[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69019-69021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28860]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection (OMB Control Number 1010-0050).
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we
are 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 30 CFR part 250, subpart J,
Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way and related documents. This notice
also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the
paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements and related form.
DATES: Submit written comments by December 16, 2002.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments directly to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for
the Department of the Interior (1010-0050), 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503. Mail or hand-carry a copy of your comments to the
Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention:
Rules Processing Team; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon,
Virginia 20170-4817. If you wish to E-mail your comments to MMS, the
address is: [email protected]. Reference Information Collection
1010-0050 in your subject line. Include your name and return address,
and mark your message for return receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Rules Processing Team,
telephone (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Alexis London to obtain
a copy at no cost of the regulations and form MMS-2030 that require the
subject collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR part 250, Subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-
of-Way.
Form Number: MMS-2030, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Right-of-Way
Grant Bond.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0050, incorporating 1010-0134.
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 (Secretary) to prescribe rules and
regulations to administer leasing of the OCS. Such rules and
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease.
Section 1334(e) authorizes the Secretary to grant rights-of-way through
the submerged lands of the OCS for pipelines ``for the transportation
of oil, natural gas, sulphur, or other minerals, or under such
regulations and upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the
Secretary, * * * including (as provided in section 1347(b) of this
title) assuring maximum environmental protection by utilization of the
best available and safest technologies, including the safest practices
for pipeline burial. * * *''
The Independent Offices Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701)
authorizes Federal agencies to recover the full cost of services that
provide special benefits. Under the Department of the Interior's (DOI)
policy implementing the IOAA, MMS is required to charge the full cost
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. Pipeline rights-of-way and assignments are
subject to cost recovery and MMS regulations specify filing fees for
applications.
This notice concerns the reporting and recordkeeping elements of 30
CFR part 250, subpart J and related forms and NTLs. OMB approved the
information collection requirements in current subpart J regulations
under control numbers 1010-0050 and 1010-0134. The first is the primary
collection for subpart J. The latter was approved in connection with a
final rule amending Sec. 250.1000(c) to clarify regulatory issues
involving the 1996 Memorandum of Understanding between DOI and the
Department of Transportation (DOT). Our submission will consolidate
these two subpart J collections under 1010-0050. Responses are
mandatory or are required to obtain or retain a benefit. No questions
of a ``sensitive'' nature are asked. MMS will protect proprietary
information according to 30 CFR 250.196 (Data and information to be
made available to the public), 30 CFR part 252 (OCS Oil and Gas
Information Program), and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552)
and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2).
The lessees and transmission companies design the pipelines that
they install, maintain, and operate. To ensure those activities are
performed in a safe manner, MMS needs information concerning the
proposed pipeline and safety equipment, inspections and tests,
[[Page 69020]]
and natural and manmade hazards near the proposed pipeline route. MMS
field offices use the information collected under subpart J to review
pipeline designs prior to approving an application for a right-of-way
or a pipeline permitted under a lease to ensure that the pipeline, as
constructed, will provide for safe transportation of minerals through
the submerged lands of the OCS. They review proposed routes of a right-
of-way to ensure that the right-of-way, if granted, would not conflict
with any State requirements or unduly interfere with other OCS
activities. MMS field offices review plans for taking pipeline safety
equipment out of service to ensure alternate measures are used that
will properly provide for the safety of the pipeline and associated
facilities (platform, etc.). They review notification of relinquishment
of a right-of-way grant and requests to abandon pipelines to ensure
that all legal obligations are met and pipelines are properly
abandoned. MMS inspectors monitor the records on pipeline inspections
and tests to ensure safety of operations and protection of the
environment and to schedule their workload to permit witnessing and
inspecting operations. Information is also necessary to determine the
point at which DOI or DOT has regulatory responsibility for a pipeline
and to be informed of the responsible operator if not the same as the
right-of-way holder.
Frequency: The frequency of reporting is on occasion or annual.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulphur lessees and 115 pipeline right-of way
holders.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The
estimated annual hour burden for the consolidated 30 CFR part 250,
subpart J, information collection is a total of 106,086 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 burdens.
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Annual
Citation 30 CFR part 250, subpart Reporting and recordkeeping Hour Average annual burden
J requirement burden responses hours
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1000(b), 1007(a)................. Submit application to install new 140 256 new lease-term 35,840
lease-term pipeline (P/L), P/Ls.
including exceptions/departures,
consents and notices, required
reports, and attachments.
1000(b), (d); 1007(a); Apply for P/L right-of-way (ROW) 140 152 new ROW P/Ls... 21,280
1009(a)(1), (b)(1); 1010; 1011. grant and installation of new ROW
P/L, including exceptions/
departures, consents and notices,
required reports, and attachments.
1000(b); 1007(b); 1010; Submit application to modify lease- 40 615 modifications.. 24,600
1012(b)(2), (c). term or ROW P/L or ROW grant,
including exceptions/departures;
notify operators of deviation.
