[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35693-35695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12133]


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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 an information collection (1010-0151).

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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 an information 
collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork 
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 250, Subpart B `` Plans 
and Information, and related documents. This notice also provides the 
public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these 
regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by July 21, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this information collection 
directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) either by e-mail 
([email protected]) or by fax (202) 395-6566, directly to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk 
Officer for the Department of the Interior (1010-0151).
    Submit a copy of your comments to the Department of the Interior, 
MMS, via:
     MMS's Public Connect on-line commenting system, https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. Follow the instructions on the website for 
submitting comments.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0151.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Processing 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, 
(703) 787-1600. You may also contact 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 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

[[Page 35694]]

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 mudslide 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.
     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.
     Form MMS-141 (ROV Survey Report) is submitted to report 
the observations and information recorded from two sets of ROV 
monitoring surveys to identify high-density biological communities that 
may occur on the seafloor in deep water. 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.
    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 
oil and gas or sulphur lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 320,815 hours. The following chart details the individual 
components and estimated hour burdens. 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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                                                                                                                                                Annual
    Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart B        Reporting & recordkeeping                Hour burden                Average No. annual responses       burden
                                                requirement                                                                                     hours
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200 through 206......................  General requirements for       Burden included with specific requirements below                                 0
                                        plans and information.
208..................................  Notify MMS and other users of  10................................  23 notices.......................          230
                                        the OCS before conducting
                                        ancillary activities.
210(a)...............................  Submit report summarizing &    1.................................  25 reports.......................           25
                                        analyzingdata/information
                                        obtained or derived from
                                        ancillary activities.
210(b)...............................  Retain ancillary activities    2.................................  150 recordkeepers................          300
                                        data/information.

[[Page 35695]]

 
211 through 228......................  Submit EP and accompanying     640...............................  200 plans........................      128,000
                                        information (including forms
                                        MMS-137, MMS 138, MMS-NEW
                                        used in GOMR) and provide
                                        notifications.
232(d); 234; 235(a); 281(d)(3); 283;   Submit amended, modified,      120...............................  224 changed plans................       26,880
 284; 285.                              revised, or supplemental EP,
                                        or resubmit disapproved EP.
241 through 262......................  Submit DPP or DOCD and         690...............................  110 plans........................       75,900
                                        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 95............................  250 changed plans................       23,750
                                        revised, or supplemental DPP  Pacific 600.......................  1 changed plan...................          600
                                        or DOCD, or resubmit
                                        disapproved DPP or DOCD.
269(b)...............................  Submit information on          2.................................  1 response.......................            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-             0
                                                                       0059; 1010-0058; 1010-0050)
282..................................  Retain monitoring data/        2.................................  313 records......................          626
                                        information.
                                       Submit monitoring plans......  1.................................  30 plans.........................           30
282(b)...............................  Submit monitoring reports and  2.................................  2 each for 33 wells = 66.........          132
                                        data (including form MMS-141
                                        used in GOMR).
288 through 294......................  Submit DWOP..................  750...............................  68 plans.........................       51,000
296 through 298......................  Submit CID...................  443...............................  30 documents.....................       13,290
200 through 299......................  General departure and          2.................................  25 requests......................           50
                                        alternative compliance
                                        requests not specifically
                                        covered elsewhere in subpart
                                        B regulations.
    Total Burden.....................  .............................  ..................................  1,516............................      320,815
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified no paperwork ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with 
the collection of information.
    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 17, 
2004, we published a Federal Register notice (69 FR 75562) 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 number for the information collection requirements 
imposed by the 30 CFR 250 regulations and forms. The regulation also 
informs the public that they may comment at any time on the collections 
of information and provides the address to which they should send 
comments. 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 July 21, 2005.
    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 
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 Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz, (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: Feburary 22, 2005.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Program.

    Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the 
Federal Register on June 15, 2005.

[FR Doc. 05-12133 Filed 6-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P