[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31506-31508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10896]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (1010-0059).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 regulations under 30 CFR 250, Subpart H, ``Oil and 
Gas Production Safety Systems.''

DATES: Submit written comments by August 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1010-0059 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.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Identify with 
Information Collection Number 1010-0059 in the subject line.
     Fax: (703) 787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0059.
     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 1010-0059'' in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Rules Processing Team 
at (703) 787-1600. You may also contact

[[Page 31507]]

Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulations that 
require the subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart H, Oil and Gas Production Safety 
Systems.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0059.
    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.
    The OCS Lands Act at 43 U.S.C. 1332(6) states 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 notice concerns the reporting and recordkeeping elements of 30 
CFR part 250, subpart H, Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems, and 
related Notices to Lessees and Operators that clarify and provide 
additional guidance on some aspects of the regulations.
    MMS OCS Regions use the information submitted under subpart H to 
evaluate equipment and/or procedures that lessees propose to use during 
production operations, including evaluation of requests for departures 
or use of alternative procedures. Information submitted is also used to 
verify the no-flow condition of wells to continue the waiver of 
requirements to install valves capable of preventing backflow. MMS 
inspectors review the records maintained to verify compliance with 
testing and minimum safety requirements.
    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,'' and 30 CFR part 252, ``OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.'' 
No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion or annual.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 
11,357 hours. 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Hour
      Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart H and NTL(s)            Reporting and recordkeeping requirement        burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Reporting
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
800; 801; 802; 803; related NTLs....................  Submit application and request approval for              8
                                                       design, installation, and operation of
                                                       subsurface safety devices and surface
                                                       production-safety systems; including related
                                                       requests for departures or use of alternative
                                                       procedures (supervisory control and data
                                                       acquisition systems, valve closure times, time
                                                       delay circuitry, etc.).
801(g)..............................................  Submit annual verification of no-flow condition          2
                                                       of well.
801(h)(1)...........................................  Form MMS-124, Sundry Notices and Reports on          (\1\)
                                                       Wells (renamed Application for Permit to
                                                       Modify).
801(h)(2); 803(c)...................................  Identify well with sign on wellhead that             (\2\)
                                                       subsurface safety device is removed; flag
                                                       safety devices that are out of service.
802(e)(5)...........................................  Submit statement certifying final surface                3
                                                       production safety system installed conforms to
                                                       approved design.
803(b)(8); related NTLs.............................  Submit information (risk assessment) to request          4
                                                       ``new'' firefighting system departure approval
                                                       (GOMR).
803(b)(8); related NTLs.............................  Submit information (risk assessment) to retain           4
                                                       current firefighting system departure approval
                                                       (GOMR).
803(b)(8)(iv).......................................  Post diagram of 2 firefighting system..........          2
804(a)(12); 800.....................................  Notify MMS prior to production when ready to         \1/2\
                                                       conduct pre-production test and upon
                                                       commencement for a complete inspection.
804; related NTLs...................................  Request departure from testing schedule                  1
                                                       requirements..
804; related NTLs...................................  Submit copy of state-required Emergency Action           1
                                                       Plan (EAP) containing test abatement plans
                                                       (Pacific OCS Region).
806(c)..............................................  Request evaluation and approval of other                 2
                                                       quality assurance programs covering
                                                       manufacture of SPPE.
800-807.............................................  General departure and alternative compliance             4
                                                       requests not specifically covered elsewhere in
                                                       subpart H regulations.
-----------------------------------------------------
                                                  Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
801(h)(2); 802(e); 804(b)...........................  Maintain records on subsurface and surface              12
                                                       safety devices to include approved design &
                                                       installation features, testing, repair,
                                                       removal, etc.
803(b)(1)(iii), (2)(i)..............................  Maintain pressure-recorder charts..............         12
803(b)(4)(iii)......................................  Maintain schematic of the emergency shutdown             4
                                                       (ESD) which indicates the control functions of
                                                       all safety devices.
803(b)(11)..........................................  Maintain records of wells that have erosion-            4
                                                       control programs and results.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Burden covered under 1010-0045.

[[Page 31508]]

 
\2\ Usual/customary safety procedure for removing or identifying out-of-service safety devices.

    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 Procedure: MMS's practice is to make comments, 
including names and addresses of respondents, available for public 
review. 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: May 25, 2005.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 05-10896 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P