[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45794-45797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18805]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


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

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of a currently approved information 
collection (OMB control number 1010-0053).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are submitting to OMB for review and approval an information collection 
request (ICR), titled ``30 CFR 250, Subpart D, Oil and Gas Drilling 
Operations.'' We are also soliciting comments from the public on this 
ICR.

DATES: Submit written comments by August 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0053), 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503. Mail or hand carry a copy of your comments to the 
Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: 
Rules Processing Team; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold 
their home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. There may be circumstances in which we would withhold 
from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you 
wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not 
consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

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

[[Page 45795]]

of the collection of information at no cost.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart D, Oil and Gas Drilling Operations
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0053.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 
1331 et seq., requires the Secretary of the Interior 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 resources 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. Section 1332(6) of the OCS Lands 
Act (43 U.S.C. 1332) requires that ``operations in the [O]uter 
Continental Shelf should be conducted in a safe manner by well-trained 
personnel using technology, precautions, and techniques sufficient to 
prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, 
fires, spillages, physical obstruction to other users of the waters or 
subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the 
environment or to property, or endanger life or health.'' This 
authority and responsibility are among those delegated to the Minerals 
Management Service (MMS).
    The MMS uses the information to determine the condition of a 
drilling site to prevent hazards inherent in drilling operations. Among 
other things, MMS specifically uses the information to ensure: (a) The 
drilling unit is fit for the intended purpose; (b) the lessee will not 
encounter geologic conditions that present a hazard to operations; (c) 
equipment is maintained in a state of readiness and meets safety 
standards; (d) each drilling crew is properly trained and able to 
promptly perform well-control activities at any time during well 
operations; (e) compliance with safety standards; and (f) the proposed 
field drilling rules will provide for safe and proper field or 
reservoir development, resource evaluation, conservation, protection of 
correlative rights, safety, and environmental protection. We also 
review well records to determine whether drilling operations have 
encountered hydrocarbons or H2S and to ensure that 
H2S detection equipment, personnel protective equipment, and 
training of the crew are adequate for safe operations in zones known to 
contain H2S and zones where the presence of H2S 
is unknown.
    We protect proprietary information that is submitted according to 
the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), and its implementing 
regulations (43 CFR 2), and 30 CFR 250.196. No items of a sensitive 
nature are collected. Responses are mandatory.
    We published a Federal Register notice with the required 60-day 
comment period on April 17, 2000 (65 FR 20484). We received no comments 
in response to that notice.
    Frequency: The frequency of reporting varies according to 
requirement (see following burden chart).
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulphur lessees.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 
113,827 hours (see following burden chart).
    Estimated Annual Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We have 
identified no non-hour cost burdens associated with this collection of 
information.

