[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 40542-40543] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-19955] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of extension and revision of a currently approved collection. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Act) the collection of information discussed below. The Act requires that OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Act also provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: Submit written comments by August 28, 1997. ADDRESSES: Submit comments and suggestions directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1010-0030), 725 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20503. Send a copy of your comments to the Rules Processing Team, Mail Stop 4020, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Rules Processing Team, Engineering and Operations Division, Minerals Management Service, telephone (703) 787-1600. You may obtain copies of the supporting statement and collection of information by contacting the MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 208-7744. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart A, General. OMB Number: 1010-0030. Abstract: Respondents provide information and maintain records on designations of operator; performance capabilities and standards; lease cancellations; suspensions of production or other operations; determinations of well producibility; reinjection and subsurface storage of gas; reimbursements of geological and geophysical data and information reproduction costs; accident reports; access to facilities; and crane inspection, testing, maintenance and operator qualifications. The MMS uses the information to ensure that operations in the OCS are carried out in a manner that is safe, pollution free, and does not interfere with the rights of other users in the OCS. Responses to this collection of information are mandatory. The MMS will protect proprietary information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and 30 CFR 250.18, Data and information to be made available to the public. Description of Respondents: Federal OCS oil and gas and sulphur lessees. Estimated Number of Respondents: 130. Frequency: The reporting and recordkeeping requirements and number of responses vary for each section and are mostly on occasion or annual (see chart below). Burden Breakdown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart A Reporting requirement Annual frequency Average number per year Burden per reqmnt. Annual burden hours -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3(a)........................... Request approval for On occasion........... 7 requests................ 9 hours........... 63 use of new or alternative techniques, procedures, or activities. 3(b)........................... Request approval of departure from operating requirements. (2)Burden is included with 0...................... applicable operating requirement 4(b)........................... Submit requests, applications, and notices under various regulations. (2)Burden is included with 0...................... applicable requirement 7(a),(b),(f)................... Apply for right of use On occasion........... 20 applications........... 5 hours........... 100 and easement to construct and maintain off lease platforms, artificial islands, & installations & other devices. 7(c)........................... Request approval for platforms, artificial islands, etc. (2)Burden included with 1010- 0...................... 0058 for Subpart I 8.............................. Submit designation of operator & report change of address or notice of termination. (2)Exempt as defined in 5 CFR 0...................... 1320.3(h)(1) 9.............................. Submit designation of local agent. (2)Burden included in 1010-0006 0...................... for 30 CFR Part 256 10(a),(b),(i); 13(b)(2)........ Request suspension of On occasion........... 238 requests.............. 10 hours.......... 2,380 production or operations & submit schedule of work leading to commencement. 10(g),(h)(2); 12(c)(1)(i); 26.. Submit exploration & development & production plan or modification. (2)Burden included in 1010-0049 0...................... for 30 CFR 250, Subpart B 10(h)(1)....................... Conduct site-specific study & submit results. (2)There have been no instances 0...................... requiring this study in several years. It could be necessary if a situation occurred such as severe damage to a platform or structure caused by a hurricane or a vessel collision 11............................. Request determination On occasion........... 140 requests.............. 3 hours........... 420 of well producibility. 12(a)(1)(iv), (b),(c)(1)(ii)... Request termination of suspension & cancellation of lease. (2)Suspension automatically 0...................... terminates when sus pended activity resumes. MMS has received no requests in recent years for termination and cancellation of a lease. Burden would be minimal [[Page 40543]] 12(f).......................... Request compensation for lease cancellation. (2)The OCSLA specifies this 0...................... compensation. There have been no qualified lease cancellations in many years. Burden would be minimal 13(d).......................... Request extension of On occasion........... 3 requests................ 3 hours........... 9 time period between operations. 14(a)(2),(b), (c),(e),(f)...... Apply for reinjection On occasion........... 10 applications........... 7.6 hours......... 76 or subsurface storage of gas. 15(a).......................... Identify with sign On occasion........... 150 new or replacement 2 hours........... 300 platforms, structures, signs. etc., which have helicopter landing facilities. 15(b).......................... Identify wells with On occasion........... 904 new wells............. 1 hour............ 904 paint or signs. 16(a),(b),(c).................. Request reimbursement for submitted G&G data & information. (2)The OCSLA specifies this 0...................... reimbursement. MMS has received no reimbursement requests for post-lease G&G data & information in many years. Pre-lease reimbursement is covered in 30 CFR Part 251 (1010-0048). Burden would be minimal 19(a),(b)...................... Report accidents....... On occasion........... 142 reports............... 7 hours........... 994 19(a).......................... Report spills of oil or other pollutants. (2)Burden included in 1010-0091 0...................... for 30 CFR Part 254 21(c).......................... Request reimbursement for food, quarters, & transportation provided to MMS representatives. (2)The OCSLA specifies this 0...................... reimbursement. MMS has received no reimbursement requests in many years. Burden would be minimal 22(b).......................... Submit information on On occasion........... 6 submissions............. 4.7 hours......... 28 (rounded) the use of BAST, alternatives considered, & rationale. 23............................. Submit report when last On occasion........... 500 submissions........... .5 hour........... 250 well on lease ceases production. 24............................. File appeal on orders or decisions. (2)Exempt as defined in 5 CFR 0...................... 1320.3(h)(9) ----------------------- Total Reporting............ ....................... 2,120 responses....... .......................... 5,524............. 20(c).......................... Retain records of crane Annual................ 484 recordkeepers......... 6 hours........... 2,904 inspection, testing, maintenance, and crane operator qualifications for 2 years. ----------------------- Total Recordkeeping........ ....................... ...................... .......................... .................. 2,904 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: Reporting and recordkeeping burden of 8,428 hours; no reporting and recordkeeping cost burden for this collection of information. Comments: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Section 3506(c)(2)(A), each agency must provide notice and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies concerning this collection of information. Comments are specifically solicited in order to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the burden estimates for the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Submit your comments to the offices listed in the addresses section of this notice. OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection, but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, in order to assure maximum consideration, OMB should receive your comments within 30 days of publication of this notice. Bureau Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach (202) 208-7744. Dated: July 3, 1997. E. P. Danenberger, Chief, Engineering and Operations Division. [FR Doc. 97-19955 Filed 7-28-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P