[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19351-19352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10227]


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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 extension of a currently approved information 
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 proposal to extend the currently approved collection of 
information discussed below. 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES: Submit written comments by June 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Rules Processing Team, 
Minerals Management Service, Mail Stop 4700, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alexis London, Rules Processing Team, telephone (703) 787-1600. You may 
also contact Alexis London to obtain a copy of this collection of 
information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart A, General.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0030.
    Abstract: 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. To carry out these 
responsibilities, MMS has issued regulations as described in 30 CFR 
Part 250. Subpart A, General, of that part contains general 
requirements and procedures for oil and gas or sulfur operations in the 
OCS.
    The MMS uses the information collected under subpart A to ensure 
that operations in the OCS are carried out in a manner that is safe and 
pollution free.
    If respondents submit proprietary information, it will be protected 
under 30 CFR 250.18, Data and information to be made available to the 
public. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. The requirement 
to respond is mandatory.
    Description of Respondents: Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur 
lessees.
    Frequency: On occasion, varies by section.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 130.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 13,343 burden hours. Based on $35 per 
hour, the cost to respondents is $467,005.
    Estimated Other Annual Costs to Respondents: MMS has identified no 
other cost burdens on respondents for providing this information.
    Comments: The MMS will summarize written responses to this notice 
and address them in its submission for OMB approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record. We will also consult with a 
representative sample of respondents. The estimates shown above are 
those currently approved by OMB for this collection of information. As 
a result of the consultations and comments we receive, we will make any 
necessary adjustments for our submission to OMB. In calculating the 
burden, MMS may have assumed that respondents perform many of the 
requirements and maintain records in the normal course of their 
activities. MMS considers these to be usual and customary. Commenters 
are invited to provide information if they disagree with this 
assumption and they should tell us what the burden hours and costs 
imposed by this collection of information are.
    (1) The MMS specifically solicits comments on the following 
questions:
    (a) Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the 
proper performance of MMS's functions, and will it be useful?
    (b) Are the estimates of the burden hours of the proposed 
collection reasonable?
    (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 through the 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:

[[Page 19352]]

    (a) Total capital and startup cost component and
    (b) Annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of services 
component.
    Your estimates should consider the costs to generate, maintain, and 
disclose or provide the information. 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, sampling, drilling, 
and testing equipment; and record storage facilities. Generally, your 
estimates should not include equipment or services purchased: (1) 
before October 1, 1995; (2) to comply 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: Jo Ann Lauterbach, (202) 208-7744.

    Dated: April 11, 1997.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 97-10227 Filed 4-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M