[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75562-75564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27652]



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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 (1010-0151).

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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 the rulemaking for 30 CFR 250, Subpart B, ``Plans and 
Information.''

DATES: Submit written comments by February 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1010-0151 as 
an identifier in your message.
     Public Connect on-line commenting system, https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. Follow the instructions on the Web site for 
submitting comments.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions on the Web site for submitting comments.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Identify with the 
Information Collection number in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with the Information 
Collection Number.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Process Team 
(RPT); 381 Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please 
reference ``Information Collection 1010-0151'' in your comments.

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 the regulation and associated forms that require 
the subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart B, ``Plans and 
Information.''
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0151.
    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. Sections 11 and 
25 of the amended OCS Lands Act require the holders of OCS oil and gas 
or sulphur leases to submit exploration plans (EPs) or development and 
production plans (DPPs) to the Secretary for approval prior to 
commencing these activities.
    Section 43 U.S.C. 1356 requires the issuance of ``* * * regulations 
which require that any vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or 
structure * * * (2) which is used for activities pursuant to this 
subchapter, comply * * * with such minimum standards of design, 
construction, alteration, and repair as the Secretary * * * 
establishes. * * *'' Section 43 U.S.C. 1332(6) also states, 
``operations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf should be conducted in a 
safe manner * * * to prevent or minimize the likelihood of * * * 
physical obstruction to other users of the water or subsoil and seabed, 
or other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to 
property, or endanger life or health.'' These authorities and 
responsibilities are among those delegated to the Minerals Management 
Service (MMS) to ensure that operations in the OCS will meet statutory 
requirements; provide for safety and protection of the environment; and 
result in diligent exploration, development, and production of OCS 
leases.
    MMS proposed a complete revision of the 30 CFR 250, subpart B 
regulations (67 FR 35372, May 17, 2002), and OMB approved the 
information collection requirements under control number 1010-0151, 
expiration June 2005. This submission is a renewal of the information 
requirements for the rulemaking and is required to prevent the 
expiration of OMB approval under 1010-0151; the ICR reflects what we 
expect to be in our final rulemaking, which is in surnaming.
    Specifically, MMS uses the information to evaluate, analyze, 
determine, or ensure that:
     Ancillary activities comply with appropriate laws or 
regulations and are conducted safely, protect the environment, and do 
not interfere or conflict with the other uses of the OCS (i.e., 
military use, subsistence activity).
     Points of contact and responsible parties are designated 
for proposed activities.
     Surveying, monitoring, or other activities do not 
interfere or conflict with preexisting and other uses of the area.
     Plans or actions meet or implement lease stipulation 
requirements.
     Proposed exploration, drilling, production, and pipeline 
activities are conducted in a safe and acceptable manner for the 
location and water depth proposed and conserve reservoir energy to 
allow enhanced recovery operations in later stages of lease 
development.
     Unnecessary or incompatible facilities are not installed 
on the OCS.
     Shallow drilling hazards (such as shallow gas 
accumulations or mud slide areas) are avoided.
     Areas are properly classified for H2S, and 
appropriate procedures are in place.
     Appropriate oil spill planning measures and procedures are 
implemented.
     Expected meteorological conditions at the activity site 
are accommodated.
     Environmentally sensitive areas are identified, and the 
direct and cumulative effects of the activities are minimized.
     Offshore and onshore air quality is not significantly 
affected by the proposed activities.
     Waste disposal methods and pollution mitigation techniques 
are appropriate for local conditions.
     State CZM requirements have been met.
     Archaeological or cultural resources are identified and 
protected from unreasonable disturbances.
     Socioeconomic effects of the proposed project on the local 
community and associated services have been determined.
     Support infrastructures and associated traffic are 
adequately covered in plans.
    The following forms used in the Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR) are 
also submitted to MMS. With the exception of the last form, OMB 
approved these forms as part of the information collection for the 
current subpart B regulations.
     Form MMS-137 (Plan Information Form) is submitted to 
summarize plan information. MMS uses the information to assist in data 
entry and review of submitted OCS plans. This form asks for, in either 
fill in the blanks or check marks: General information relating to the 
company; description of proposed

