[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 227 (Monday, November 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71329-71330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6574]


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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 (1010-0048).

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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 regulations under 30 CFR 251, ``Geological and 
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.''

DATES: Submit written comments by January 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1010-0048 as 
an identifier in your message.
     Public Connect on-line commenting system, https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. Follow the instructions on the website for 
submitting comments.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Identify with 
Information Collection Number 1010-0048 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0048.
     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 1010-0048'' 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 regulations and the forms that require the 
subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 251, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) 
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Form(s): MMS-327, MMS-328, and MMS-329
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
    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 (43 U.S.C. 1340) also states that ``any person 
authorized by the Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical 
explorations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not interfere 
with or endanger actual operations under any lease maintained or 
granted pursuant to this OCS Lands Act, and which are not unduly 
harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' The section further requires 
that permits to conduct such activities may only be issued if it is 
determined that the applicant is qualified; the activities are not 
polluting, hazardous, or unsafe; they do not interfere with other users 
of the area; and they do not disturb a site, structure, or object of 
historical or archaeological significance. Applicants for permits are 
required to submit form MMS-327 to provide the information necessary to 
evaluate their qualifications. Upon approval, respondents are issued a 
permit on either form MMS-328 or MMS-329 depending on whether the 
permit is for geophysical exploration or for geological exploration.
    The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1352) further requires that certain 
costs be reimbursed to the parties submitting required G&G information 
and data. Under the OCS Lands Act, permittees are to be reimbursed for 
the costs of reproducing any G&G data required to be submitted. 
Permittees are to be reimbursed also for the reasonable cost of 
processing geophysical information required to be submitted when 
processing is in a form or manner required by the Director of the 
Minerals Management Service (MMS) and is not used in the normal conduct 
of the business of the permittee.
    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 parts 250, 251, and 252. No items of a sensitive nature are 
collected. Responses are mandatory or required to obtain or retain a 
benefit.
    Frequency: On occasion, annual; and as specified in permits.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 100 
Federal OCS permittees or notice filers.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 8,272 
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.

[[Page 71330]]



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                                         Reporting and
       Citation 30 CFR 251               recordkeeping       Hour burden
                                          requirement
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251.4(a), (b); 251.5(a), (b),      Apply for permits (form             6
 (d); 251.6; 251.7.                 MMS-327) to conduct G&G
                                    exploration, including
                                    deep stratigraphic
                                    tests/revisions when
                                    necessary.
251.4(b); 251.5(c), (d); 251.6...  File notices to conduct             6
                                    scientific research
                                    activities, including
                                    notice to MMS prior to
                                    beginning and after
                                    concluding activities.
251.6(b); 251.7(b)(5)............  Notify MMS if specific              1
                                    actions should occur;
                                    report archaeological
                                    resources. (No
                                    instances reported
                                    since 1982.).
251.7............................  Submit information on
                                    test drilling
                                    activities under a
                                    permit, including form
                                    MMS-123--burden
                                    included under 1010-
                                    0141.
251.7(c).........................  Enter into agreement for            1
                                    group participation in
                                    test drilling,
                                    including publishing
                                    summary statement;
                                    provide MMS copy of
                                    notice/list of
                                    participants. (No
                                    agreements submitted
                                    since 1989.).
251.7(d).........................  (1) Submit bond on deep stratigraphic
                                     test--burden included under 30 CFR
                                            part 256 (1010-0006).
251.8(a).........................  Request reimbursement               1
                                    for certain costs
                                    associated with MMS
                                    inspections. (No
                                    requests in many years.
                                    OCS Lands Act requires
                                    Government
                                    reimbursement.).
251.8(b), (c)....................  Submit modifications to,            8
                                    and status/final
                                    reports on, activities
                                    conducted under a
                                    permit.
251.9(c).........................  Notify MMS to relinquish        \1/2\
                                    a permit.
251.10(c)........................   (1) File appeals--Not subject to the
                                                    PRA.
251.11; 251.12...................  Notify MMS and submit               4
                                    G&G data/information
                                    collected under a
                                    permit and/or processed
                                    by permittees or 3rd
                                    parties, including
                                    reports, logs or
                                    charts, results,
                                    analyses, descriptions,
                                    etc.
251.13...........................  Request reimbursement              20
                                    for certain costs
                                    associated with
                                    reproducing data/
                                    information.
251.14(a)........................  Submit comments on MMS              1
                                    intent to disclose data/
                                    information to the
                                    public.
251.14(c)(2).....................  Submit comments on MMS              1
                                    intent to disclose data/
                                    information to an
                                    independent contractor/
                                    agent.
251.14(c)(4).....................  Contractor/agent submits            1
                                    written commitment not
                                    to sell, trade,
                                    license, or disclose
                                    data/information
                                    without MMS consent.
Part 251.........................  General departure and               2
                                    alternative compliance
                                    requests not
                                    specifically covered
                                    elsewhere in part 251
                                    regulations.
Permit Form......................  Request extension of                1
                                    permit time period.
Permit Form......................  Retain G&G data/                    1
                                    information for 10
                                    years and make
                                    available to MMS upon
                                    request.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.

E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
 [FR Doc. E5-6574 Filed 11-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P