[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 46 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13956-13959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5696]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of a currently approved information 
collection (OMB Control Number 1010-0086).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are inviting comments on a collection of information that we will 
submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval. The information collection request (ICR) is titled ``30 CFR 
250, Subpart P, Sulphur Operations.''

DATES: Submit written comments by May 7, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Processing 
Team; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. 
If you wish to e-mail comments, the e-mail address is: 
[email protected]. Reference ``Information Collection 1010-0086'' 
in your e-mail subject line. Include your name and return address in 
your e-mail message and mark your message for return receipt.
    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 the 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 at no cost of the regulations that require the subject 
collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 13957]]

    Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart P, Sulphur Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0086.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1331 et seq.), as amended, requires the Secretary of the Interior 
(Secretary) to preserve, protect, and develop sulphur resources on 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 environments; ensure the 
public a fair and equitable return on the resources offshore; and 
preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. Section 5(a) of the 
OCS Lands Act requires the Secretary to prescribe rules and regulations 
``to provide for the prevention of waste, and conservation of the 
natural resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, and the protection of 
correlative rights therein'' and to include provisions ``for the prompt 
and efficient exploration and development of a lease area.'' These 
authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to MMS under 
which we issue regulations to ensure that operations in the OCS will 
meet statutory requirements; provide for safety and protection of the 
environment; and result in diligent exploration, development, and 
production of OCS leases. This information collection request addresses 
the regulations at 30 CFR 250, subpart P, Sulphur Operations, and the 
associated supplementary notices to lessees and operators intended to 
provide clarification, description, or explanation of these 
regulations.
    MMS uses the information collected to ascertain the condition of 
drilling sites for the purpose of preventing hazards inherent in 
drilling and production operations and to evaluate the adequacy of 
equipment and/or procedures to be used during the conduct of drilling, 
well-completion, well-workover, and production operations. For example, 
MMS uses the information to:
     Ascertain that a discovered sulphur deposit can be 
classified as capable of production in paying quantities.
     Ensure accurate and complete measurement of production to 
determine the amount of sulphur royalty payments due the United States; 
and that the sale locations are secure, production has been measured 
accurately, and appropriate follow-up actions are initiated.
     Ensure that the drilling unit is fit for the intended 
purpose.
     Review expected oceanographic and meteorological 
conditions to ensure the integrity of the drilling unit (this 
information is submitted only if it is not otherwise available).
     Review hazard survey data to ensure that the lessee will 
not encounter geological conditions that present a hazard to 
operations.
     Ensure the adequacy and safety of firefighting plans.
     Ensure the adequacy of casing for anticipated conditions.
     Review log entries of crew meetings to verify that crew 
members are properly trained.
     Review drilling, well-completion, and well-workover 
diagrams and procedures to ensure the safety of the proposed drilling, 
well-completion, and well-workover operations.
     Review production operation procedures to ensure the 
safety of the proposed production operations.
     Monitor environmental data during operations in offshore 
areas where such data are not already available to provide a valuable 
source of information to evaluate the performance of drilling rigs 
under various weather and ocean conditions. This information is 
necessary to make reasonable determinations regarding safety of 
operations and environmental protection.
    Responses are mandatory. No questions of a ``sensitive'' nature are 
asked. MMS will protect proprietary information according to the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing 
regulations (43 CFR 2), 30 CFR 250.196 (Data and information to be made 
available to the public), and 30 CFR part 252 (OCS Oil and Gas 
Information Program).
    Frequency: The frequency varies by section, but is generally ``on 
occasion'' or annual.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 1 
Federal OCS sulphur lessee.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 978 hours. The following chart details the individual 
components of this burden and estimated burden per response or record. 
In calculating the burden, we assumed that respondents perform certain 
requirements in the normal course of their activities. We consider 
these to be usual and customary and took that into account in 
estimating the burden.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Reporting or
    Citation  30 CFR 250          recordkeeping        Hour burden per
          Subpart P                requirement         response/record
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Reporting Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1600........................  Submit exploration    Burden included in
                               or development and    1010-0049.
                               production plan
                               according to 30 CFR
                               250, subpart B.
1603(a).....................  Request               1 hour.
                               determination
                               whether sulphur
                               deposit can produce
                               in paying
                               quantities.
1605(b)(3)..................  Submit data and       4 hours.
                               information on
                               fitness of drilling
                               unit.
1605(c).....................  Report                It has not been
                               oceanographic,        necessary to
                               meteorological, and   request these data.
                               drilling unit
                               performance data
                               upon request.
1605(d).....................  Submit results of     It has not been
                               additional surveys    necessary to
                               and soil borings      request these data.
                               upon request.
1605(e)(5)..................  Request copy of       It has not been to
                               directional           request these data.
                               necessary survey
                               (by holder of
                               adjoining lease).
1605(f).....................  Submit application    Burden included in
                               for installation of   1010-0058.
                               fixed drilling
                               platforms or
                               structures
                               according to 30 CFR
                               subpart I.
1607........................  Request               8 hours.
                               establishment,
                               amendment, or
                               cancellation of
                               field rules for
                               drilling, well-
                               completion, or well-
                               workover.
1608........................  Submit well casing    5 hours.
                               and cementing plan
                               or modification.

