[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9312-9313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3986]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
30 CFR Part 250
RIN 1010-AB96
Flaring or Venting Gas and Burning Liquid Hydrocarbons
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would amend regulations governing the
restrictions on flaring or venting gas to include restrictions on
burning liquid hydrocarbons. The MMS is proposing to amend these
regulations because of the increased interest in burning liquid
hydrocarbons and to clarify the restrictions on burning this natural
resource. The amendment would conserve liquid hydrocarbons and protect
the environment from the possible effects of burning liquid
hydrocarbons.
DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be postmarked or received on
or before April 18, 1995 to be considered for this rulemaking.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Mail Stop 4700; 381 Elden
Street; Herndon, Virginia 22070-4817; Attention: Chief, Engineering and
Standards Branch.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharon Buffington, Engineering and Standards Branch, telephone (703)
787-1600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests for burning liquid hydrocarbons
(crude oil and condensate) have become more frequent in the Outer
Continental Shelf. In the interest of conserving natural resources, and
because of the environmental concerns associated with this burning, MMS
proposes to amend the regulations at 30 CFR 250.175, which currently
include restrictions on flaring and venting of gas, to include
restrictions on burning liquid hydrocarbons.
Under proposed new paragraph (c) of 30 CFR 250.175, lessees will
not be permitted to burn liquid hydrocarbons without the prior approval
of the Regional Supervisor. To obtain approval, the lessee must
demonstrate that the amounts to be burned would be minimal or that the
alternatives, such as transporting the liquids or storing and re-
injecting the liquids, are infeasible or pose a significant risk to
offshore personnel or the environment. The term ``lessee'' also
includes their agents and designees.
Authors
Sharon Buffington and Jo Ann Lauterbach, Engineering and Technology
Division, MMS, prepared this document.
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866
The Department of the Interior (DOI) reviewed this proposed rule
under E.O 12866 and determined that it is not a significant rule.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The DOI determined that this proposed rule will not have a
significant effect on a substantial number of small entities. In
general, the entities that engage in offshore activities are not
considered small due to the technical and financial resources and
experience necessary to safety conduct such activities.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The proposed information collection requirements contained in
Sec. 250.175 were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for approval as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
The DOI will not require the collection on this information until
OMB has approved its collection.
The MMS estimates the public reporting burden for this information
to average 1.5 hours per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or
any other aspects of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Information Collection
Clearance Officer; Minerals Management Service; Mail Stop 2053, 381
Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 22070-4817, and the Office of
Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (1010-0041),
Washington, DC 20503.
Takings Implication Assessment
The DOI determined that this proposed rule does not represent a
governmental action capable of interference with constitutionally
protected property rights. Thus, a Takings Implication Assessment does
not need to be prepared pursuant to E.O. 12630, Government Action and
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.
E.O. 12778
The DOI certified to OMB that this proposed rule meets the
applicable civil justice reform standards provided in Sections 2(a) and
2(b)(2) of E.O. 12778.
National Environmental Policy Act
The DOI determined that this action does not constitute a major
Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human
environment; therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement is not
required.
List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 250
Continental shelf, Environmental impact statements, Environmental
protection, Government contracts, Incorporation by reference,
Investigations, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas development and
production, Oil and gas exploration, Oil and gas reserves, Penalties,
Pipelines, Pubic lands--mineral resources, Public lands--rights-of-way,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulphur development and
production, Sulphur exploration, Surety bonds.
Dated: December 23, 1994.
Bob Armstrong,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
For the reasons set forth above, MMS proposes to amend 30 CFR part
250 to read as follows:
PART 250--OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF
1. The authority citation for part 250 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1334.
2. Section 250.175 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 250.175 Flaring or venting gas and burning liquid hydrocarbons.
(a) Lessees must not flare or vent oil-well gas or gas-well gas
without the prior approval of the Regional Supervisor except in the
following situations:
(1) When gas vapors are flared or vented in small volumes from
storage vessels or other low-pressure production vessels and cannot be
economically recovered.
(2) During temporary situations such as a compressor or other
equipment [[Page 9313]] failure or the relief of system pressures. The
following conditions apply:
(i) Lessees must not flare or vent oil-well gas for more than 48
continuous hours without the approval of the Regional Supervisor. The
Regional Supervisor may specify a limit of less than 48 hours when
necessary to prevent air quality degradation. Flaring or venting gas
from a facility must not continue for more than 144 cumulative hours
during any calendar month without the approval of the Regional
Supervisor.
(ii) Lessees must not flare or vent gas-well gas beyond the time
required to eliminate a temporary emergency without the approval of the
Regional Supervisor.
(3) During the unloading or cleaning of a well, drill-stem testing,
production-testing, or other well-evaluation testing for periods not to
exceed 48 cumulative hours per testing operation on a single
completion. The Regional Supervisor may specify a shorter period of
time, under prior notice, to prevent air quality degradation.
(b) Lessees may flare or vent oil-well gas for a period not to
exceed 1 year when the Regional Supervisor approves the request for one
of the following reasons:
(1) The lessee initiated an action which, when completed, will
eliminate flaring and venting; or
(2) The lessee submitted an evaluation supported by engineering,
geologic, and economic data indicating that the oil and gas produced
from the well(s) will not economically support the facilities necessary
to save and/or sell the gas, or that sufficient quantities of gas are
not available for marketing.
(c) Lessees must not burn produced liquid hydrocarbons without the
prior approval of the Regional Supervisor. To burn produced liquid
hydrocarbons, the lessee must demonstrate that the amounts to be burned
would be minimal, or that the alternatives are infeasible or pose a
significant risk to offshore personnel or the environment. Alternatives
to burning liquid hydrocarbons include transporting the liquids or
storing and re-injecting them into a producible zone.
(d) Lessees must prepare records detailing gas flaring or venting,
and liquid hydrocarbon burning, for each facility. The records must
include, at a minimum:
(1) Daily volumes of gas flared or vented, and liquid hydrocarbons
burned.
(2) Number of hours of flaring, venting, or burning on a daily
basis.
(3) Reasons for flaring, venting, or burning.
(4) A list of the wells contributing to flaring, venting, or
burning, along with the gas-oil ratio data.
(e) Lessees must keep these records for at least two (2) years.
Lessees must make the records available for inspection by Minerals
Management Service (MMS) representatives at the lessees' field office
that is nearest the Outer Continental Shelf facility, or at other
locations conveniently available to the Regional Supervisor. Upon
request by the Regional Supervisor, lessees must provide a copy of the
records to MMS.
[FR Doc. 95-3986 Filed 2-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M