[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3532-3534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-691]


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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 (1010-0164).

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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 250, subpart I, 
Platforms and Structures, Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL)--Damage 
Caused by Hurricane(s). 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-
0164).
    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 1010-0164 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0164.
     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 1010-0164'' 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:

[[Page 3533]]

    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart I, Platforms and Structures--NTL--
Damage Caused by Hurricane(s).
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0164.
    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 which 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; 
preserve and maintain free enterprise competition; and ensure that the 
extent of oil and natural gas resources of the OCS is assessed at the 
earliest practicable time. Section 43 U.S.C. 1332(6) states that 
``operations in the outer 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.''
    To carry out these responsibilities, the Minerals Management 
Service (MMS) issues regulations to ensure that operations in the OCS 
will meet statutory requirements; provide for safety and protect the 
environment; and result in diligent exploration, development, and 
production of OCS leases. In addition, we also issue Notices to Lessees 
and Operators (NTLs) that provide clarification, explanation, and 
interpretation of our regulations. These NTLs are used to convey purely 
informational material and to cover situations that might not be 
adequately addressed in our regulations. The latter is the case for the 
information collection required in hurricane related NTLs. Because of 
the unusual nature of this information collection, issuing a temporary 
NTL is the appropriate means to collect the information at the time of 
the event.
    The subject of this information collection request (ICR) is an NTL 
on ``Damage Caused by Hurricane(s)'' to be issued to lessees and 
operators in the MMS Gulf of Mexico OCS (GOM) Region after a hurricane 
occurs. With this submission, MMS is consolidating the two ICRs on 
hurricanes approved under emergency submissions to OMB (1010-0163 and 
1010-0164) into this package. We are also renewing the collection for 3 
years because information needs to be collected for a longer period 
than allowed by the emergency OMB requests. When a hurricane occurs, 
lessees need to keep reporting, where applicable, and submitting new 
information to MMS until all facilities are back to normal operations. 
We are also expanding the ICR to now include any future hurricanes that 
may occur in the GOM, in addition to the hurricanes that occurred in 
the 2005 season. Once this ICR is approved by OMB, MMS will reissue the 
currently approved NTL to extend the deadline for submitting 
information relating to both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Rita was 
approved under the ``Generic'' NTL, 1010-0164). MMS will then submit an 
83-D for 1010-0163, NTL, Damaged Caused by Hurricane Katrina.
    In the future, MMS will reissue an NTL for each new hurricane that 
impacts operations in the GOM. We will insert the appropriate hurricane 
name, longitudes, and dates of submittal, into the NTL.
    Currently, there are over 4,000 facilities/structures in the GOM 
OCS. We anticipate that potential major hurricanes may impact 40 
percent or more of the platforms in the GOM during any one event. For 
example, in 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita affected approximately 
3,400 combined OCS facilities--1,000 facilities were affected by both 
storms; they each followed different paths and had specific 
meteorological anomalies (phenomena of the normal departure of the 
atmosphere). It needs to be stressed that the information we propose to 
collect under this NTL is information that a prudent lessee/operator 
would prepare in the event of a major hurricane. The primary 
information collection for this regulation is 30 CFR part 250, subpart 
I, approved under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control 
Number 1010-0149. However, in connection with this subpart, MMS thinks 
that the burden hour requirements in the NTL are in addition to the 
currently approved paperwork burden under those requirements.
    With regard to the ``OCS Pipelines'' section of this NTL, MMS has 
the authority to collect the information requested under 30 CFR part 
250, subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way. The OMB has 
already approved the collection of pipeline information under OMB 
Control Number 1010-0050 (108,786 burden hours).
    Emergency NTLs were issued relating to this same subject--
structural damage caused by hurricanes--in 2003 after Hurricane Lili, 
in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan, and in 2005 after Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita. MMS is now proposing rulemaking that will increase the burden 
hours and require more specific information that lessees need to submit 
about structure damage on the OCS due to natural phenomena, e.g., 
hurricanes, earthquakes. This increase in burden hours, once approved, 
will allow MMS to react to natural disasters more quickly and provide 
the public with needed information about the offshore energy 
infrastructure. It is currently in the surnaming process and OMB has 
issued Regulation Identifier Number 1010-AD18.
    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.
    The information collected is necessary for MMS to assess the 
structural integrity of the platforms that may have been damaged by a 
hurricane to determine if the damage poses a threat to continued safe 
and environmentally sound operations. The MMS will use the information 
collected to determine whether to require corrective action, including 
repairs and maintenance, on any damaged structures. The offshore oil 
and gas industry will use the information for financial purposes when 
dealing with partners, insurance companies, and company personnel.
    Frequency: On occasion and monthly.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 110 
lessees and operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 26,880 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 3534]]



                            Burden Breakdown
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Annual       Annual
      Reporting requirement            Hour      number of      burden
                                      burden     responses      hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepare and submit to MMS (1)               12          150        1,800
 list of impacted OCS structures,
 (2) timetable for inspections,
 and (3) inspection plan for each
 listed platform describing work
 to determine condition of
 structure.......................
Submit subsequent updates to list           12           90        1,080
 and inspection plans............
Submit report to MMS describing            120          200       24,000
 detected damage that may
 adversely affect structural
 integrity, including assessment
 of ability to withstand
 anticipated environmental storm
 conditions, and any remediation
 plans...........................
                                  --------------
    Total Burden.................  ...........          440       26,880
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 October 12, 
2005, we published a Federal Register notice (70 FR 59368) 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. 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 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: December 29, 2005.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-691 Filed 1-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P