[[Page 13958]]

 
1610(d)(8); 1611(b), (f);     Submit forms MMS-123  Burden included in
 1615; 1617; 1618; 1619(b);    (Application for      1010-0044, 1010-
 1622; 1625(b), (f);           Permit to Drill),     0045, and 1010-
                               MMS-124 (Sundry       0046.
                               Notices and Reports
                               on Wells), Form MMS-
                               125 (Well Summary
                               Report).
                               Submissions include
                               various exceptions
                               and approvals
                               required in subpart
                               P.
1612........................  Request exception to  1 hour.
                               Sec.  250.408
                               requirements for
                               well-control drills.
1619(c), (d), (e)...........  Submit copies of      1 hour.
                               records, logs,
                               reports, charts,
                               etc., upon request.
1628(b), (d)................  Submit application    4 hours.
                               for design and
                               installation
                               features of sulphur
                               production
                               facilities and fuel
                               gas safety system;
                               certify new
                               installation
                               conforms to
                               approved design.
1629(b)(3)..................  Request approval of   4 hours.
                               firefighting
                               systems.
1630(a)(5)..................  Notify MMS of pre-    \1/2\ hour.
                               production test and
                               inspection of
                               safety system and
                               commencement of
                               production.
1633(b).....................  Submit application    2 hours.
                               for method of
                               production
                               measurement.
1634(b).....................  Report evidence of    1 hour.
                               mishandling of
                               produced sulphur or
                               tampering or
                               falsifying any
                               measurement of
                               production.
1600 thru 1634..............  General departure     2 hours.
                               and alternative
                               compliance requests
                               not specifically
                               covered elsewhere
                               in subpart P
                               regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Recordkeeping Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1604(f).....................  Check traveling-      \1/4\ hour.
                               block safety device
                               for proper
                               operation weekly
                               and after each
                               drill-line
                               slipping; enter
                               results in log.
1609(a).....................  Pressure test         2 hours.
                               casing; record
                               time, conditions of
                               testing, and test
                               results in log.
1611(d)(3); 1625(c)(3)......  Record in driller's   10 minutes.
                               report the date,
                               time, and reason
                               for postponing
                               pressure testings.
1611(f), (g); 1625(f), (g)..  Conduct tests,        6 hours.
                               actuations,
                               inspections,
                               maintenance, and
                               crew drills of BOP
                               systems at least
                               weekly; record
                               results in
                               driller's report;
                               retain records for
                               2 years following
                               completion of
                               drilling activity.
1613(e).....................  Pressure test         2 hours.
                               diverter sealing
                               element/valves
                               weekly; actuate
                               diverter sealing
                               element/valves/
                               control system
                               every 24 hours;
                               test diverter line
                               for flow every 24
                               hours; record test
                               times and results
                               in driller's report.
1616(c).....................  Retain training       Burden included in
                               records for lessee    1010-0128.
                               and drilling
                               contractor
                               personnel according
                               to 30 CFR 250,
                               subpart O.
1619(a).....................  Retain records for 2  12 hours
                               years for each well
                               and all well
                               operations..
1621........................  Conduct safety        1 hour.
                               meetings prior to
                               well-completion or
                               well-workover
                               operations; record
                               date/time.
1628(d).....................  Maintain information  1 hour.
                               on approved design
                               and installation
                               features for the
                               life of the
                               facility.
1629(b)(1) (ii) and (iii)...  Retain for 2 years    12 hours.
                               pressure-recording
                               charts used to
                               determine operating
                               pressure ranges;
                               post firefighting
                               system diagram.
1630(b).....................  Retain records for 2  1 hour.
                               years for each
                               safety device
                               installed.
1631........................  Conduct safety        1 hour.
                               device training
                               prior to production
                               operations and
                               periodically
                               thereafter; record
                               date/time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' 
Burden: We have identified no ``non-hour cost'' burdens.
    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. Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) 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 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. We will 
summarize written responses to this notice and address them in our 
submission for OMB approval, including any appropriate adjustments to 
the estimated burden.
    Agencies must estimate both the ``hour'' and ``non-hour cost'' 
burdens to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection 
of information. We have not identified any non-hour cost burdens for 
the information collection aspects of 30 CFR 250, subpart P. Therefore, 
if you have costs to generate, maintain, and disclose this information, 
you should comment and provide your total capital and startup cost 
components or annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of service 
components. You should describe the methods you use to estimate major 
cost factors, including system and technology acquisition, expected 
useful life of capital equipment, discount rate(s), and the period over 
which you incur costs. Capital and startup costs include, among other 
items, computers and software you purchase to prepare for collecting 
information, monitoring, and record storage facilities. Generally, your 
estimates should not include equipment or services purchased: (i) 
before October 1, 1995; (ii) to comply with requirements not associated 
with the information collection; (iii) for reasons other than to 
provide information or keep records for the

[[Page 13959]]

Government; or (iv) as part of customary and usual business or private 
practices.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, 
(202) 208-7744.

    Dated: February 26, 2001.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 01-5696 Filed 3-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-U