[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16810-16814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06720]
[[Page 16810]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
[Docket ID BSEE-2013-0012; OMB Control Number 1014-0022; 14XE1700DX
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]
Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas and Sulphur
Operations in the OCS--General; Proposed Collection; Comment Request
ACTION: 60-day notice.
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the
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
information collection request (ICR) concerns a revision to the
paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart A, General.
DATES: You must submit comments by May 27, 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-2013-0012 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; ATTN: Nicole Mason; 381 Elden Street, HE3313; Herndon, Virginia
20170-4817. Please reference ICR 1014-0022 in your comment and include
your name and return address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Mason, Regulations and
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1605 to request additional information
about this ICR.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR part 250, Subpart A, General.
OMB Control Number: 1014-0022.
Form(s): BSEE-0011, BSEE-0132, BSEE-0143, and BSEE-1832.
Abstract: The following authorities pertain to the BSEE
regulations: 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 necessary
for the administration of the leasing provisions of the Act related to
the 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.
In addition to the general rulemaking authority of the OCSLA at 43
U.S.C. 1334, 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. Because the Secretary has delegated some of the
authority under FOGRMA to BSEE, 30 U.S.C. 1751 is included as
additional authority for these requirements.
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, 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. A request for approval required in 30
CFR 250.171(e) is subject to cost recovery, and BSEE regulations
specify service fees for these requests in 30 CFR 250.125.
The regulations at 30 CFR part 250, Subpart A, concern the general
regulatory requirements of oil, gas, and sulphur operations in the OCS
(including the associated forms), and are the subject of this
collection. This request also covers the related Notices to Lessees and
Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to clarify, supplement, or provide
additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations.
The BSEE uses the information collected under the Subpart A
regulations to ensure that operations on the OCS are carried out in a
safe and pollution-free manner, do not interfere with the rights of
other users on the OCS, and balance the protection and development of
OCS resources. Specifically, we use the information collected to:
Review records of formal crane operator and rigger
training, crane operator qualifications, crane inspections, testing,
and maintenance to ensure that lessees/operators perform operations in
a safe and workmanlike manner and that equipment is maintained in a
safe condition. The BSEE also uses the information to make certain that
all new and existing cranes installed on OCS fixed platforms must be
equipped with anti-two block safety devices, and to assure that uniform
methods are employed by lessees for load testing of cranes.
Review welding plans, procedures, and records to ensure
that welding is conducted in a safe and workmanlike manner by trained
and experienced personnel.
Provide lessees/operators greater flexibility to comply
with regulatory requirements through approval of alternative equipment
or procedures and departures to regulations if they demonstrate equal
or better compliance with the appropriate performance standards.
Ensure that injection of gas promotes conservation of
natural resources and prevents waste.
Record the agent and local agent empowered to receive
notices and comply with regulatory orders issued.
Provide for orderly development of leases through the use
of information to determine the appropriateness of lessee/operator
requests for suspension of operations, including production.
Improve safety and environmental protection on the OCS
through collection and analysis of accident reports to ascertain the
cause of the accidents and to determine ways to prevent recurrences.
Ascertain when the lease ceases production or when the
last well ceases production in order to determine the 180th day after
the date of completion of the last production. The BSEE will use this
information to efficiently
[[Page 16811]]
maintain the lessee/operator lease status.
Allow lessees/operators who exhibit unacceptable
performance an incremental approach to improving their overall
performance prior to a final decision to disqualify a lessee/operator
or to pursue debarment proceedings through the execution of a
performance improvement plan (PIP). Subpart A regulations do not
address the actual process that we will follow in pursuing the
disqualification of operators under Sec. Sec. 250.135 and 250.136;
however, our internal enforcement procedures include allowing such
operators to demonstrate a commitment to acceptable performance by the
submission of a PIP.
This information collection request has current forms and a new
form associated with this collection. We have addressed any and all
issues/changes to the forms as follows:
New Form BSEE-0011, iSEE, Internet-Based Safety and
Environmental Enforcement Reporting System, was created to clarify what
information is needed when someone reports an apparent violation (Sec.
