[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 161 (Friday, August 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50560-50561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21112]


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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-
0137

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 certain information from oil 
and gas well operators concerning operations that were performed on 
each well, using the Well Completion or Recompletion Report and Log 
(Form 3160-4). BLM uses the information to ensure recording of an 
accurate, up-to-date, and detailed description of well completion or 
recompletion operations and compliance with approved plans for 
conservation of the resource and protection of the environment.

DATES: Comments 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: 1004-0137'' 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 collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 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.
    The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as 
amended; the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 
351-359), as amended; the various Indian leasing acts; the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), as amended; 
and other environmental laws govern onshore oil and gas operations. 
BLM's implementing regulations are located at 43 CFR part 3160. The 
regulations at 43 CFR 3162.4-1(b) require an oil and gas well operator 
to submit a Well Completion or Recompletion Report and Log (Form 3160-
4) within 30 days after well completion. The information reported by 
the operator includes type of work, surface and subsurface location, 
start and completion dates, producing interval, casing, date of first 
production, and initial well potential. The operator certifies the 
accuracy and completeness of the information by signature and date.
    BLM uses the information for royalty considerations and inspection 
and reservoir management purposes. Technical data provide means to 
evaluate the appropriateness of specific drilling and completion 
techniques. The data enable BLM to monitor the engineering aspects of 
production and the legal requirements of lease obligation to develop 
the resource. In its entirety, the data submitted are used for agency 
technical evaluation of operations performed on a well and initial well 
performance. The form documents that operations were carried out in 
accordance with the terms and provisions of the lease and in 
technically and environmentally safe manners. If BLM did not collect 
the information, it would lack the necessary information to monitor 
compliance with authorized well activity and operations that were 
performed on wells.
    Based on its experience administering the onshore oil and gas 
program, BLM estimates that the public reporting burden for the 
information collected averages 1 hour per response. The information 
collected is already maintained by respondents for their own 
recordkeeping purposes and must only be entered on the form. 
Respondents are operators of oil and gas wells. The frequency of 
response is variable depending on the type of activity conducted at oil 
and gas wells and operating circumstances but averages two responses 
per respondent per year. The number of responses per year is 
approximately 2,200. The estimated total annual burden on new 
respondents is abut 2,200 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 3160-4 by contacting the

[[Page 50561]]

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. 00-21112 Filed 8-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M