[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66658-66660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27715]


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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 an extension of a currently approved information 
collection (OMB Control Number 1010-0103).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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 
part 206, subpart E--Indian Gas (Form MMS-4411, Safety Net Report).''

DATES: Submit written comments on or before December 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Sharron L. Gebhardt, Regulatory 
Specialist, Minerals Management Service, Minerals Revenue Management, 
PO Box 25165, MS 320B2, Denver, Colorado 80225. If you use an overnight 
courier service, our courier address is Building 85, Room A-614, Denver 
Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225. You may also email your 
comments to us at [email protected]. Include the title of the 
information collection and the OMB control number in the ``Attention'' 
line of your comment. Also include your name and return address. Submit 
electronic comments as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption. If you do not receive a 
confirmation we have received your email, contact Ms. Gebhardt at (303) 
231-3211.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharron L. Gebhardt, telephone (303) 
231-3211, FAX (303) 231-3385 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR part 206, subpart E--Indian 
Gas (Form MMS-4411, Safety Net Report).
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0103.
    Bureau Form Number: Form MMS-4411.
    Abstract: The Department of the Interior (DOI) is responsible for 
matters relevant to mineral resource development on Federal and Indian 
lands and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary) is responsible for managing the production of 
minerals from Federal and Indian lands and the OCS, collecting 
royalties from lessees who produce minerals, and distributing the funds 
collected in accordance with applicable laws. The Secretary has an 
Indian trust responsibility to manage Indian lands and seek advice and 
information from Indian beneficiaries. MMS performs the royalty 
management functions and assists the Secretary in carrying out DOI's 
Indian trust responsibility.
    On August 10, 1999, MMS published in the Federal Register (64 FR 
43506) a final rulemaking titled ``Amendments to Gas Valuation 
Regulations for Indian Leases,'' with an effective date of January 1, 
2000. These regulations are codified at 30 CFR part 206, subpart E. 
Form MMS-4411, Safety Net Report, governs the valuation for royalty 
purposes of natural gas produced from Indian leases. In 30 CFR 
206.172(e), MMS requires that lessees submit Form MMS-4411 when gas 
production from an Indian lease is sold beyond the first index pricing 
point. The gas regulations apply to all gas production from Indian 
(tribal or allotted) oil and gas leases (except leases on the Osage 
Indian Reservation).
    Form MMS-4411 ensures Indian mineral lessors receive the maximum 
revenues from mineral resources on their land consistent with the 
Secretary's trust responsibility and lease terms. It permits lessees to 
comply with the regulatory requirements at the time that royalties are 
due.
    The safety net calculation establishes the minimum value, for 
royalty purposes, of natural gas production from Indian leases. This 
reporting requirement will assist the Indian lessor in receiving all 
the royalties that are due and aid MMS in its compliance efforts. The 
safety net price is calculated using prices received for gas sold 
downstream of the first index pricing point. It will include only the 
lessee's or the lessee's affiliate's arm's-length sales price, and it 
will not require detailed calculations for the costs of transportation. 
By June 30 following any calendar year, the lessee calculates a safety 
net price for each month of the previous calendar year. Lessees must 
calculate the safety net prices for each index zone where the lessee 
has an Indian lease. The safety net price will capture the 
significantly higher values for sales occurring beyond the index point. 
The lessee will submit its safety net prices to MMS annually (by June 
30) using Form MMS-4411.
    We are also revising this ICR to include reporting requirements 
that were inadvertently overlooked when the final rule was published. 
See the chart below for these requirements and associated burden hours. 
These reporting requirements are rare and unusual circumstances where 
the standard valuation procedures set out in the Indian gas valuation 
rule are not appropriate.
    MMS is requesting OMB's approval to continue to collect this 
information. Not collecting this information would limit the 
Secretary's ability to discharge his/her duties and may also result in 
loss of royalty payments to the Indian lessor due to royalties not 
being collected on prices received under higher priced long-term sales 
contracts. Proprietary information submitted is protected, and there 
are no questions of a sensitive nature included in this information 
collection.
    We have also changed the title of this ICR from ``Safety Net 
Report'' to ``30 CFR part 206, subpart E--Indian Gas (Form MMS-4411, 
Safety Net Report),'' to clarify the regulatory language we are 
covering under 30 CFR part 206.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 29 Indian lessees/
lessors.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Record keeping ``Hour'' Burden: 
1,012 hours.