250.193). This form was out for comment and published in the Federal
Register (78 FR 69118) on November 18, 2013.
Revisions to Form BSEE-1832, Incident(s) of Noncompliance
(INCs), are due to BSEE developing a new electronic process to issue
INCs and handle acknowledgements of INCs. The changes on the form
pertain to giving the operator options in how to report back to BSEE
for reporting the resolution of the issues identified in the INC,
either via paper or electronically. The BSEE will continue the option
to issue paper INCs and mail paper INCs; however, our inspectors will
stop issuing hand-written INCs for most normal inspection violations
and, instead, generate an INC on the inspector's tablet PCs. After
marking a Preliminary-INC as a violation, the inspector will be able to
generate an INC on the tablet and ask the operator to ``sign'' the
tablet. The application will capture the signature and the inspector
will generate the INC in PDF format. We also added a certification
statement to state that false submissions are subject to criminal
penalties.
The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) uses Form BSEE-0132, Hurricane
and Tropical Storm Evacuation and Production Curtailment Statistics, to
obtain general information such as company name, contact, date, time,
telephone number; as well as number of platforms and drilling rigs
evacuated and not evacuated, and production shut-in statistics for oil
(BOPD) and gas (MMSCFD. We use the information in Form BSEE-0143,
Facility/Equipment Damage Report, to assess initial damage and then be
aware of changes until the damaged structure or equipment is returned
to service; as well as production rate at time of shut-in (BPD and/or
MMCFPD), cumulative production shut-in (BPD and/or MMCFPD), and
estimated time to return to service (in days). On both forms, we added
a certification statement to convey that false submissions are subject
to criminal penalties. We will address all comments pertaining to this
ICR, including all the forms associated with Subpart A, in our 30-day
Federal Register Notice.
We will protect personally identifiable information about
individuals according to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552(a)) and DOI's
implementing regulations (43 CFR 2). We will protect proprietary
information according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552)
and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 2); 30 CFR 250.197, Data and
information to be made available to the public or for limited
inspection; and 30 CFR 252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.
Most responses are mandatory, while others are required to obtain
or retain benefits, or voluntary.
Frequency: On occasion, daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and
varies by section.
Description of Respondents: Potential respondents include Federal
OCS oil, gas, and sulphur lessees/operators.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 50,859 hours.
In this submission, we are requesting a total of 85,344 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.
Burden Breakdown
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Non-hour cost burdens
Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart A; Reporting or ---------------------------------------------------------
related forms/NTLs recordkeeping Average number of Annual burden
requirement * Hour burden annual responses hours (rounded)
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Authority and Definition of Terms
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104; Form BSEE-1832........... Appeal orders or Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c). 0.
decisions; appeal
INCs.
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Performance Standards
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109(a); 110................... Submit welding, 4 51 plans............. 204.
burning, and hot
tapping plans.
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118; 121; 124................. Apply for injection of 10 6 applications....... 60.
gas; use BSEE-
approved formula to
determine original
gas from injected.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 57 Responses 264 Hours.
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Cost Recovery Fees
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125; 126...................... Cost Recovery Fees, Cost Recovery Fees and related items 0.
confirmation receipt, are covered individually throughout
etc.; verbal this subpart.
approvals pertaining
to fees.
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[[Page 16812]]
Forms
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130-133; Form BSEE-1832....... Submit ``green'' 3 2,764 forms.......... 8,292.
response copy of Form
BSEE-1832, INC(s),
indicating date
violations corrected;
or submit same info
via electronic
reporting.
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145........................... Submit designation of 1 9 submittals......... 9.
agent and local agent
for Regional
Supervisor' and/or
Regional Director's
approval.
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186(a)(3); NTL................ Apply to receive Not considered information collection 0.
administrative under 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(1).
entitlements to eWell
(electronic/digital
form submittals).
