[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36823-36825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10192]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (1010-0048).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 251, Geological and 
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the OCS,'' 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 28, 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:

[[Page 36824]]

([email protected]); or by fax (202) 395-6566; identify with 
(1010-0048).
    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.
     Email MMS at [email protected]. Use 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 Processing 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, 
(703) 787-1600. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, 
at no cost, of the regulations and forms that require the subject 
collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 251, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) 
Explorations of the OCS.
    Forms: 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 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.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 251 implement these statutory 
requirements. We use the information 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. The information is necessary to 
determine if the applicants for permits or filers of notices meet the 
qualifications specified by the OCS Lands Act. The MMS uses information 
collected to understand the G&G characteristics of oil- and gas-bearing 
physiographic regions of the OCS. It aids the Secretary in obtaining a 
proper balance among the potentials for environmental damage, the 
discovery of oil and gas, and adverse impacts on affected coastal 
States. Information from permittees is necessary to determine the 
propriety and amount of reimbursement.
    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; and as required in the permit.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
OCS Federal oil, gas, and sulphur permittees and notice filers.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 1,586 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         Annual
         Citation 30 CFR 251           Reporting and recordkeeping     Hour      Average No.  annual     burden
                                               requirement            burden          responses          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
251.4(a), (b); 251.5(a), (b), (d);    Apply for permits (form MMS-          6  110 Applications......        660
 251.6; 251.7.                         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  4 Notices.............         24
                                       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  1 Notice..............          1
                                       actions should occur;
                                       report archaeological
                                       resources. (No instances
                                       reported since 1982.).
251.7...............................  Submit information on test    (1) Burden included under 1010-            0
                                       drilling activities under a  0141
                                       permit, including form MMS-
                                       123.
251.7(c)............................  Enter into agreement for              1  1 Agreement...........          1
                                       group participation in test
                                       drilling, including
                                       publishing summary
                                       statement; provide MMS copy
                                       of notice/list of
                                       participants. (No
                                       agreements submitted since
                                       1989.).

[[Page 36825]]

 
251.7(d)............................  Submit bond(s) on deep        (1) Burden included under 30 CFR           0
                                       stratigraphic test.          part 256 (1010-0006)
251.8(a)............................  Request reimbursement for             1  1 Request.............          1
                                       certain costs associated
                                       with MMS inspections. (No
                                       requests in many years. OCS
                                       Lands Act requires
                                       Government reimbursement.).
251.8(b), (c).......................  Submit modifications to, and          2  55 Responses x 4              440
                                       status/final reports on,                 Reports = 220.
                                       activities conducted under
                                       a permit.
251.9(c)............................  Notify MMS to relinquish a        \1/2\  8 Notices.............          4
                                       permit.
251.10(c)...........................  File appeals................  (1) Not subject to the PRA                 0
251.11; 251.12......................  Notify MMS and submit G&G             4  50 Submissions........        200
                                       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 for             2  50 Submissions........        100
                                       certain costs associated
                                       with reproducing data/
                                       information.
251.14(a)...........................  Submit comments on MMS                1  1 Comment.............          1
                                       intent to disclose data/
                                       info. to the public.
251.14(c)(2)........................  Submit comments on MMS                1  1 Comment.............          1
                                       intent to disclose data/
                                       info. to an independent
                                       contractor/agent.
251.14(c)(4)........................  Contractor/agent submits              1  1 Commitment..........          1
                                       written commitment not to
                                       sell, trade, license, or
                                       disclose data/info. without
                                       MMS consent.
251.1-251.14........................  General departure and                 2  1 Request.............          2
                                       alternative compliance
                                       requests not specifically
                                       covered elsewhere in part
                                       251 regulations.
Permit Form (Form MMS-327)..........  Request extension of permit           1  50 Extensions.........         50
                                       time period.
Permit Form (Form MMS-327)..........  Retain G&G data/information           1  100 Recordkeepers.....        100
                                       for 10 years and make
                                       available to MMS upon
                                       request.
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Hour Burden...............  ............................  .........  599 Responses.........      1,586
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 November 28, 
2005, we published a Federal Register notice (70 FR 71329) 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 251 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 28, 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.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on June 23, 2006.

    Dated: February 7, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
 [FR Doc. E6-10192 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P