[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 161 (Friday, August 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50558-50559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21110]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-310-1310-PB-01-24 1A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Number 1004-
0135

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intention to request 
renewal of an existing approval to collect information from those 
persons who submit a Form 3160-5, Sundry Notices and Reports on Wells. 
The information allows BLM to approve proposed operations and ensure 
compliance with granted approvals.

DATES: Comment on the proposed information collection must be received 
by October 17, 2000 to assure consideration of them.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Affairs Group (630), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street, NW., Room 401LS, Washington, 
DC 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0135'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message.
    You may hand-deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    BLM will make comments available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Gamble, Fluid Minerals Group, 
(202) 452-0338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is 
required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a 
collection of information contained in published current rules to 
solicit comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. BLM will receive and analyze any comments sent in response 
to this notice and include them with its request for approval from the 
OMB under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    In accordance with the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act 
of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as 
amended (30 U.S.C. et seq.), the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands 
of 1947, as amended (30 U.S.C. 351-359); the various Indian leasing 
acts; and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), BLM's regulations at 43 CFR 3162.3-2 require oil 
and gas operators on Federal and restricted Indian lands to submit Form 
3160-5, Sundry Notices and Reports on Wells, in order to obtain 
authority to perform specific additional operations on a well and to 
report the completion of such work. In addition,

[[Page 50559]]

43 CFR 3162.5-1 provides authority to require the operator to exercise 
diligence when disposing of produced waters. The specific data required 
on this form concerns modifications to existing wells or construction 
requirements of produced water disposal pits. The regulation at 3162.3-
2 divides the proposed action into three categories based on the nature 
of the impact. Some actions require submitting the form for approval 
prior to beginning work and again after completion of operations; other 
actions require submission only after completion; and still others do 
not require reporting.
    All data are delivered to the BLM by the operator or its agent. The 
data pertains to modifying operations conducted under the terms and 
provisions of an oil and gas lease (a contractual agreement between a 
lessee and the United States) for Federal or restricted Indian lands. 
The compilation of this data enables oversight and approval prior to 
any modifications to existing wells. In the case of a produced water 
disposal pit approval, the data provides the technical aspects of pit 
design to allow for sufficient water containment, thereby preventing 
unnecessary releases of produced water into the environment.
    Based on BLM's experience administering the activities described 
above, the public reporting burden for the information collected is 
estimated to average 25 minutes per response. Respondents are operators 
and operating rights owners of Federal and Indian (except Osage) oil 
and gas leases. The frequency of response is variable depending on the 
type of activities conducted at oil and gas wells and on operational 
circumstances. Approximately 34,000 notices will be filed annually; the 
estimated total annual burden on new respondents is about 14,166 hours. 
BLM is specifically requesting your comments on its estimate of the 
amount of time that it takes to prepare a response.
    Any interested member of the public may request and obtain, without 
charge, a copy of Form 3160-5 by contacting the person identified under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 15, 2000.
Shirlean Beshir,
BLM Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-21110 Filed 8-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M