[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57960-57961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21638]


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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 extension of an information collection (1010-0150).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS 
is 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) concerns the paperwork 
requirements in Form MMS-144, ``Rig Movement Notification Report.''

DATES: Submit written comments by November 29, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The ability to submit comments is now available through 
MMS's Public Connect on-line commenting system and is the preferred 
method for commenting. Interested parties may submit comments on-line 
at https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. From the Public Connect ``Welcome'' 
screen you will be able to either search for Information Collection 
1010-0150 or select it from the ``Projects Open for Comment'' menu.
    Alternatively, interested parties may mail or hand-carry comments 
to the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; Mail 
Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817; Attention: 
Rules Processing Team (RPT). Please reference ``Information Collection 
1010-0150'' in your comments and include your name and return address. 
Note: We are no longer accepting comments sent via e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Rules Processing Team 
at (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a 
copy, at no cost, of Form MMS-144.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Form MMS-144, Rig Movement Notification Report.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0150.
    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 
to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. Section 1332(6) 
of the Act requires that ``operations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf 
should be conducted in a safe manner by well-trained personnel using 
technology, precautions, and techniques sufficient to prevent or 
minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, 
spillages, physical obstruction to other users of the waters or subsoil 
and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the 
environment or to property, or endanger life or health.''
    This ICR concerns the regulations in 30 CFR 250 subparts D, E, and 
F, specifically Sections 403(c), 502, and 602, on the movement of 
drilling, completion, and workover rigs and related equipment on and 
off an offshore platform or from well to well on the same offshore 
platform. The requirement for operators to notify MMS of rig movements 
is only specifically stated in Sec.  250.403(c). Since MMS is mandated 
to perform timely inspections on rigs and platforms, we must have 
accurate information with regard to their location on the OCS. We use 
this information in scheduling inspections with regard to priority and 
cost effectiveness.
    However, because of the increased volume of activity in the Gulf of 
Mexico Region (GOMR), it is now standard MMS procedure to require this 
notification as a condition of approval

[[Page 57961]]

for well workover, recompletion, or abandonment operations. Because of 
this we have included the rig movement notification with the other 
general information collection requirements of these regulations under 
OMB control numbers 1010-0141, 1010-0067, and 1010-0043 (30 CFR part 
250, subparts D, E, and F, respectively). The MMS District Offices use 
the information reported to ascertain the precise arrival and departure 
of all rigs in OCS waters. The accurate location of these rigs is 
necessary to better facilitate the scheduling of inspections by MMS 
personnel.
    We 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: The frequency is on occasion.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS oil and gas lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We estimate 
respondents will average 6 minutes to fill out and complete Form MMS-
144. The total annual estimate is 180 burden hours.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified no cost burdens associated for this collection.
    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: 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.
    Agencies must also estimate the ``non-hour cost'' burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, 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, and record storage 
facilities. You should not include estimates for 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 submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we 
will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to 
OMB.
    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 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 Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: September 17, 2004.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 04-21638 Filed 9-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P