[Federal Register: March 31, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 14576-14578]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr09-88]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
[Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0041]
MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0048 Geological and
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the OCS, Extension of a Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0048).
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS
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 the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR part 251, Geological and
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.
DATES: Submit written comments by June 1, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulation and form that require
the subject collection of information.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods
listed below.
Electronically: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Under
the tab More Search Options, click Advanced Docket Search, then select
Minerals Management Service from the agency drop-down menu, then click
submit. In the Docket ID column, select MMS-2008-OMM-0041 to submit
public comments and to view supporting and related materials available
for this rulemaking. Information on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through
the site's User Tips link. The MMS will post all comments.
Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the
Interior, Minerals Management Service, Attention: Cheryl Blundon, 381
Elden Street, MS-4024, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference
Information Collection 1010-0048 in your subject line and mark your
message for return receipt. Include your name and return address in
your message text.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR Part 251, Geological and Geophysical (G&G)
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.
Form(s): MMS-327.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
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.
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.
The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1340) also states that ``any person
authorized by the Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical
explorations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not interfere
with or endanger actual operations under any lease maintained or
granted pursuant to this OCS Lands Act, and which are not unduly
harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' The section further requires
that permits to conduct such activities may only be issued if it is
determined that the applicant is qualified; the activities are not
polluting, hazardous, or unsafe; they do not interfere with other users
of the area; and do not disturb a site, structure, or object of
historical or archaeological significance. Applicants for permits are
required to submit form MMS-327 to provide the information necessary to
evaluate their qualifications.
The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1352) further requires that certain
costs be reimbursed to the parties submitting required G&G information
and data. Under the OCS Lands Act, permittees are to be reimbursed for
the costs of reproducing any G&G data required to be submitted.
Permittees are to be reimbursed also for the reasonable cost of
processing geophysical information required to be submitted when
processing is in a form or manner required by the Director of MMS and
is not used in the normal conduct of the business of the permittee.
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 the Office of Management and Budget (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 (DOI)
implementing policy, the Minerals Management Service (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 that accrue to the public at large. The G&G permits are subject
to cost recovery, and MMS regulations specify the filing fee for the
application.
Regulations at 30 CFR part 251 implement these statutory
requirements. We use the information to ensure there is no
environmental degradation, personal harm or unsafe operations and
conditions, damage to historical or archaeological sites, or
interference with other uses; to analyze and evaluate preliminary or
planned drilling activities; to monitor progress and activities in the
OCS; to acquire G&G data and information collected under a Federal
permit offshore; and to determine eligibility for reimbursement from
the government for certain costs. The information is necessary to
determine if the applicants for permits or filers of notices meet the
qualifications specified by the OCS Lands Act. The MMS uses information
collected to understand the G&G characteristics of oil- and gas-bearing
physiographic regions of the OCS. It aids the Secretary in obtaining a
proper balance among the potentials for environmental damage, the
discovery of oil and gas, and adverse impacts on affected coastal
states. Information from permittees is necessary to determine the
propriety and amount of reimbursement.
We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary
according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), the Federal Oil and Gas
Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1733), and under regulations
at 30 CFR parts 250, 251, and 252.
No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are
mandatory.
Frequency: On occasion, annual; and as specified in permits.
[[Page 14577]]
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulphur permittees or notice filers.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 1,586 hours.
The following chart details the individual components and respective
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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Hour burden non-hour cost
Citation 30 CFR part 251 Reporting and recordkeeping requirement burden
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251.4(a), (b); 251.5(a), (b), (d); Apply for permits (form MMS-327) to conduct G&G 6
251.6; 251.7. exploration, including deep stratigraphic $2,012 application fee.
tests/revisions when necessary.
251.4(b); 251.5(c), (d); 251.6..... File notices to conduct scientific research 6
activities, including notice to MMS prior to
beginning and after concluding activities.
251.6(b) 251.7(b)(5)............... Notify MMS if specific actions should occur; 1
report archaeological resources (no instances
reported since 1982).
251.7.............................. Submit information on test drilling activities 0
under a permit, including Forms MMS-123 and
MMS-123S (burden included under 30 CFR part
250, subpart D, 1010-0141).
251.7(c)........................... Enter into agreement for group participation in 1
test drilling, including publishing summary
statement; provide MMS copy of notice/list of
participants. (No agreements submitted since
1989.).
251.7(d)........................... Submit bond(s) on deep stratigraphic test 0
(burden included under 30 CFR part 256, 1010-
0006).
251.8(a)........................... Request reimbursement for certain costs 1
associated with MMS inspections (no requests
in many years. OCS Lands Act requires
Government reimbursement).
251.8(b), (c)...................... Submit modifications to, and status/final 2
reports on, activities conducted under a
permit.
251.9(c)........................... Notify MMS to relinquish a permit.............. \1/2\
251.10(c).......................... File appeals (exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), 0
(c)).
251.11; 251.12..................... Notify MMS and submit G&G data/information 4
collected under a permit and/or processed by
permittees or 3\rd\ parties, including
reports, logs or charts, results, analyses,
descriptions, etc.
251.13............................. Request reimbursement for certain costs 2
associated with reproducing data/information.
251.14(a).......................... Submit comments on MMS intent to disclose data/ 1
information to the public.
251.14(c)(2)....................... Submit comments on MMS intent to disclose data/ 1
information to an independent contractor/agent.
251.14(c)(4)....................... Contractor/agent submits written commitment not 1
to sell, trade, license, or disclose data/
information without MMS consent.
251.1-251.14....................... General departure and alternative compliance 2
requests not specifically covered elsewhere in
part 251 regulations.
Form MMS-327....................... Request extension of permit time period........ 1
Form MMS-327....................... Retain G&G data/information for 10 years and 1
make available to MMS upon request.
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Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have
identified one non-hour cost burden for this collection. In Sec.
251.5, MMS charges a $2,012 G&G application fee. We have identified no
other non-hour cost burdens.
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
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.
Agencies must also estimate the non-hour cost burdens to
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of
information. Therefore, if you have 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. You should describe the methods you
use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology
acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount
rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup
costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase
to prepare for collecting information, monitoring, and record storage
facilities. You should not include estimates for equipment or services
purchased: (i) Before October 1, 1995; (ii) to comply with requirements
not associated with the information collection; (iii) for reasons other
than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (iv)
as part of customary and usual business or private practices.
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, e-mail 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
[[Page 14578]]
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202)
208-7744.
Dated: March 24, 2009.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-7170 Filed 3-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P