[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-125]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


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

    Title: Application for the Purchase of Royalty Oil.
    Comments: This collection of information has been submitted to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. In compliance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Section 3506 (c)(2)(A), we are 
notifying you, members of the public, and affected agencies of this 
collection of information and are inviting your comments. Is this 
information collection necessary for us to properly do our job? Have we 
accurately estimated the public's burden for responding to this 
collection? Can we enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information we collect? Can we lessen the burden of this information 
collection on the respondents by using automated collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology?
    Comments should be made directly to the Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Interior Department, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503; telephone (202) 
395-7340. Copies of these comments should also be sent to us. The U.S. 
Postal Service address is Minerals Management Service, Royalty 
Management Program, Rules and Publications Staff, P.O. Box 25165, MS 
3021, Denver, Colorado 80225-0165; the courier address is Building 85, 
Room A-613, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225; and the e-
Mail address is David__G[email protected]. OMB has up to 60 days to approve 
or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days; 
therefore, public comments should be submitted to OMB within 30 days in 
order to assure their maximum consideration.
    Copies of the proposed information collection and related 
explanatory material may be obtained by contacting Dennis C. Jones, 
Rules and Publications Staff, telephone (303) 231-3046, FAX (303) 231-
3385, e-Mail Dennis__C__J[email protected].

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before February 4, 
1998.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to sell royalty 
oil accruing to the United States from Federal oil and gas leases. 
``Royalty oil'' is crude oil produced from leased Federal lands, both 
onshore and offshore, in instances in which the Secretary exercises the 
option to accept a lessee's royalty payment in oil rather than in 
money. When the Secretary determines that small refiners do not have 
access to adequate supplies of oil, the Secretary may dispose of any 
oil taken as royalty by conducting a sale of such oil, or by allocating 
it to eligible refiners. The Application for the Purchase of Royalty 
Oil, Form MMS-4070, must be submitted by interested purchasers whenever 
a sale is held. Information collected is used to determine the 
applicant's eligibility to purchase royalty oil and also provides a 
basis for the allocation of available oil among qualified refiners.
    Description of Respondents: Eligible refiners interested in 
purchasing royalty oil.
    Frequency of Response: When a royalty oil sale is conducted.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 1.25 hours.
    Annual Responses: 20.
    Annual Burden Hours: 25 hours.
    Bureau Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, (202) 208-7744.

    Date: December 1, 1997.
Lucy Querques Denett,
Associate Director for Royalty Management.
[FR Doc. 98-125 Filed 1-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P