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192; Form BSEE-1832........... Daily report of 3 884 reports or forms. 2,652.
evacuation statistics
for natural
occurrence/hurricane
(GOMR Form BSEE-0132
(form takes 1 hour))
when circumstances
warrant; inform BSEE
when you resume
production.
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192(b)........................ Use Form BSEE-0143 to 3 4 forms.............. 12.
submit an initial
damage report to the
Regional Supervisor.
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192(b)........................ Use Form BSEE-0143 to 1 4 forms.............. 4.
submit subsequent
damage reports on a
monthly basis until
damaged structure or
equipment is returned
to service;
immediately when
information changes;
date item returned to
service must be in
final report.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 3,665 Responses 10,969 Hours.
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Inspection of Operations
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130-133....................... Request 7 222 requests......... 1,554.
reconsideration from
issuance of an INC.
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Request waiver of 14- 1 296 waivers.......... 296.
day response time.
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Notify BSEE before 1 2,026 notices........ 2,026.
returning to
operations if shut-in.
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133, NTL...................... Request reimbursement 1.5 2 request............ 3.
within 90 days of
inspection for food,
quarters, and
transportation,
provided to BSEE
representatives.
Submit supporting
verifications of the
meals, such as a meal
log w/inspectors
signature.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 2,546 Responses 3,879 Hours.
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Disqualification
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135 BSEE internal process..... Submit PIP under BSEE 40 4 plans.............. 160
implementing
procedures for
enforcement actions.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 4 Responses 160 Hours.
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Special Types of Approval
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140........................... Request various oral 2 346 requests......... 692.
approvals not
specifically covered
elsewhere in
regulatory
requirements.
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140(c)........................ Submit letter when Burden covered under 30 CFR 250, 0.
stopping approved Subpart K (1014-0019).
flaring with required
information.
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141; 198...................... Request approval to 22 1,430 requests....... 31,460.
use new or
alternative
procedures, along
with supporting
documentation if
applicable, including
BAST not specifically
covered elsewhere in
regulatory
requirements.
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142; 198...................... Request approval of 3.5 405 requests......... 1,418.
departure from
operating
requirements not
specifically covered
elsewhere in
regulatory
requirements, along
with supporting
documentation if
applicable.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 2,181 Responses 33,570 Hours.
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Naming and Identifying Facilities and Wells (Does Not Include MODUs)
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150; 151; 152; 154(a)......... Name and identify 4 597 new/replace-ment 2,388.
facilities, signs.
artificial islands,
MODUs, helo landing
facilities etc., with
signs.
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150; 154(b)................... Name and identify 2 286 new wells........ 572.
wells with signs.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 883 Responses 2,960 Hours.
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[[Page 16813]]
Suspensions
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168; 171; 172; 174; 175; 177; Request suspension of 10 646 requests......... 6,460.
180(b), (d). operation or
production; submit
schedule of work
leading to
commencement;
supporting
information; include
pay.gov confirmation
receipt.
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$2,123 fee x 646 = $1,371,458.
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Submit progress 3 335 reports.......... 1,005.
reports on SOO or SOP
as condition of
approval.
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172(b); 177(a)................ Conduct site-specific 100 1 study/report....... 100.
study; submit
results; request
payment by another
party. No instances
requiring this study
in several years--
could be necessary if
a situation occurred
such as severe damage
to a platform or
structure caused by a
hurricane or a vessel
collision.
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177(b), (c), (d).............. Various references to Burden covered under BOEM's 30 CFR 0.
submitting new, 550, Subpart B (1010-0151).
revised, or modified
exploration plan,
development/
production plan, or
development
operations
coordination document.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 982 Responses 7,565 Hours.
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$1,371,458 Non-Hour Cost Burden.
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Primary Lease Requirements, Lease Term Extensions, and Lease Cancellations
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180(a), (h), (i).............. Notify and submit 1 63 reports or notices 63.
report on various
lease-holding
operations and lease
production activities.