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activities; tentative schedule of proposed activities; description(s) 
of drilling rig, production platform, lease term pipelines; proposed 
well structure location; and anchor locations for drilling rig or 
construction barge.
     Forms MMS-138 (GOM Air Emissions Calculations for 
Exploration Plans) and MMS-139 (GOM Air Emissions Calculations for 
Development Operations Coordination Documents (DOCDs)) are submitted to 
standardize the way potential air emissions are estimated and approved 
as part of the OCS plan. These forms are intended to be thorough but 
flexible to meet the needs of different operators. The data from these 
forms determine the air emissions on the environment. These forms 
consist of: Title sheet, factors sheet, emissions spreadsheet and a 
summary sheet which will describe and calculate emissions from an 
activity. Respondents are asked to categorize emissions into 9 factors: 
natural gas prime movers, diesel-fired prime movers, heaters/boilers/
firetubes/NG-fired, gas glares, liquid flares, tanks, fugitives, glycol 
dehydrator vent, and gas venting.
     Form MMS-141 (ROV Survey Report) is submitted to report 
the observations and information recorded from 2 sets of ROV monitoring 
surveys to identify high-density biological communities that may occur 
on the seafloor in deep water. The form asks respondents for general 
operator/facility information and a transect drawing of the survey 
pattern made by the ROV; a video tape (VHS) and transcript of what was 
visualized at the bottom throughout deployment (the form includes a 
guide to animal groups and a guide to physical features), and any 
additional imagery that helps depict bottom conditions. We use the 
information when such areas are found to help design mitigation 
measures to avoid these areas in the future. We also use the 
information to help assess the effectiveness of avoidance criteria and 
expand the knowledge base regarding the benthic habitats of the deep 
water seafloor.
     Form MMS-NEW (Environmental Impact Analysis Matrix) is a 
new fill in the blank matrix form proposed to be submitted to identify 
the environmental impact-producing factors (IPFs) for the listed 
environmental resources. We use the information to assess impact and 
determine compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. A form 
number will be assigned when final regulations take effect. Respondents 
are asked to fill in the blank by placing an ``x'' in the space under 
each IPF category associated with the proposed activity that may impact 
a particular environmental resource. The environmental resources listed 
on this form are: Site-specific at Offshore Location such as 
chemosynthetic communities, water quality, fisheries to name a few; 
Vicinity of Offshore Location such as essential fish habitat; Coastal 
and Onshore such as beaches and wetlands.
    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: On occasion.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 150 
Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 
267,880 hours. During the interim period between proposed and final 
rules, OMB approved the renewal of the information collection burden in 
the current subpart B regulations (1010-0049). After consultations with 
respondents, we revised the estimates of the hour burdens and the 
annual number of responses. We have incorporated those updated burden 
adjustments in this renewal. Therefore, we are requesting an 
``adjustment'' increase of 52,935 hours for 1010-0151. The following 
chart details the individual components and respective hour burden 
estimates of this ICR. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that 
respondents perform certain requirements in the normal course of their 
activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that 
into account in estimating the burden.

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                                       Reporting & recordkeeping
  Citation  30 CFR 250  subpart B             requirement                            Hour burden
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200 through 206...................  General requirements for plans   Burden included with specific requirements
                                     and information.                 below.
208...............................  Notify MMS and other users of    10.
                                     the OCS before conducting
                                     ancillary activities.
210(a)............................  Submit report summarizing &      1.
                                     analyzing data/information
                                     obtained or derived from
                                     ancillary activities.
210(b)............................  Retain ancillary activities      2.
                                     data/information.
211 through 228...................  Submit EP and accompanying       640.
                                     information (including forms
                                     MMS-137, MMS-138, MMS-NEW used
                                     in GOMR) and provide
                                     notifications.
232(d); 234; 235(a); 281(d)(3);     Submit amended, modified,        120.
 283; 284; 285.                      revised, or supplemental EP,
                                     or resubmit disapproved EP.
241 through 262...................  Submit DPP or DOCD and           690.
                                     accompanying information
                                     (including forms MMS-137, MMS-
                                     139, MMS-NEW used in GOMR) and
                                     provide notifications.
267(d); 272(a); 273; 283; 284; 285  Submit amended, modified,        GOM Region 95.
                                     revised, or supplemental DPP    Pacific Region 600.
                                     or DOCD, or resubmit
                                     disapproved DPP or DOCD.
269(b)............................  Submit information on            2.
                                     preliminary plans for leases
                                     or units in vicinity of
                                     proposed development and
                                     production activities.
281(a)............................  Submit various applications....  Burdens included under appropriate subpart
                                                                      or form (1010-0044;1010-0059; 1010-0058;
                                                                      1010-0050).
282...............................  Retain monitoring plans, data/   2.
                                     information.
                                    Submit monitoring plans........  1.
282(b)............................  Submit monitoring reports and    2.
                                     data (including form MMS-141
                                     used in GOMR).
288 through 294...................  Submit DWOP....................  750.
296 through 298...................  Submit CID.....................  443.

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200 through 299...................  General departure and            2.
                                     alternative compliance
                                     requests not specifically
                                     covered elsewhere in subpart B
                                     regulations.
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified no cost burdens 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: December 13, 2004.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 04-27652 Filed 12-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P