[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40542-40543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19955]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for Office 
of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension and revision of a currently approved 
collection.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior has submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Act) the collection of information 
discussed below. The Act requires that OMB provide interested Federal 
agencies and the public an opportunity to comment on information 
collection requests. The Act also 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 August 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and suggestions directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0030), 725 17th Street, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20503. Send a copy of your comments to the Rules 
Processing Team, Mail Stop 4020, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden 
Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Rules Processing Team, 
Engineering and Operations Division, Minerals Management Service, 
telephone (703) 787-1600. You may obtain copies of the supporting 
statement and collection of information by contacting the MMS 
Information Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 208-7744.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart A, General.
    OMB Number: 1010-0030.
    Abstract: Respondents provide information and maintain records on 
designations of operator; performance capabilities and standards; lease 
cancellations; suspensions of production or other operations; 
determinations of well producibility; reinjection and subsurface 
storage of gas; reimbursements of geological and geophysical data and 
information reproduction costs; accident reports; access to facilities; 
and crane inspection, testing, maintenance and operator qualifications. 
The MMS uses the information to ensure that operations in the OCS are 
carried out in a manner that is safe, pollution free, and does not 
interfere with the rights of other users in the OCS. Responses to this 
collection of information are mandatory. The MMS will protect 
proprietary information in accordance with the Freedom of Information 
Act and 30 CFR 250.18, Data and information to be made available to the 
public.
    Description of Respondents: Federal OCS oil and gas and sulphur 
lessees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 130.
    Frequency: The reporting and recordkeeping requirements and number 
of responses vary for each section and are mostly on occasion or annual 
(see chart below).

                                                                    Burden Breakdown                                                                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart A    Reporting requirement      Annual  frequency      Average number per year   Burden per reqmnt.    Annual burden hours 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3(a)...........................  Request approval for     On occasion...........  7 requests................  9 hours...........  63                    
                                  use of new or                                                                                                         
                                  alternative                                                                                                           
                                  techniques,                                                                                                           
                                  procedures, or                                                                                                        
                                  activities.                                                                                                           
3(b)...........................  Request approval of                                                                                                    
                                  departure from                                                                                                        
                                  operating requirements.                                                                                               
(2)Burden is included with       0......................                                                                                                
 applicable operating                                                                                                                                   
 requirement                                                                                                                                            
4(b)...........................  Submit requests,                                                                                                       
                                  applications, and                                                                                                     
                                  notices under various                                                                                                 
                                  regulations.                                                                                                          
(2)Burden is included with       0......................                                                                                                
 applicable requirement                                                                                                                                 
7(a),(b),(f)...................  Apply for right of use   On occasion...........  20 applications...........  5 hours...........  100                   
                                  and easement to                                                                                                       
                                  construct and maintain                                                                                                
                                  off lease platforms,                                                                                                  
                                  artificial islands, &                                                                                                 
                                  installations & other                                                                                                 
                                  devices.                                                                                                              
7(c)...........................  Request approval for                                                                                                   
                                  platforms, artificial                                                                                                 
                                  islands, etc.                                                                                                         
(2)Burden included with 1010-    0......................                                                                                                
 0058 for Subpart I                                                                                                                                     
8..............................  Submit designation of                                                                                                  
                                  operator & report                                                                                                     
                                  change of address or                                                                                                  
                                  notice of termination.                                                                                                
(2)Exempt as defined in 5 CFR    0......................                                                                                                
 1320.3(h)(1)                                                                                                                                           
9..............................  Submit designation of                                                                                                  
                                  local agent.                                                                                                          
(2)Burden included in 1010-0006  0......................                                                                                                
 for 30 CFR Part 256                                                                                                                                    
10(a),(b),(i); 13(b)(2)........  Request suspension of    On occasion...........  238 requests..............  10 hours..........  2,380                 
                                  production or                                                                                                         
                                  operations & submit                                                                                                   
                                  schedule of work                                                                                                      
                                  leading to                                                                                                            
                                  commencement.                                                                                                         
10(g),(h)(2); 12(c)(1)(i); 26..  Submit exploration &                                                                                                   
                                  development &                                                                                                         
                                  production plan or                                                                                                    
                                  modification.                                                                                                         
(2)Burden included in 1010-0049  0......................                                                                                                
 for 30 CFR 250, Subpart B                                                                                                                              
10(h)(1).......................  Conduct site-specific                                                                                                  
                                  study & submit results.                                                                                               
(2)There have been no instances  0......................                                                                                                
 requiring this study in                                                                                                                                
 several years. It could be                                                                                                                             
 necessary if a situation                                                                                                                               
 occurred such as severe damage                                                                                                                         
 to a platform or structure                                                                                                                             
 caused by a hurricane or a                                                                                                                             
 vessel collision                                                                                                                                       
11.............................  Request determination    On occasion...........  140 requests..............  3 hours...........  420                   
                                  of well producibility.                                                                                                
12(a)(1)(iv), (b),(c)(1)(ii)...  Request termination of                                                                                                 
                                  suspension &                                                                                                          
                                  cancellation of lease.                                                                                                
(2)Suspension automatically      0......................                                                                                                
 terminates when sus pended                                                                                                                             
 activity resumes. MMS has                                                                                                                              
 received no requests in recent                                                                                                                         
 years for termination and                                                                                                                              
 cancellation of a lease.                                                                                                                               
 Burden would be minimal                                                                                                                                

