[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52285-52286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26220]


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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--Revision of a currently approved information collection 
(OMB Control Number 1010-0058).

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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 revise the currently approved collection of 
information discussed below. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
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 October 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and suggestions directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0058), 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503. Send a copy of your comments to the Minerals 
Management Service, Attention: Rules Processing Team, Mail Stop 4024, 
381 Elden Street Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, 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 MMS' Information Collection Clearance 
Officer at (202) 208-7744.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart I, Platforms and Structures.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0058.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 
1331 et seq., gives the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) the 
responsibility to preserve, protect, and develop oil and gas resources 
in the OCS in a manner that is consistent with the need to make such 
resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as 
possible; balance orderly energy resource development with protection 
of human, marine, and coastal environments; ensure the public a fair 
and equitable return on offshore resources in the OCS; and preserve and 
maintain free enterprise competition. Specifically, the OCS Lands Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1356) requires the issuance of ``* * * regulations which 
require that any vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicles or 
structure--* * * (2) which is used for activities pursuant to this 
subchapter, comply, * * * with such minimum standards of design, 
construction, alteration, and repair as the Secretary * * * 
establishes; * * *'' The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1332(6)) also states, 
``operations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf should be conducted in a 
safe manner * * * to prevent or minimize the likelihood of * * * 
physical obstruction to other users of the water or subsoil and seabed, 
or other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to 
property, or endanger life or health.'' To carry out these 
responsibilities, MMS has issued regulations at 30 CFR part 250. This 
collection of information pertains to subpart I, Platforms and 
Structures, and related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs).
    Respondents submit information on, and maintain records of, the 
design, fabrication, installation, use, and inspection of all platforms 
and structures on the OCS. The MMS regional offices use this 
information to ensure the structural integrity for the safe conduct of 
drilling, workover, and production operations, considering the specific 
environmental conditions at the platform location, and to ensure that 
such integrity will be maintained throughout the useful life of the

[[Page 52286]]

structures. We also use the information to ensure that any object 
(wellheads, platforms, etc.) installed in the OCS is properly removed 
and the site cleared so as not to conflict with or harm other users of 
the OCS.
    Proprietary information will be protected under 30 CFR 250.118, 
Data and information to be made available to the public. No items of a 
sensitive nature are collected. The requirement to respond is 
mandatory.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal oil and gas or sulphur lessees.
    Frequency: On occasion and annual.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 
24,743 reporting and 7,150 recordkeeping burden hours (see chart 
below).
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Cost'' Burden: None.

                                                Burden Breakdown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Burden per    Annual
 Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart I &         Requirement           Average number per year       reqmnt.     burden
          related NTLs                                                                       (hours)     hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
900(b), (g); 901; 902;            Submit application and    351 applications.............        24        8,425
 909(b)(4)(iii).                   plans for new platform
                                   or major modifications
                                   and notice to MMS..
900(e)..........................  Request approval for      5 requests...................        12           60
                                   major repairs of damage
                                   to platform and notice
                                   to MMS..
900(f)..........................  Request approval for      35 requests..................        18.5    \1\ 648
                                   reuse or conversion of
                                   use of existing fixed
                                   or mobile platforms.
903(a), (b).....................  Submit nominations for    24 nominations...............         5          120
                                   Certified Verification
                                   Agent (CVA)..
903(a)(1), (2), (3).............  Submit interim and final  36 reports...................       200        7,200
                                   CVA reports..
912(a)..........................  Request inspection        14 requests..................        20          280
                                   interval that exceeds 5
                                   years..
912(b)..........................  Submit annual report of   130 lessees..................        45        5,850
                                   platforms inspected and
                                   summary of testing
                                   results..
913(a), (b) Related NTLs........  Submit plan for platform  120 plans....................         6          720
                                   and structure removal
                                   and site clearance and
                                   exception requests..
913(c) Related NTLs.............  Submit results of         120 reports..................        12        1,440
                                   location clearance
                                   survey..
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
    Total Reporting.............  ........................  835 responses................  ..........     24,743
                                                           =====================================================
909, 911, 912, 914..............  Recordkeeping             143 platform.................        50        7,150
                                   Requirement: Maintain
                                   records on as-built
                                   structural drawings,
                                   design assumptions and
                                   analyses, summary of
                                   nondestructive
                                   examination records,
                                   inspection results,
                                   etc., for the
                                   functional life of the
                                   platform..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Rounded.

Comments

    Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act requires each 
agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and otherwise consult with 
members of the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed 
collection of information * * *'' Agencies must specifically solicit 
comments to: (a) evaluate whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the agency to perform its duties, 
including whether the information is useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarify of the 
information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden on the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Send your comments directly to the offices listed under the 
addresses section of this notice. The OMB has up to 60 days approve or 
disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days. 
Therefore, to ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public 
comments by October 30, 1998.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, 
(202) 208-7744.

    Dated: September 8, 1998.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 98-26220 Filed 9-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M