[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 134 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36565-36566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17615]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reinstatement of a previously approved collection.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, MMS invites the public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on a request to reinstate a previously approved collection of 
information contained in regulations governing Pollution Prevention and 
Control in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The MMS will request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate 
this collection of information. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) 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 September 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Department of the 
Interior, Minerals Management Service, Mail Stop 4700, 381 Elden 
Street, Herndon, VA 20170-4817; Attention: Chief, Engineering and 
Standards Branch.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alexis London, Engineering and Standards Branch, Minerals Management 
Service, telephone (703) 787-1600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and 
Control.
    Abstract: 1. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), at 43 
U.S.C. 1331 et seq., requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) 
to preserve, protect, and develop oil and gas resources in the OCS; 
make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as 
rapidly as possible; balance orderly energy resource development with 
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environment; ensure the 
public a fair and equitable return on the resources offshore; and 
preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. The OCSLA Amendments 
of 1978 also require the Secretary to minimize or eliminate conflicts 
of oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production, with 
the recovery of other resources such as fish and shellfish. To carry 
out these responsibilities, MMS has issued regulations as described in 
30 CFR Part 250, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control.
    2. The MMS OCS Regions use the information collected to ensure OCS 
operations are conducted to minimize the threat of serious, 
irreparable, or immediate damage to the marine environment; to identify 
potential hazards to commercial fishing; to ensure that the location of 
items lost overboard are recorded to aid in recovery during site 
clearance activities on the lease; to ensure that operations are being 
conducted safely and workman-like and do not threaten the environment; 
to ensure that crew members are fully trained and able to quickly 
respond to an oil spill; to ensure that pollution response equipment is 
maintained in good operating condition; to ensure timely reporting of 
oil spills; to ensure air emissions will not significantly affect 
onshore air quality; and to assess the ability of a lessee to prevent 
or contain any spills.
    3. The MMS recently conducted a pilot project with respect to the 
collection of information required in 30 CFR 250.41(c) on reporting of 
oil spills. Our objective was to assess the impact of eliminating the 
requirement for lessees and operators to report to MMS oil spills of 
less than one barrel. The Federal Water Pollution and Control Act 
requires lessees and operators to immediately notify the National 
Response Center of spills of oil into any body of water, including 
navigable waters offshore out to approximately 200 miles. The survey 
results showed that MMS can obtain information on oil spills of one 
barrel or less from the National Response Center within necessary 
timeframes. To expedite this reporting burden reduction and eliminate a 
duplicate requirement, MMS issued a ``Notice to Lessees (NTL) and 
Operators of Federal Oil and Gas Leases in the Outer Continental 
Shelf,'' effective May 31, 1996. The regulations will be amended to 
reflect this change. This reduces the number of oil spills lessees must 
report to MMS by over 95 percent, and the savings have been accounted 
for in the estimate of burden hours for this collection of information.
    4. The information required by 30 CFR 250.45(b)(2) and 250.46(a)(6) 
is covered in 30 CFR 250.33 and 250.34, Subpart B (OMB Control Number 
1010-0049). Consequently, we have not included any hours for this 
section.
    5. Lessees' proprietary information will be protected according to 
the Freedom of Information Act and 30 CFR 250.18. The collection does 
not include items of a sensitive nature. The requirement to respond is 
mandatory. The reporting and recordkeeping requirements vary for each 
section. The estimates below are based on an average obtained from 
consultations with lessees in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Regions.
    Description of Respondents: Federal OCS oil and gas lessees.
    Frequency: On occasion; varies by section.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 130.
    Estimate of Burden: Reporting average of 42.9 hours per response; 
recordkeeping average of 162.9 hours per recordkeeper.

[[Page 36566]]

    Estimate of Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Reporting burden 
estimate = 55,705 hours; recordkeeping burden estimate = 21,180 hours. 
Estimated combined total of 76,813 hours.
    Estimate of Total Annual Cost to Respondents for Burden Hours: 
Based on $35 per hour, the total cost to lessees is estimated to be 
$2,688,455.
    Estimate of Total Other Annual Costs to Respondents: Unknown.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0057.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Comments: The MMS will summarize written responses to this notice 
and address them in the request for OMB approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.
    1. The MMS specifically solicits comments on the following 
questions:
    (a) Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the 
proper performance of MMS' functions, and will it be useful?
    (b) Are the estimates reasonable for the burden of the proposed 
collection?
    (c) Do you have any suggestions that would enhance the quality, 
clarity, or usefulness of the information to be collected?
    (d) Is there a way to minimize the information collection burden on 
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology?
    2. In addition, the PRA requires agencies to estimate the total 
annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the 
collection of information. The MMS needs your comments on this item. 
Your response should split the cost estimate into two components:
    (a) Total capital and startup cost component.
    (b) Annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of services 
component.
    Your estimates should consider costs associated with generating, 
maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. You should 
include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors, 
including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of 
capital equipment, discount rate(s), and period over which costs will 
be incurred. Capital and startup costs include, among other items, 
preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers 
and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling, and testing equipment; 
and record storage facilities. Generally, your estimates should not 
include equipment or services purchases: (1) October 1, 1995; (2) to 
achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the 
information collection; (3) for reasons other than to provide 
information or keep records for the Government; or (4) as part of 
customary and usual business or private practices.
    Bureau Clearance Officer: Carole A. deWitt (703) 787-1242.

    Dated: July 3, 1996.
Henry G. Bartholomew,
Deputy Associate Director for Operations and Safety Management.
[FR Doc. 96-17615 Filed 7-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M