[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51471-51472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19003]


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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 two currently approved information 
collections (OMB Control Numbers 1010-0018 and 1010-0039).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB for review and 
approval two information collection requests (ICRs) entitled ``Form 
MMS-126, Well Potential Test Report (WPT)''; and ``Form MMS-127, 
Sensitive Reservoir Information Report (SRI).'' This notice also 
provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork 
burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by September 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments either by fax (202) 395-6566 or 
email ([email protected]) directly to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department 
of the Interior (1010-0018 or 1010-0039). Mail or hand carry a copy of 
your 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 email your 
comments to MMS, the address is: [email protected]. Reference 
Information Collection 1010-0018 or 1010-0039 in your subject line and 
mark your message for return receipt. Include your name and return 
address in your message text.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlene Bajusz, Rules Processing Team, 
(703) 787-1600. You may also contact Arlene Bajusz to obtain a copy, at 
no cost, of forms MMS-126 and MMS-127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Titles and OMB Control Numbers:
    Form MMS-126, Well Potential Test Report (WPT), 1010-0039.
    Form MMS-127, Sensitive Reservoir Information Report (SRI), 1010-
0018.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prescribe rules and 
regulations to administer leasing of the OCS. Such rules and 
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease. 
Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and 
natural gas resources in a manner that is consistent with the need to 
make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as 
rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development 
with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure 
the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and

[[Page 51472]]

to 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 information collection requests (ICRs) concern forms used to 
collect information required under 30 CFR part 250. Various sections of 
30 CFR part 250, subpart K, require respondents to submit forms MMS-126 
and MMS-127. MMS District and Regional Supervisors use the information 
on form MMS-126 for various environmental, reservoir, reserves, and 
conservation analyses, including the determination of maximum 
production rates (MPRs) when necessary for certain oil and gas 
completions. The form contains information concerning the conditions 
and results of a well potential test. This requirement implements the 
conservation provisions of the OCS Lands Act and 30 CFR part 250. The 
information obtained from the well potential test is essential to 
determine if an MPR is necessary for a well and to establish the 
appropriate rate. It is not possible to specify an MPR in the absence 
of information about the production rate capability (potential) of the 
well.
    MMS District and Regional Supervisors use the information submitted 
on form MMS-127 to determine whether a rate-sensitive reservoir is 
being prudently developed. This represents an essential control 
mechanism that MMS uses to regulate production rates from each 
sensitive reservoir being actively produced. Occasionally, the 
information available on a reservoir early in its producing life may 
indicate it to be non-sensitive, while later and more complete 
information would establish the reservoir as being sensitive. 
Production from a well completed in the gas cap of a sensitive 
reservoir requires approval from the Regional Supervisor. The 
information submitted on form MMS-127 provides reservoir parameters 
that are revised at least annually or sooner if reservoir development 
results in a change in reservoir interpretation. The engineers and 
geologists use the information for rate control and reservoir studies.
    MMS will protect information from respondents considered 
proprietary under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.196, ``Data and information to be made available to the 
public.'' No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are 
mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion but not less than annually.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 151 
Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for form MMS-126 is a total of 795 
hours (average burden of 0.6 hour per form). The estimated annual 
``hour'' burden for form MMS-127 is a total of 1,194 hours (average 
burden of 1.2 hours per form).
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: MMS 
has identified no ``non-hour cost'' burden associated with either form 
MMS-126 or MMS-127.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated 
to respond.
    Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 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 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 December 12, 
2003, we published a Federal Register notice (68 FR 69419) 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 provides 
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. This 
information is also contained in the PRA statement on each of the 
forms. We have received no comments in response to these efforts.
    If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send 
your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. 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 September 20, 
2004.
    Public Comment Policy: MMS's practice is to make comments, 
including names and 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 the request to the extent 
allowable by the 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: April 14, 2004.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 04-19003 Filed 8-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P