[[Page 40543]]

                                                                                                                                                        
12(f)..........................  Request compensation                                                                                                   
                                  for lease cancellation.                                                                                               
(2)The OCSLA specifies this      0......................                                                                                                
 compensation. There have been                                                                                                                          
 no qualified lease                                                                                                                                     
 cancellations in many years.                                                                                                                           
 Burden would be minimal                                                                                                                                
13(d)..........................  Request extension of     On occasion...........  3 requests................  3 hours...........  9                     
                                  time period between                                                                                                   
                                  operations.                                                                                                           
14(a)(2),(b), (c),(e),(f)......  Apply for reinjection    On occasion...........  10 applications...........  7.6 hours.........  76                    
                                  or subsurface storage                                                                                                 
                                  of gas.                                                                                                               
15(a)..........................  Identify with sign       On occasion...........  150 new or replacement      2 hours...........  300                   
                                  platforms, structures,                           signs.                                                               
                                  etc., which have                                                                                                      
                                  helicopter landing                                                                                                    
                                  facilities.                                                                                                           
15(b)..........................  Identify wells with      On occasion...........  904 new wells.............  1 hour............  904                   
                                  paint or signs.                                                                                                       
16(a),(b),(c)..................  Request reimbursement                                                                                                  
                                  for submitted G&G data                                                                                                
                                  & information.                                                                                                        
(2)The OCSLA specifies this      0......................                                                                                                
 reimbursement. MMS has                                                                                                                                 
 received no reimbursement                                                                                                                              
 requests for post-lease G&G                                                                                                                            
 data & information in many                                                                                                                             
 years. Pre-lease reimbursement                                                                                                                         
 is covered in 30 CFR Part 251                                                                                                                          
 (1010-0048). Burden would be                                                                                                                           
 minimal                                                                                                                                                
19(a),(b)......................  Report accidents.......  On occasion...........  142 reports...............  7 hours...........  994                   
19(a)..........................  Report spills of oil or                                                                                                
                                  other pollutants.                                                                                                     
(2)Burden included in 1010-0091  0......................                                                                                                
 for 30 CFR Part 254                                                                                                                                    
21(c)..........................  Request reimbursement                                                                                                  
                                  for food, quarters, &                                                                                                 
                                  transportation                                                                                                        
                                  provided to MMS                                                                                                       
                                  representatives.                                                                                                      
(2)The OCSLA specifies this      0......................                                                                                                
 reimbursement. MMS has                                                                                                                                 
 received no reimbursement                                                                                                                              
 requests in many years. Burden                                                                                                                         
 would be minimal                                                                                                                                       
22(b)..........................  Submit information on    On occasion...........  6 submissions.............  4.7 hours.........  28 (rounded)          
                                  the use of BAST,                                                                                                      
                                  alternatives                                                                                                          
                                  considered, &                                                                                                         
                                  rationale.                                                                                                            
23.............................  Submit report when last  On occasion...........  500 submissions...........  .5 hour...........  250                   
                                  well on lease ceases                                                                                                  
                                  production.                                                                                                           
24.............................  File appeal on orders                                                                                                  
                                  or decisions.                                                                                                         
(2)Exempt as defined in 5 CFR    0......................                                                                                                
 1320.3(h)(9)                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                 -----------------------
    Total Reporting............  .......................  2,120 responses.......  ..........................  5,524.............                        
20(c)..........................  Retain records of crane  Annual................  484 recordkeepers.........  6 hours...........  2,904                 
                                  inspection, testing,                                                                                                  
                                  maintenance, and crane                                                                                                
                                  operator                                                                                                              
                                  qualifications for 2                                                                                                  
                                  years.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                 -----------------------
    Total Recordkeeping........  .......................  ......................  ..........................  ..................  2,904                 
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    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: Reporting and recordkeeping 
burden of 8,428 hours; no reporting and recordkeeping cost burden for 
this collection of information.
    Comments: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Section 3506(c)(2)(A), each agency must provide notice and otherwise 
consult with members of the public and affected agencies concerning 
this collection of information. Comments are specifically solicited in 
order to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) evaluate 
the accuracy of the burden estimates for the proposed collection of 
information; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Submit your comments to the offices listed in 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, in 
order to assure maximum consideration, OMB should receive your comments 
within 30 days of publication of this notice.
    Bureau Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach (202) 208-7744.

    Dated: July 3, 1997.
E. P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 97-19955 Filed 7-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P