[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11123-11124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5384]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM091-9941-EK-HE931]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Control Number 
1004-0180

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) is requesting the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information 
from private parties who enter into agreements to recover and dispose 
of helium on Federal lands. BLM uses Form 3100-12, Gas Well Data Survey 
of Helium-Bearing Natural Gas, to collect this information. This 
information allows BLM to determine and evaluate the extent of any 
helium resources that may exist in natural gas.

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or 
before May 6, 2003. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments 
received after the above date.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Bureau of Land Management, (WO-
630), Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Blvd., Springfield, Virginia 
22153.
    You may send comments via Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0180'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message.
    You may deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    All comments will be 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: You may contact Brent Gage on (806) 
324-2659 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to 
contact Mr. Gage.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires BLM to provide a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of 
information to solicit comments on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information 
will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of our estimates of the information collection 
burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we 
use;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Owners and operators of helium-bearing natural gas wells and 
transmission lines must submit Form 3100-12, Gas Well Data Survey of 
Helium-Bearing Natural Gas, to provide for gas sampling and analysis we 
use to locate helium occurrences in natural gases. BLM carries out this 
program under 74 Stat. 920, Public Law 104-273, Helium Privatization 
Act of 1996. The knowledge of helium occurrences is part of the 
Government's conservation program.
    We request the following information on Form 3100-12:
    (A) BLM needs the survey information to locate natural gas wells 
and evaluate the helium resources of the United States. Results of 
released gas well analyses and related data are published annually for 
Government, industry, and public use.
    (B) Field Survey Number: The BLM, Helium Operations Office, assigns 
this number to record and catalog the gas sample. The number is 
necessary for reference and future identification of the gas sample.
    (C) State and County: The geographical location is necessary to 
identify the source of the gas sample. After the gas source is 
identified, BLM uses this information to evaluate the potential for 
supplying helium.
    (D) Field, Well Name, and API Number: This information identifies 
the source of the gas sample. Each producing state assigns official 
field designations to producing areas. BLM uses this information to 
determine

[[Page 11124]]

location and size of helium reserves. The well name is registered with 
the state and identifies the specific well from where the gas sample 
came. This information provides both the owner and BLM a reference so 
that nay further questions that arise concerning the gas sample can be 
specifically referred to a certain well. Each well in the United States 
is assigned a unique number based on guidelines from the American 
Petroleum Institute (API). This number is essential to assure that 
wells with similar names are not confused.
    (E) Location and Owner: We need the legal description of the 
location of the well. This information will help to locate the well on 
maps of the area and other features, both surface and subsurface, and 
to determine helium reserves. The owner's name and address are 
necessary to report analyses results and for further correspondence.
    (F) Sampled By: This information provides the name of the person 
taking the gas sample and allows verification of well and sampling 
conditions if any questions arise concerning the gas sample.
    (G) Date Completed and Date Sampled: This information refers to the 
date the well was ready for production. This information is necessary 
to determine if this is an older producing well or a recently completed 
well. An older producing well will have production and pressure records 
available within the company and at state agencies that are of great 
value to evaluate the helium reserves. The date sampled is important 
because we search the records to determine under what conditions the 
gas sample was taken if any questions arise concerning the gas sample.
    (H) Elevation: This information refers to the elevation of the 
Kelly Bushing or ground level elevation on the drilling rig. This 
information is necessary because most wireline logs, mud logs, and 
other references to the depth of the well are made with the Kelly 
Bushing data. The elevation will assist to classify the geologic 
horizons penetrated by the well, and give some true depth in relation 
to sea level data.
    (I) Name of Producing Formation and Geological Age of Producing 
Formation: This information is necessary to classify the subsurface 
source of the gas sample and to consider other producing zones in the 
field or area.
    (J) Depth (Feet) of Producing Formation and Thickness (Feet): This 
information is necessary to consider the producing zones with those in 
other fields or wells. Thickness of the producing zone is an essential 
factor to determine the volume of helium reserves presently in a 
reservoir.
    (K) Shut-In Wellhead Pressure and Open Flow: This information is 
necessary to determine the reserves of helium and the adequacy of a 
well to produce sufficient process gas to a helium extraction plant. 
Shut-in wellhead pressure is essential to estimate the helium reserves. 
Open flow is the capacity of the well to produce gas. BLM uses this 
information to determine if the process gas volumes are available.
    Without this information, the location and development of helium 
reserves could not be done, long range helium production and 
conservation could not be carried out, and an assured supply of helium 
to the Federal Government would not be available.
    Based on our experience administering the activities described 
above, we estimate the public reporting burden is 15 minutes per 
response to supply the required information. The respondents are owners 
and operators of helium-bearing natural gas wells and transmission 
lines. The frequency of response is annual. We estimate 200 responses 
per year and a total annual burden of 50 hours.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: February 13, 2003.
Michael H. Schwartz,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-5384 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M