1000(b); 1009(c)(9); 1014........ Apply to relinquish P/L ROW grant, 8 97 P/L ROW 776
including exceptions/departures.. relinquishments.
1000(c)(2)....................... Identify in writing P/L operator on \1/4\ 4 submissions...... 1
ROW if different from ROW grant
holder.
1000(c)(3)....................... Mark specific point on P/L where 0
operating responsibility transfers
to transporting operator or depict
transfer point on a schematic
located on the facility. One-time
requirement after final rule
published; now part of application
or construction process involving
no additional burdens.
1000(c)(4)....................... Petition to MMS for exceptions to 5 1 petition (none 5
general operations transfer point received to date.).
description.
1000(c)(8)....................... Request MMS recognize valves 1 1 request.......... 1
landward of last production
facility but still located on OCS
as point where MMS regulatory
authority begins.
1000(c)(12)...................... Petition to MMS to continue to 40 1 petition (none 40
operate under DOT regs upstream of received to date.).
last valve on last production
facility.
1000(c)(13)...................... Transporting P/L operator petition 40 1 petition (none 40
to DOT and MMS to continue to received to date.).
operate under MMS regs.
1004(c).......................... Place sign on safety equipment See footnote 1 0
identified as ineffective and
removed from service.
1008(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h). Notify MMS; and as requested submit 16 620 notices/ 9,920
procedures before performing work; reports.
and submit post-report on P/L or P/
L safety equipment repair, removal
from service, analysis results, or
potential measurements.
1008(b).......................... Submit P/L construction report..... 16 290 reports........ 4,640
1008(g).......................... Submit plan of corrective action 16 6 plans/reports.... 96
and report of remedial action.
1009(b).......................... Submit surety bond on form MMS-2030 \1/4\ 152 forms.......... 38
1009(c)(4)....................... Notify MMS of any archaeological 4 2 discovery notices 8
resource discovery.
1009(c)(5)....................... Inform MMS of P/L ROW holder's name Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.3(h) 0
and address changes.
1010(a).......................... Apply to convert lease-term P/L to 20 8 conversions...... 160
ROW grant P/L; notify operators of
deviation, including various
exceptions/departures.
1011(d).......................... Request opportunity to eliminate 1 1 request.......... 1
conflict when application has been
rejected.
1013............................. Apply for assignment of a ROW grant 16 175 assignments.... 2,800
1000-1014........................ General departure and alternative 2 175 requests....... 350
compliance requests not
specifically covered elsewhere in
subpart J regulations.
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Subtotal--Reporting........ ................................... ........ 2,557.............. 100,596
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[[Page 69021]]
1000-1008........................ Make available to MMS design, 2 130 lease-term P/L 260
construction, operation, operators.
maintenance, testing, and repair
records on lease-term P/Ls \2\.
1005(a).......................... Inspect P/L routes for indication (\3\) 170 lease-term or 4,080
of leakage \1\, record results, ROW P/L operators.
maintain records 2 years \2\.
1009(c)(8)....................... Make available to MMS design, 10 115 P/L ROW holders 1,150
construction, operation,
maintenance, testing, and repair
records on P/L ROW area and
improvements \2\.
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Subtotal--Recordkeeping.... ................................... ........ 415................ 5,490
==========
Total Hour Burden.......... ................................... ........ 2,972.............. 106,086
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\1\ These activities are usual and customary practices for prudent operators.
\2\ Retaining these records is usual and customary business practice; required burden is minimal to make
available to MMS.
\3\ 2 per month=24.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: The
estimated annual non-hour cost burden for the consolidated 30 CFR part
250, subpart J, information collection is a total of $370,100. Section
250.1010(a) specifies that an applicant must pay a non-refundable
filing fee when applying for a pipeline right-of-way grant to install a
new pipeline ($2,350) or to convert an existing lease-term pipeline
into a right-of-way pipeline ($300). Under Sec. 250.1013(b) an
applicant must pay a non-refundable filing fee ($60) when applying for
approval of an assignment of a right-of-way grant.
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
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 to be collected; and (d)
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
To comply with the public consultation process, on April 1, 2002,
we published a Federal Register notice (67 FR 15409) 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 numbers for the information collection requirements imposed
by the 30 CFR part 250 regulations and forms. That 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 have received no comments in response to these efforts.
The required PRA public disclosure and comment statements will be
displayed on forms MMS-2030.
If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send
your comments to the offices listed under 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, to ensure maximum
consideration, OMB should receive public comments by December 16, 2002.
Public Comment Policy: Our practice is to make comments, including
names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review
during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that
we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to
the extent allowable by law. There may be circumstances in which we
would withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by
the law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must
state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we
will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach,
(202) 208-7744.
Dated: September 24, 2002.
Gregory J. Gould,
Acting Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 02-28860 Filed 11-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P