[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 38734-38736] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2015-16599] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement [Docket ID BSEE-2015-0004; OMB Control Number 1014-0008; 15XE1700DX EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000] Information Collection Activities; Well Control and Production Safety Training; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request ACTION: 30-Day notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under subpart O, Well Control and Production Safety Training. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the revised paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements. DATES: You must submit comments by August 6, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or email ([email protected]) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1014-0008). Please provide a copy of your comments to BSEE by any of the means below.Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter BSEE-2015-0004 then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. We will post all comments. Email [email protected], fax (703) 787-1546, or mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: Cheryl Blundon; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference ICR 1014-0008 in your comment and include your name and return address. [[Page 38735]] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607, to request additional information about this ICR. To see a copy of the entire ICR submitted to OMB, go to http://www.reginfo.gov (select Information Collection Review, Currently Under Review). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart O, Well control and Production Safety Training. OMB Control Number: 1014-0008. 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 necessary for the administration of the leasing provisions of the Act related to mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, pipeline 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. Section 1332(6) of the OCS Lands Act requires that ``operations in the [O]uter 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.'' It should be noted, that due to the regulatory requirements in 30 CFR 250, subpart S (SEMS), the 30 CFR 250, subpart O, audits ceased. The training audits fall under the requirements defined in Sec. 250.1915. However, BSEE keeps subpart O documents and regulations active, because the subpart O regulatory requirements give BSEE the authority and ability to test employees on the effectiveness of their own training program with respect to well control and production safety. This authority and responsibility are among those delegated to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). The regulations at 30 CFR 250, subpart O, Well Control and Production Safety Training, concern training requirements for certain personnel working on the OCS and is 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. BSEE will use the information collected under subpart O regulations to ensure that workers in the OCS are properly trained with the necessary skills to perform their jobs in a safe and pollution-free manner. In some instances, we may conduct oral interviews of offshore employees to evaluate the effectiveness of a company's training program. The oral interviews are used to gauge how effectively the companies are implementing their own training program. Responses are mandatory or are required to obtain or retain a benefit. No questions of a sensitive or private nature are asked. If however, we did collect any such information, BSEE protects information considered proprietary under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and DOIs implementing regulations (43 CFR 2), and under regulations at 30 CFR part 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection, 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program. The information collected under subpart O is used to ensure that workers in the OCS are properly trained with the necessary skills to perform their jobs in a safe and pollution-free manner. In some instances, we may conduct oral interviews of offshore employees to evaluate the effectiveness of a company's training program. The oral interviews are used to gauge how effectively the companies are implementing their own training program. Frequency: On occasion and as required by regulations. Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise OCS Federal oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators. Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 202 hours. The following chart details the individual components and estimated hour burdens. 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 Table ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting & Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart recordkeeping Hour burden Average number of annual Annual burden O requirement responses hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1503(a), (c)................ Develop training 120............. 1......................... 120 plans. Note: Existing lessees/ respondents already have training plans developed. This number reflects development of plans for any new lessees. [[Page 38736]] 1503(d)(1).................. Upon request, 16.............. 1......................... 16 provide BSEE with copies of training documentation for personnel involved in well control, deepwater well control, or production safety operations within the past 5 years. 1503(d)(2).................. Upon request, 16.............. 1......................... 16 provide BSEE with a copy of your training plan. 1507(b)..................... Employee oral 2............... 1......................... 2 interview conducted by BSEE.. ---------------------------------------------- 1507(c), (d); 1508; 1509.... Written testing Not considered information collection under 0 conducted by BSEE 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(7). or authorized representative. ---------------------------------------------- 1510(b)..................... Revise training plan 40.............. 1......................... 40 and submit to BSEE.. 250.1500-1510............... General departure or 8............... 1......................... 8 alternative compliance requests not specifically covered elsewhere in subpart O. ------------------------------------------------------------- Total Hour Burden....... .................... ................ 6......................... 202 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have not identified any non-hour cost burdens associated with this collection of information. 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: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.,) 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. To comply with the public consultation process, on April 10, 2015, we published a Federal Register notice (80 FR 19352) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec. 250.199 provides the OMB Control Number for the information collection requirements imposed by the 30 CFR 250, subpart O regulations and forms. The regulation also informs the public that they may comment at any time on the collections of information and provides the address to which they should send comments. We received one comment in response to the Federal Register notice or unsolicited comments from respondents covered under these regulations. The comment was from a private citizen and it was not germane to the paperwork burden of this ICR. Public Availability of Comments: 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: June 16, 2015. Keith Good, Acting Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs. [FR Doc. 2015-16599 Filed 7-6-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P