CFR part
252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program. No items of a sensitive
nature are collected. Responses are required to obtain or retain a
benefit or they are mandatory.
Frequency: On occasion and as required in the regulations.
Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: In this
submission, we are estimating 9,770 burden hours. The following chart
details the individual components and respective hour 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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Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden
We have identified one non-hour cost burden for this collection.
The 30 CFR part 250 regulations require a cost recovery fee of $125
cost recovery fee (non-hour cost burden) for APM submittals. The
application fee is required to recover the Federal Government's
processing costs. We have not identified any other non-hour cost
burdens associated with this collection of information. We estimate a
total reporting non-hour cost burden of $361,625 for this collection.
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
collection is necessary or useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy 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
technology.
Agencies must also estimate the non-hour paperwork cost burdens to
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of
information. Therefore, if you have other than hour burden 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. For further
information on this burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(1) and (2), or
contact the Bureau representative listed previously in this notice.
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.
Dated: November 22, 2013.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-28834 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
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