[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3526-3528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-687]


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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 (1010-0072).

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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 part 280, ``Prospecting 
for Minerals other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental 
Shelf,'' 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 February 22, 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-
0072).
    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 Web site for 
submitting comments.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Use Information 
Collection Number 1010-0072 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0072.
     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 1010-0072'' 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 and forms that require the subject 
collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR part 280, Prospecting for Minerals other than Oil, 
Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0072.
    Forms: MMS-134, MMS-135, and MMS-136.
    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. Section 1337(k) of the 
OCS Lands Act authorizes the Secretary ``* * * to grant to the 
qualified persons offering the highest cash bonuses on a basis of 
competitive bidding leases of any mineral other than oil, gas, and 
sulphur in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf not then under lease 
for such mineral upon such royalty, rental, and other terms and 
conditions as the Secretary may prescribe at the time of offering the 
area for lease.'' An amendment to the OCS Lands Act (Pub. L. 103-426) 
authorizes the Secretary to negotiate agreements (in lieu of the 
previously required competitive bidding process) for the use of OCS 
sand, gravel, and shell resources for certain specified types of public 
uses. The specified uses will support construction of governmental 
projects for beach nourishment, shore protection, and wetlands 
enhancement; or any project authorized by the Federal Government.
    Section 1340 states that ``* * * any person authorized by the 
Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical [G&G] 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 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 do not disturb 
a site, structure, or object of historical or archaeological 
significance.
    Section 1352 further requires that certain costs be reimbursed to 
the parties submitting required G&G information and data. Under the 
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 and is not used in the normal conduct of the business of the 
permittee.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR 
part 280. Responses are mandatory or required to obtain or retain a 
benefit. No questions of a ``sensitive'' nature are asked. The MMS 
protects information considered proprietary according to 30 CFR 280.70 
and applicable sections of 30 CFR parts 250 and 252, 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 part 280 to 
ensure there is no environmental degradation, personal harm or unsafe 
operations and conditions, damage to historical or archaeological 
sites, or interference with other uses; to analyze and evaluate 
preliminary or planned drilling activities; to monitor progress and 
activities in the OCS; to acquire G&G data and information collected 
under a Federal permit offshore; and to determine eligibility for 
reimbursement from the Government for certain costs. Respondents are 
required to submit form MMS-134 to provide the information necessary to 
evaluate their qualifications. The information is necessary for MMS to 
determine if the applicants for permits or filers of notices meet the 
qualifications specified by the Act. The MMS uses the information 
collected to understand the G&G characteristics of hard mineral-bearing 
physiographic regions of the OCS. It aids MMS in obtaining a proper 
balance among the potentials for environmental damage, the discovery of 
hard minerals, and adverse impacts on affected coastal States. 
Information from permittees is necessary to determine the propriety and 
amount of reimbursement.
    Frequency: On occasion, annual; and as required in the permit.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 1 
permittee, 1 notice filer, and 1 adjacent State.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 108 hours. The following chart details the individual 
components and estimated hour burdens. In calculating the

[[Page 3527]]

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 280          Reporting and recordkeeping     Hour       Average No. annual       burden
                                             requirement            burden           responses           hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10; 11(a); 12; 13; Permit Forms....  Apply for permit (form MMS-          8  1 permit................          8
                                      134) to conduct
                                      prospecting or G&G
                                      scientific research
                                      activities, including
                                      prospecting/ scientific
                                      research plan and
                                      environmental assessment
                                      or required drilling plan.
11(b); 12(c).......................  File notice to conduct               8  1 notice................          8
                                      scientific research
                                      activities related to hard
                                      minerals, including notice
                                      to MMS prior to beginning
                                      and after concluding
                                      activities.
21(a)..............................  Report to MMS if                     1  1 report................          1
                                      hydrocarbon/other mineral
                                      occurrences or
                                      environmental hazards are
                                      detected or adverse
                                      effects occur.
22.................................  Request approval to modify           1  1 request...............          1
                                      operations.
23(b)..............................  Request reimbursement for            1  1 request...............          1
                                      expenses for MMS
                                      inspection.
24.................................  Submit status and final              8  4 reports...............         32
                                      reports quarterly or on
                                      specified schedule and
                                      final report.
28.................................  Request relinquishment of            1  1 relinquish............          1
                                      permit.
31(b); 73(a), (b)..................  Governor(s) of adjacent              1  1 submission............          1
                                      State(s) submissions to
                                      MMS; comments on
                                      activities involving an
                                      environmental assessment;
                                      request for proprietary
                                      data, information, and
                                      samples; and disclosure
                                      agreement.
33, 34.............................   Appeal penalty, order, or decision--burden covered under 5 CFR           0
                                                                  1320.4.
40; 41; 50; 51; Permit Forms.......  Notify MMS and submit G&G            4  2 submissions...........          8
                                      data/information collected
                                      under a permit and/or
                                      processed by permittees or
                                      3rd parties, including
                                      reports, logs or charts,
                                      results, analyses,
                                      descriptions, etc.
42(b); 52(b).......................    Advise 3rd party recipient of obligations. Part of licensing            0
                                              agreement between parties; no submission to MMS.
42(c), 42(d); 52(c), 52(d).........  Notify MMS of 3rd party              1  1 notice................          1
                                      transactions.
60; 61(a)..........................  Request reimbursement for           20  2 requests..............         40
                                      costs of reproducing data/
                                      information & certain
                                      processing costs.
72(b)..............................  Submit in not less than 5            1  1 response..............          1
                                      days comments on MMS
                                      intent to disclose data/
                                      information.
72(d)..............................  Contractor submits written           1  1 submission............          1
                                      commitment not to sell,
                                      trade, license, or
                                      disclose data/information.
Part 280...........................  General departure and                2  1 request...............          2
                                      alternative compliance
                                      requests not specifically
                                      covered elsewhere in part
                                      280 regulations.
Permit Forms.......................  Request extension of permit          1  1 extension.............          1
                                      time period.
Permit Forms.......................  Retain G&G data/information          1  1 recordkeeper..........          1
                                      for 10 years and make
                                      available to MMS upon
                                      request.
------------------------------------
  Total Hour Burden................  ...........................         21  ........................        108
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 May 25, 2005, we 
published a Federal Register notice (70 FR 30138) announcing that we 
would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the 
required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  280.80 provides the 
OMB control number for the information collection requirements imposed 
by the 30 CFR part 280 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 February 22, 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

[[Page 3528]]

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 4, 2005.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.

    Note:  This document was received at the Office of the Federal 
Register on January 18, 2006.

 [FR Doc. E6-687 Filed 1-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P