[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35663-35666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16969]


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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 1010-0086).

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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 P, Sulphur Operations.'' We 
are also soliciting comments from the public on this ICR.

DATES: Submit written comments by August 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0086), 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503. Mail or hand carry a copy of your comments to

[[Page 35664]]

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 
at no cost a copy of our submission to OMB, which includes the 
regulations that require this information to be collected.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    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''.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 1 
Federal OCS sulphur lessee.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
following chart details the components of the hour burden for the 
information collection requirements in subpart P--an estimated total of 
903 burden hours. In estimating the burdens, 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  subpart       recordkeeping       Hour burden per
               P                      requirement          requirement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Reporting Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1600..........................  Submit exploration or   Burden included
                                 development and         in 1010-0049.
                                 production plan
                                 according to 30 CFR
                                 250, subpart B.
1603(a).......................  Request determination   1 hour.
                                 whether sulphur
                                 deposit can produce
                                 in paying quantities.
1605(b)(3)....................  Submit data and         4 hours.
                                 information on
                                 fitness of drilling
                                 unit.

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1605(c).......................  Report oceanographic,   1 hour.
                                 meteorological, and
                                 drilling unit
                                 performance data upon
                                 request.
1605(d).......................  Submit results of       1 hour.
                                 additional surveys
                                 and soil borings upon
                                 request.
1605(e)(5)....................  Request copy of         1 hour.
                                 directional survey
                                 (by holder of
                                 adjoining lease).
1605(f).......................  Submit application for  Burden included
                                 installation of fixed   in 1010-0058.
                                 drilling platforms or
                                 structures according
                                 to 30 CFR subpart I.
1607..........................  Request establishment,  8 hours
                                 amendment, or
                                 cancellation of field
                                 rules for drilling,
                                 well-completion, or
                                 well-workover.
1608..........................  Submit well casing and  5 hours.
                                 cementing plan or
                                 modification.
16010(d)(8)...................  Request exception to    1 hour.
                                 ram-type blowout
                                 preventer (BOP)
                                 system components
                                 rated working
                                 pressure.
1611(b); 1625(b)..............  Request exception to    1 hour.
                                 water-rated working
                                 pressure to test ram-
                                 type and annular BOPs
                                 and choke manifold.
1611(f); 1625(f)..............  Request exception to    1 hour.
                                 recording pressure
                                 conditions during BOP
                                 tests on pressure
                                 charts *.
1612..........................  Request exception to    1 hour.
                                 Sec.  250.408
                                 requirements for well-
                                 control drills *.
1615..........................  Request exception to    1 hour.
                                 blind-shear ram or
                                 pipe rams and inside
                                 BOP to secure wells.
1610(d)(8); 1611(b), (f);       Submit forms MMS-123    Burden included
 1615; 1617; 1618; 1619(b);      (Application for        in 1010-0044,
 1622; 1625(b), (f);.            Permit to Drill), MMS-  1010-0045, and
                                 124 (Sundry Notices     1010-0046.
                                 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 for  4 hours.
                                 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 for  2 hours.
                                 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 and   2 hours.
                                 alternative
                                 compliance requests
                                 not specifically
                                 covered elsewhere in
                                 subpart P regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Recordkeeping Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1604(f).......................  Check traveling-block   \1/4\ hour.
                                 safety device for
                                 proper operation
                                 weekly and after each
                                 drill-line slipping;
                                 enter results in log.
1609(a).......................  Pressure test casing;   2 hours.
                                 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 diverter  2 hours.
                                 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 in 1010-
                                 records for lessee      0128.
                                 and drilling
                                 contractor personnel
                                 according to 30 CFR
                                 250, included 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 device   1 hour.
                                 training prior to
                                 production operations
                                 and periodically
                                 thereafter; record
                                 date/time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-H Cost'' Burden: 
We have identified no ``non-hour cost'' burdens.
    Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C.q 3501, et 
seq.) 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

[[Page 35666]]

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.
    To comply with the public consultation process, on March 8, 2001, 
we published a Federal Register notice (66 FR 13956) announcing that we 
would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the 
required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec. 250.199 displays the 
OMB control numbers for the information collection requirements imposed 
by the 30 CFR part 250 regulations and forms; specifies that the public 
may comment at anytime on these collections of information; and 
provides the address to which they should send comments. We have 
received no comments in response to these efforts.
    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 6, 2001. The PRA 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.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, 
(202) 208-7744.

    Dated: May 24, 2001.
John V. Mirabella,
Acting Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 01-16969 Filed 7-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P ]