[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72646-72648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6898]


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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 (1010-0057).

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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

[[Page 72647]]

renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 
30 CFR Part 250, Subpart C, ``Pollution Prevention and Control,'' 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 January 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this information collection 
directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior via OMB e-mail: ([email protected]); or by fax (202) 395-6566; identify with (1010-
0057).
    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.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Use Information 
Collection Number 1010-0057 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0057.
     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 1010-0057'' 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 regulation that requires the subject collection of 
information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart C, Pollution 
Prevention and Control.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0057.
    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) 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.'' Section 
1334(a)(8) requires that regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
include provisions ``for compliance with the National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards [NAAQS] pursuant to the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 
et seq.), to the extent that activities authorized under this Act 
significantly affect the air quality of any State.'' Section 1843(b) 
calls for ``regulations requiring all materials, equipment, tools, 
containers, and all other items used on the Outer Continental Shelf to 
be properly color coded, stamped, or labeled, wherever practicable, 
with the owner's identification prior to actual use.''
    This notice concerns the reporting and recordkeeping elements of 30 
CFR Part 250, subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control, and related 
Notices to Lessees and Operators that clarify and provide additional 
guidance on some aspects of the regulations. Responses are mandatory. 
No questions of a ``sensitive'' nature are asked. MMS will protect 
proprietary information according to 30 CFR 250.196, ``Data and 
information to be made available to the public,'' 30 CFR Part 252, 
``OCS Oil and Gas Information Program,'' and the Freedom of Information 
Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2).
    MMS OCS Regions collect information required under subpart C to 
ensure that there is no threat of serious, irreparable, or immediate 
damage to the marine environment, and to identify potential hazards to 
commercial fishing caused by OCS activities. We also use the 
information collected to ensure that operations are conducted according 
to all applicable regulations and permit conditions/requirements, 
comply with the approved emission levels to minimize air pollution of 
the OCS and adjacent onshore areas, and are conducted in a safe and 
workmanlike manner. In addition, we require daily inspection of 
facilities to prevent pollution and to ensure that problems observed 
have been corrected.
    In the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR), we require lessees/
operators to periodically monitor and collect air emissions and 
meteorological data to satisfy Environmental Protection Agency and 
Clean Air Act requirements. The States and regional air quality groups 
use the information to perform regional air quality modeling in support 
of State Implementation Plans (SIPs). The GOMR plans regional modeling 
for emissions data in the year 2005. In preparation, affected 
respondents will be required to collect and report air pollutant 
emissions data for OCS activities in the GOMR for the year 2005. The 
year 2005 corresponds to a Clean Air Act requirement for States with 
non-attainment areas to prepare and/or update air pollutant emission 
inventories suitable for air quality modeling in support of the 
development of SIPs. Thus, the year 2005 OCS emissions inventory will 
be contemporary with the emissions inventory the States are required to 
prepare. The onshore and OCS 2005 data will be used in regional air 
quality modeling and emissions control decision-making. Respondents 
will gather OCS 2005 data during the calendar year 2005 and report in 
2006.
    Frequency: On occasion, monthly, or annually; and daily for 
pollution inspection records.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 117 
Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur lessees and 17 States.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 196,073 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.

[[Page 72648]]



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  Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart C and         Reporting and recordkeeping                                                                    Annual burden
           related NTL(s)                           requirement                        Hour burden          Average No. annual responses       hours
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300(b)(1), (2)......................  Obtain approval to add petroleum-based  3...........................  110 lessees.................             330
                                       substance to drilling mud system or
                                       approval for method of disposal of
                                       drill cuttings, sand, & other well
                                       solids, including those containing
                                       NORM.
300(c)..............................  Mark items that could snag or damage    0.5.........................  110 lessees.................              55
                                       fishing devices.
300(d)..............................  Report items lost overboard...........  1...........................  110 lessees.................             110
303(a) thru (d), (i), (j); 304(a),    Submit, modify, or revise Exploration                 Burden covered under 1010-0151                             0
 (f).                                  Plans and Development and Production
                                       Plans; submit information required
                                       under 30 CFR 250, subpart B.
303(k); 304(a), (g).................  Collect and report air quality          3 hrs per month x 12 months   2,873 platforms.............         103,428
                                       emissions related data (such as         = 36.
                                       facility, equipment, fuel usage, and
                                       other activity information) during
                                       the calendar year 2005 for input into
                                       State and regional planning
                                       organizations modeling.
303(l); 304(h)......................  Collect and submit meteorological data               None planned in the next 3 years                            0
                                       (not routinely collected).
304(a), (f).........................  Affected State may submit request to    4...........................  5 requests..................              20
                                       MMS for basic emission data from
                                       existing facilities to update State's
                                       emission inventory.
304(e)(2)...........................  Submit compliance schedule for          40..........................  10 schedules................             400
                                       application of best available control
                                       technology (BACT).
304(e)(2)...........................  Apply for suspension of operations....                Burden covered under 1010-0114                             0
304(f)..............................  Submit information to demonstrate that  15..........................  10 submissions..............             150
                                       exempt facility is not significantly
                                       affecting air quality of onshore area
                                       of a State.
300-304.............................  General departure and alternative       2...........................  110 requests................             220
                                       compliance requests not specifically
                                       covered elsewhere in subpart C
                                       regulations.
                                                                             -------------------------------
                                       Subtotal--Reporting..................  ............................  3,338.......................         104,713
                                                                             ===============================
300(d)..............................  Record items lost overboard...........  1...........................  110 lessees.................             110
301(a)..............................  Inspect drilling/production facilities  \1/4\ hr/day x 365 days =     1,000 facilities............          91,250
                                       daily for pollution; maintain           91.25.
                                       inspection/repair records 2 years.
                                                                             -------------------------------
                                       Subtotal--Recordkeeping..............  1,110.......................  91,360......................  ..............
                                                                             ===============================
                                       Total Hour Burden....................  4,448.......................  196,073.....................  ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 June 1, 2005, we 
published a Federal Register notice (70 FR 31504) 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 Part 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 January 5, 2006.
    Public Comment Procedures: MMS's practice is to make comments, 
including names and home 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: August 9, 2005.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E5-6898 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P