[[Page 66659]]

    The following chart shows the breakdown of the burden hours by CFR 
section and paragraph:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Burden      Annual      Annual
               30 CFR section                      Reporting requirement       hours per   number of    burden
                                                                               response    responses     hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
206.172(e)(6)(i) and (iii)..................  You must report the safety net          25          24         600
                                               price for each index zone to
                                               MMS on Form MMS-4411, Safety
                                               Net Report, no later than
                                               June 30 following each
                                               calendar year * * * MMS may
                                               order you to amend your
                                               safety net price within one
                                               year from the date your Form
                                               MMS-4411 is due or is filed,
                                               whichever is later.
206.172(f)(1), (2), and (3).................  An Indian tribe may ask MMS to          40           1          40
                                               exclude some or all of its
                                               leases from valuation under
                                               this section. . . . If an
                                               Indian tribe requests
                                               exclusion from an index zone
                                               for less than all of its
                                               leases, MMS will approve the
                                               request only if the excluded
                                               leases may be segregated into
                                               one or more groups based on
                                               separate fields within the
                                               reservation. . . . An Indian
                                               tribe may ask MMS to
                                               terminate exclusion of its
                                               leases from valuation under
                                               this section. . . . The
                                               Indian tribe's request to MMS
                                               under either paragraph (f)(1)
                                               or (2) of this section must
                                               be in the form of a tribal
                                               resolution.
206.174(f)..................................  You may ask MMS for guidance            40           1          40
                                               in determining value. You may
                                               propose a valuation method to
                                               MMS. Submit all available
                                               data related to your proposal
                                               and any additional
                                               information MMS deems
                                               necessary.
206.175(d)(4)...............................  You may request MMS approval            20           1          20
                                               of other methods for
                                               determining the quantity of
                                               residue gas and gas plant
                                               products allocable to each
                                               lease.
---------------------------------------------
                                            Transportation Allowances
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
206.178(a)(1)(i)............................  You are required to submit to            8           2          16
                                               MMS a copy of your arm's-
                                               length transportation
                                               contract(s) and all
                                               subsequent amendments to the
                                               contract(s) within 2 months
                                               of the date MMS receives your
                                               report which claims the
                                               allowance on the Form MMS-
                                               2014.
206.178(a)(2)(ii)...........................  As an alternative to paragraph          20           1          20
                                               (a)(2)(i) of this section,
                                               you may propose to MMS a cost
                                               allocation method based on
                                               the values of the products
                                               transported.
206.178(a)(3)(i) & (ii).....................  If your arm's-length                    40           1          40
                                               transportation contract
                                               includes both gaseous and
                                               liquid products and the
                                               transportation costs
                                               attributable to each cannot
                                               be determined from the
                                               contract, you must propose an
                                               allocation procedure to MMS.
                                               You are required to submit
                                               all relevant data to support
                                               your allocation proposal.
206.178(b)(2)(iv)...........................  After you have elected to use           20           1          20
                                               either method [depreciation
                                               with a return on under
                                               appreciated capital
                                               investment or a return on
                                               depreciable capital
                                               investment] for a
                                               transportation system, you
                                               may not later elect to change
                                               to the other alternative
                                               without MMS approval.
206.178(b)(2)(iv)(A)........................  Once you make an election               20           1          20
                                               [depreciation or unit of
                                               production method], you may
                                               not change methods without
                                               MMS approval.
206.178(b)(3)(I)............................  Except as provided in this              40           1          40
                                               paragraph, you may not take
                                               an allowance for transporting
                                               a product that is not royalty
                                               bearing without MMS approval.
206.178(b)(3)(ii)...........................  As an alternative to the               See 206.178(a)(2)(ii)
                                               requirements of paragraph
                                               (b)(3)(i) of this section,
                                               you may propose to MMS a cost
                                               allocation method based on
                                               the values of the products
                                               transported.
206.178(b)(5)...............................  If you transport both gaseous      See 206.178(a)(3)(i)(ii) and
                                               and liquid products through
                                               the same transportation
                                               system, you must propose a
                                               cost allocation procedure to
                                               MMS. . . . You are required
                                               to submit all relevant data
                                               to support your proposal.
---------------------------------------------
                                              Processing Allowances
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
206.180(a)(1)(i)............................  You are required to submit to            8           2          16
                                               MMS a copy of your arm's-
                                               length processing contract(s)
                                               and all subsequent amendments
                                               to the contract(s) within 2
                                               months of the date MMS
                                               receives your first report
                                               which deducts the allowance
                                               on the Form MMS-2014.
206.180(a)(3)...............................  If your arm's-length                    40           1          40
                                               processing contract includes
                                               more than one gas plant
                                               product and the processing
                                               costs attributable to each
                                               product cannot be determined
                                               from the contract, you must
                                               propose an allocation
                                               procedure to MMS. . . . You
                                               are required to submit all
                                               relevant data to support your
                                               proposal.
206.180(b)(2)(iv)...........................  After you elect to use either           20           1          20
                                               method [depreciation with a
                                               return on undepreciable
                                               capital investment or a
                                               return on depreciable capital
                                               investment] for a processing
                                               plant, you may not later
                                               elect to change to the other
                                               alternative without MMS
                                               approval.
206.180(b)(2)(iv)(A)........................  Once you make an election, you          20           1          20
                                               may not change [depreciation
                                               or unit of production]
                                               methods without MMS approval.