                                                Burden Breakdown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Reporting and                                             Annual
     Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart D      recordkeeping requirement         Number           Burden       burden
                                               (frequency)                                (hours)       hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
401(a)(3), (c), (d)...................  Submit new fitness of      30 reports.........       1 hour           30
                                         drilling reports (on
                                         occasion).
401(a)(3), (f)........................     Apply for installation of fixed drilling          Burden            0
                                           platforms or structures; provide 3rd party   included in
                                                    review of drilling unit               1010-0058
                                                                                            (30 CFR
                                                                                               250,
                                                                                         subpart I)
401(e)(1).............................  Submit plans for well      25 plans...........      2 hours           50
                                         testing; notify MMS
                                         before testing (on
                                         occasion).
401(e)(5).............................  Provide copy of            13 occasions.......       1 hour           13
                                         directional survey to
                                         affected leaseholder
                                         upon request (on
                                         occasion).
401(g)................................  Request approval not to    15 requests........       1 hour           15
                                         shut-in well during
                                         equipment movement (on
                                         occasion).
401(g) (MMS condition of approval)....  Notify MMS of drilling     1,210 notices......      .1 hour          121
                                         rig movement on or off
                                         drilling location (on
                                         occasion).
404(a), (b), (c); 405(a), (b), (c)....  Submit revised casing &    20% of 1,105             2 hours          442
                                         cementing program (on      drilling
                                         occasion).                 operations = 221.
405(c)................................  Pressure test or evaluate  20% of 1,108 wells       5 hours        1,108
                                         casing; submit results     = 221.6.
                                         (every 30 days during
                                         prolonged drilling).
408(a)(2).............................  Prepare & post well        33 plans...........      3 hours           99
                                         control drill plan for
                                         crew members (on
                                         occasion).
412...................................  Request to amend or        8 requests.........    2.7 hours       \1\ 22
                                         cancel field drilling
                                         rules (on occasion).
414 incl. various refs in 402, 404,     Apply for permit to drill  Burden covered under 1010-0044 &/           0
 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 411.           & supplemental required    or 1010-0132 (forms MMS-123 and
                                         information, including                MMS-123S)
                                         various other approvals
                                         required in subpart D.
415; 416(b), (e)......................  Submit forms MMS-124,       Burden included in 1010-0045 or            0
                                         Sundry Notices & Reports              1010-0046)
                                         on Wells, & MMS-125,
                                         Well Summary Report.
416...................................  Submit well records &      20% of 13 wells =        3 hours        \1\ 8
                                         other data as requested    2.6 (Pacific
                                         (daily; on occasion;       Region only).
                                         note in GOMR, daily
                                         drilling reports
                                         submitted weekly on form
                                         MMS-133, burden under
                                         1010-0132).
417(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3).............  Request classification        Submitted with APD; burden               0
                                         for presence of H2S.            included in 1010-0044

[[Page 45796]]