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180(f), (g), (h), (i)......... Submit various 3 384 submissions/ 1,152.
operations and notifications.
production data to
demonstrate
production in paying
quantities to
maintain lease beyond
primary term; notify
BSEE when you begin
conducting operations
beyond its primary
term.
---------------- ------------------
0.5 192.
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180(e), (j)................... Request more than 180 3 3 requests/ 9.
days to resume notifications.
operations; notify
BSEE if operations do
not begin within 180
days.
---------------- ------------------
0.5 1.5.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 450 Responses 1,418 Hours.
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Information and Reporting Requirements
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186; NTL...................... Submit information and 12 202.................. 2,424.
reports, as BSEE
requires.
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187; 188(a-b); 189; 190; 192; Report to the District Oral 1.5 Oral rpt. 505........ 758.
NTL. Manager immediately
via oral
communication and
written follow-up
within 15-calendar
days, incidents
pertaining to:
Fatalities; injuries;
LoWC; fires;
explosions; all
collisions resulting
in property or
equipment damage
>$25K; structural
damage to an OCS
facility; cranes;
incidents that damage
or disable safety
systems or equipment
(including
firefighting
systems); include
hurricane reports
such as platform/rig
evacuation, rig
damage, P/L damage,
and platform damage;
operations personnel
to muster for
evacuation not
related to weather or
drills; any
additional
information required.
If requested, submit
copy marked as public
information.
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Written 4 Written rpt. 671..... 2,684.
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187(d)........................ Report all spills of Burden covered under 30 CFR Part 254 0.
oil or other liquid (1014-0007).
pollutants.
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188(a)(5)..................... Report to District Burden covered under 30 CFR 250, 0.
Manager hydrogen Subpart D (1014-0018).
sulfide (H2S) gas
releases immediately
by oral communication.
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191........................... Submit written Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c). 0.
statement/Request
compensation mileage
and services for
testimony re:
accident
investigation.
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193: Form BSEE-0011........... Report apparent 2 7 reports............ 14.
violations or
noncompliance.
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194(c)........................ Report archaeological 3 7 reports............ 21.
discoveries.
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195........................... Notify District 1 2,040 notifications.. 2,040.
Manager within 5
workdays of putting
well in production
status (usually
oral). Follow-up with
either fax/email
within same 5 day
period (burden
includes oral and
written).
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[[Page 16814]]
196........................... Request reimbursement 1 1 request............ 1.
of reproduction and
processing costs of
G&G data/information
requested by the
Regional Director.
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197(c)........................ Submit confidentiality 1 1.................... 1.
agreement.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 3,434 Responses. 7,943 Hours.
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Recordkeeping
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108(e)........................ Retain records of 4 2,011 record-keepers. 8,044.
design and
construction for life
of crane, including
installation records
for any anti-two
block safety devices;
all inspection,
testing, and
maintenance for at
least 4 years; crane
operator and all
rigger personnel
qualifications for at
least 4 years; all
records must be kept
at the OCS fixed
platform.
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109(b); 113(c)................ Retain welding plan 3 948 operations....... 3,792.
and drawings of safe-
welding areas at
site; designated
person advises in
writing that it is
safe to weld.
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132(b)(3)..................... During inspections, 4 1,195 requests....... 4,780.
make records
available as
requested by
inspectors.
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Subtotal.................. ...................... .............. 4,154 Responses. 16,616 Hours.
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Total Burden.......... ...................... .............. 18,356 85,344 Hours.
Responses............
-----------------------------------------
$1,371,458 Non-Hour Cost Burden.
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* In the future, BSEE will be allowing the option of electronic reporting for certain requirements.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have
identified one non-hour cost burden. Requests for a Suspension of
Operations or a Suspension of Production (Sec. 250.171) requires a
cost recovery fee of $2,123. 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 $1,371,458.
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.
BSEE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Cheryl Blundon,
(703) 787-1607.
Dated: March 20, 2014.
Keith Good,
Senior Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-06720 Filed 3-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P