[[Page 66660]]

 
206.180(b)(3)...............................  Your processing allowance               20           1          20
                                               under this paragraph (b) must
                                               be determined based upon a
                                               calendar year or other period
                                               if you and MMS agree to an
                                               alternative.
206.181(c)..................................  A proposed comparable                   40           1          40
                                               processing fee submitted to
                                               either the Tribe and MMS (for
                                               tribal leases) or MMS (for
                                               allotted leases) with your
                                               supporting documentation
                                               submitted to MMS. If MMS does
                                               not take action on your
                                               proposal within 120 days, the
                                               proposal will be deemed to be
                                               denied and subject to appeal
                                               to the MMS Director under 30
                                               CFR part 290.
    Total...................................  ..............................  ..........          41       1,012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Annual Reporting and Record keeping ``Non-hour Cost'' 
Burden: We have identified no ``non-hour'' cost burdens.
    Comments: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides 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.
    The PRA also requires agencies to estimate the total annual 
reporting ``non-hour cost'' burden to respondents or record keepers 
resulting from the collection of information. We have not identified 
non-hour cost burdens for this information collection. 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, sampling, testing equipment; 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 Government; or (iv) as part of customary and usual 
business or private practices.
    We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them 
in our ICR submission for OMB approval, including appropriate 
adjustments to the estimated burden. We will provide a copy of the ICR 
to you without charge upon request and the ICR will also be posted on 
our Web site at http://www.mrm.mms.gov/Laws_R_D/FRNotices/
FRInfColl.htm.
    Public Comment Policy: We will post all comments in response to 
this notice on our Web site at http://www.mrm.mms.gov/Laws_R_D/
FRNotices/FRInfColl.htm. We will also make copies of the comments 
available for public review, including names and addresses of 
respondents, during regular business hours at our offices in Lakewood, 
Colorado. Individual respondents may request we withhold their home 
address from the public record, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would 
withhold from the rulemaking record a respondent's identity, as 
allowable by law. If you request that we withhold your name and/or 
address, 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.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, 
(202) 208-7744.

    Dated: October 25, 2002.
Cathy J. Hamilton,
Acting Associate Director for Minerals Revenue Management.
[FR Doc. 02-27715 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P