 
417(c)(4), (d)........................  Submit request for         33 responses.......    1.7 hours       \1\ 56
                                         reclassification of H2S
                                         zone; notify MMS if
                                         conditions change (on
                                         occasion).
417(f), (j)(12).......................  Submit contingency plans   47 plans (21 drill,     10 hours          470
                                         for operations in H2S      13 workover, 13
                                         areas; propose             production.).
                                         alternatives to minimize
                                         or eliminate SO2 hazards
                                         (on occasion).
417(i)................................  Display warning signs....  Not applicable; facilities would            0
                                                                      display warning signs & use
                                                                     other visual & audible systems
417(j)(13)(vi)........................  Label breathing air            Not applicable; supplier                0
                                         bottles.                       normally labels bottles;
                                                                       facilities would routinely
                                                                              label if not
417(l)................................  Notify (phone) MMS of      65 facilities  x  2      .2 hour           26
                                         unplanned H2S releases     = 130.
                                         (on occasion).
417(o)(5).............................  Request approval to use    4 requests.........      2 hours            8
                                         drill pipe for well
                                         testing (on occasion).
417(q)(1).............................  Seal & mark for the        Not applicable: facilities would            0
                                         presence of H2S cores to        mark transported cores
                                         be transported.
417(q)(9).............................  Request approval to use    4 requests.........      2 hours            8
                                         gas containing H2S for
                                         instrument gas (on
                                         occasion).
417(q)(12)............................  Analyze produced water     8 production            2.8 hour    \1\ 1,165
                                         disposed of for H2S        platforms  x  52 =                 (rounded)
                                         content & submit results   416.
                                         to MMS (on occasion,
                                         apprx. weekly).
Reporting Subtotal....................  .........................  2,413 Responses....  ...........        3,641
401(b)(1).............................  Check drilling unit        138 drilling rigs        .1 hour      \1\ 718
                                         safety device; record      x  52 = 7,176.
                                         results (weekly).
404(a)(5), (6)........................  Perform pressure-          485 tests..........      4 hours        1,455
                                         integrity & pore-
                                         pressure tests; record
                                         results of tests & hole-
                                         behavior observations
                                         (on occasion).
405(a), (b)...........................  Perform casing pressure &  138 drilling rigs        2 hours       13,800
                                         production liner lap       x  apprx. 50 per
                                         tests; record results      rig = 6,900.
                                         (on occasion).
407 tests; 407(h).....................  Perform BOP tests,         138 drilling rigs        6 hours       28,980
                                         actuations &               x  apprx. 35 per
                                         inspections; record        rig = 4,830.
                                         results; retain records
                                         2 years following
                                         completion (when
                                         installed; at a minimum
                                         every 14 days; as stated
                                         for components of
                                         drilling activity).
407(d)(5) test; 407(h)................  Function test annulars     139 drilling rigs       .16 hour      \1\ 445
                                         and rams; document         x  appx. 20 per
                                         results (every 7 days      rig = 2,780.
                                         between BOP tests-
                                         biweekly; note: part of
                                         BOP test when conducted).
407(e)................................  Record reason for          139 drilling rigs        .1 hour       \1\ 28
                                         postponing BOP test (on    x  2 = 278.
                                         occasion).
408(a)(3), (a)(4).....................  Perform well-control       138 drilling rigs         1 hour       14,352
                                         drills; record             x  104 = 14,352.
                                         operations (weekly for 2
                                         crews=104).
409(f)................................  Test diverter sealing      1,104 drilling           2 hours        4,416
                                         element, valves &          operations  x  2 =
                                         control system when        2,208.
                                         installed & subsequent
                                         actuation; record
                                         results (on occasion;
                                         daily/weekly during
                                         drilling; average 2 per
                                         drilling operation).
410(b), (c), (d)......................  Perform mud tests &        135 drilling rigs      1.5 hours       10,530
                                         calculations; post         x  52 =.              1.5 hours    \1\ 1,643
                                         information; record test  7,020 3 drilling
                                         data (on occasion,         rigs  x  365 =
                                         daily, weekly,             1,095.
                                         quarterly).
413...................................  Maintain training records  Burden included in 1010-0078, 30            0
                                         for lessee & drilling             CFR 250, subpart O
                                         contractor personnel.
416(a), (g)...........................  Maintain drilling & well   1,138 wells........    1.5 hours        1,707
                                         records (annual
                                         recordkeeping).
417(g)(2), (g)(5).....................  Conduct training; post     62 facilities  x  2      2 hours          248
                                         safety instructions;       = 124.
                                         document training (on
                                         occasion; annual
                                         refresher).
417(h)(2).............................  Conduct drills & safety    62 facilities  x          1 hour        3,224
                                         meetings; document         52 = 3,224.
                                         attendance (weekly).
417(j)(8).............................  Test H2S detection &       33 drilling rigs  x      2 hours       24,090
                                         monitoring sensors          365 days = 12,045.
                                         during drilling; record
                                         testing & calibrations
                                         (apprx. 12 sensors per
                                         rig; on occasion, daily
                                         during drilling).
417(j)(8).............................  Test H2S detection &       50 production          3.5 hours        4,550
                                         monitoring sensors         platforms  x  26
                                         during production;         weeks = 1,300.
                                         record testing &
                                         calibrations (apprx. 30
                                         sensors on 5 platforms +
                                         apprx. 42 sensors on 23
                                         platforms; every 14
                                         days).
Recordkeeping Subtotal................  .........................  130 Recordkeepers..  ...........      110,186
    TOTAL HOUR BURDEN.................  .........................  2,543 Responses/     ...........     113,827
                                                                    Recordkeepers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Rounded.

    Comments: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 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. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires each agency 
``* * * to provide notice * * * and otherwise consult

[[Page 45797]]

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 clarity 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.
    If you wish to comment in response to this notice, send your 
comments directly to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the 
information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to 
ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by 
August 24, 2000.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, 
(202) 208-7744).

    Dated: July 5, 2000.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 00-18805 Filed 7-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P