[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 7654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3459]


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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: Extension of comment period for new information collection.

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SUMMARY: This document extends to March 23, 2004, the previous deadline 
of February 23, 2004, for submitting comments on the proposed new 
information collection published on December 24, 2003 (68 FR 74647), 
that concerns four new forms to collect information required under 30 
CFR 256, ``Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental 
Shelf.'' The below forms will be used by all MMS Regional Offices:
 MMS-149, Assignment of Interest in Federal Pipeline 
Right-of-Way
 MMS-150, Assignment of Record Title Interest in 
Federal OCS Oil & Gas Lease
 MMS-151, Assignment of Operating Rights Interest in 
Federal OCS Oil & Gas Lease
 MMS-152, Relinquishment of Federal OCS Oil & Gas 
Lease.

DATES: Submit written comments by March 23, 2004.

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 address is: [email protected]. 
Reference ``Information Collection 1010-NEW--Assignment Forms'' in your 
e-mail subject line and mark your message for return receipt. Include 
your name and return address in your message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlene Bajusz, Rules Processing Team 
at (703) 787-1600 to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the forms or 
regulations that require the subject collection of information. You may 
also print a copy of these forms from the MMS Web site: http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lsesale/proposed_forms.html under the heading 
``Leasing.'' For more information on the forms themselves, contact 
Steven K. Waddell, Supervisor, Adjudication Unit, (504) 736-1710.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS published a notice on proposed new 
information collection on December 24, 2003, (68 FR 74647). This notice 
concerns forms used to collect assignment, transfer, extension, and 
termination of lease information required under 30 CFR part 256, 
``Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf.'' 
The Federal Government has been receiving and approving transfers of 
ownership interest in leases since the inception of the OCS Lands Act, 
as amended. Currently, owners of Federal offshore leases submit their 
own forms of Assignment and Relinquishment documents for approval by 
MMS. Occasionally, the information is incorrect and the intent of the 
parties is not clear as to the conveyance of ownership interest in the 
lease or pipeline right-of-way, causing MMS to return the assignment 
unapproved. These forms have been created to provide a standardized 
document that will be accepted in all MMS Regional offices; they can be 
easily prepared by industry and quickly approved by MMS.
    To implement the Government Paperwork Elimination Act and to 
further streamline data collection, MMS is developing systems to 
provide electronic options for lessees and operators to use in 
submitting information and requesting approvals. These forms are part 
of that effort to allow electronic options for lessees and operators to 
use in submitting information and requesting approvals. In 
standardizing the input of this information, MMS is providing a means 
for rapid preparation by industry and reduced analytical time by MMS 
staff, therefore approving the transfers quicker.
    MMS uses this information to track ownership of all offshore leases 
as to record title, operating rights, and ownership of pipelines, and 
whether or not the lease has been relinquished and available for the 
next lease sale. MMS uses the information to update the corporate 
database, which is in turn used to determine what leases are available 
for a lease sale. The information in this database is provided to the 
public via the internet. Without the information, MMS would not be able 
to track the ownership of leases and therefore not be able to identify 
responsible parties for the liabilities of the lease, which could total 
millions of dollars.
    The MMS has held a public forum on the proposed forms at the Gulf 
of Mexico Regional Office, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, 
Louisiana, on February 11, 2004. Additional time to develop comments 
after the meeting is being provided by this notice; therefore, we are 
extending the comment period for 30 more days to March 23, 2004. For 
further information, contact Steven K. Waddell, Supervisor, 
Adjudication Unit, (504) 736-1710.
    Public Comment Policy: MMS's practice is to make comments, 
including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public 
review during regular business hours. If you wish your name and/or 
address to be withheld, you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your comment. MMS will honor this request to the extent 
allowable by law; however, anonymous comments will not be considered. 
All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
    MMS Federal Register Liaison Officer: Denise Johnson (202) 208-
3976.

    Dated: February 11, 2004.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 04-3459 Filed 2-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P