[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58429-58431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16305]


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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 (1010-0051).

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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 will be 
submitted 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 250, Subpart 
L, Oil and Gas Production Measurement, Surface Commingling, and 
Security.''

DATES: Submit comments by December 4, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1010-0051 as 
an identifier in your message.
     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]. Identify with 
Information Collection Number 1010-0051 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0051.
     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 1010-0051'' in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1607. 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:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart L, Oil and Gas Production 
Measurement, Surface Commingling, and Security.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0051.
    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 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 Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 
1701, et seq.) at section 1712(b)(2) prescribes that an operator will 
``develop and comply with such minimum site security measures as the 
Secretary deems appropriate, to protect oil or gas produced or stored 
on a lease site or on the Outer Continental Shelf from theft.'' These 
authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to MMS under 
which regulations are issued to govern oil and gas and sulphur 
operations on the OCS. This information collection request addresses 
the regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart L, Oil and Gas Production 
Measurement, Surface Commingling, and Security, and the associated 
supplementary notices to lessees and operators intended to provide 
clarification, description, or explanation of these regulations.
    MMS uses the information collected under subpart L to ensure that 
the volumes of hydrocarbons produced are measured accurately and that 
royalties are paid on the proper volumes. Specifically, MMS needs the 
information to:
     Determine if measurement equipment is properly installed, 
provides accurate measurement of production on which royalty is due, 
and is operating properly;
     Obtain rates of production data in allocating the volumes 
of production measured at royalty sales meters, which can be examined 
during field inspections;
     Ascertain if all removals of oil and condensate from the 
lease are reported;
     Determine the amount of oil that was shipped when 
measurements are taken by gauging the tanks rather than being measured 
by a meter;
     Ensure that the sales location is secure and that 
production cannot be removed without the volumes being recorded; and
     Review proving reports to verify that data on run tickets 
are calculated and reported accurately.
    MMS 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.
    Frequency: Varies by section but primarily monthly or ``on 
occasion.''
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' and ``Fee'' Burden: 
The currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 
7,433 hours. The following chart details the individual components and 
respective hour burden estimates of this ICR. In calculating the 
burdens, MMS 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 58430]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Reporting or
 Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart      recordkeeping        Hour/fee burden
              L                    requirement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(a)(1), (b)(1)..........  Submit application    8 hours.
                               for liquid           $1,200 Simple
                               hydrocarbon           application fee.
                               measurement
                               procedures or
                               changes.
                                                    $3,550 Complex
                                                     application fee.
1202(a)(4)..................  Copy & send pipeline  45 minutes.
                               (retrograde)
                               condensate volumes
                               upon request.
1202(c)(4)*.................  Copy & send all       1 minute.
                               liquid hydrocarbon
                               run tickets monthly.
1202(d)(4)..................  Request approval for  1 hour.
                               proving on a
                               schedule other than
                               monthly.
1202(d)(5)*.................  Copy & submit liquid  2 minutes.
                               hydrocarbon royalty
                               meter proving
                               reports monthly &
                               request waiver as
                               needed.
1202(f)(2)*.................  Copy & submit         10 minutes.
                               mechanical-
                               displacement prover
                               & tank prover
                               calibration reports.
1202(l)(2)*.................  Copy & submit         15 minutes.
                               royalty tank
                               calibration charts
                               before using for
                               royalty measurement.
1202(l)(3)*.................  Copy & submit         15 minutes.
                               inventory tank
                               calibration charts
                               upon request.
1203(b)(1)..................  Submit application    8 hours.
                               for gas measurement
                               procedures or
                               changes.
                                                    $1,200 Simple
                                                     application fee.
                                                    $3,550 Complex
                                                     application fee.
1203(b)(6), (8), (9)*.......  Copy & submit gas     2 minutes.
                               quality and volume   30 minutes.
                               statements monthly
                               or as requested
                               (most will be
                               routine; few will
                               take longer).
1203(c)(4)*.................  Copy & submit gas     5 minutes.
                               meter calibration
                               reports upon
                               request.
1203(e)(1)*.................  Copy & submit gas     30 minutes.
                               processing plant
                               records upon
                               request.
1203(f)(5)..................  Copy & submit         30 minutes.
                               measuring records
                               of gas lost or used
                               on lease upon
                               request.
1204(a)(1)..................  Submit application    8 hours.
                               for commingling of
                               production or
                               changes.
                                                    $1,200 Simple
                                                     application fee.
                                                    $3,550 Complex
                                                     application fee.
1204(a)(2)..................  Provide state         1 hour.
                               production
                               volumetric and/or
                               fractional analysis
                               data upon request.
1205(a)(2)..................  Post signs at         1 hour.
                               royalty or
                               inventory tank used
                               in royalty
                               determination
                               process.
1205(a)(4)..................  Report security       15 minutes.
                               problems
                               (telephone).
1200 thru 1205..............  General departure     1 hour.
                               and alternative
                               compliance requests
                               not specifically
                               covered elsewhere
                               in subpart L.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Reporting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(c)(1), (2); 1202(e)(4);  Record observed       Respondents record
 1202(h)(1), (2), (3), (4);    data, correction      these items as part
 1202(i)(1)(iv), (2)(iii);     factors & net         of normal business
 1202(j).                      standard volume on    records & practices
                               royalty meter and     to verify accuracy
                               tank run tickets.     of production
                              Record master meter    measured for sale
                               calibration runs..    purposes.
                              Record mechanical-
                               displacement
                               prover, master
                               meter, or tank
                               prover proof runs..
                              Record liquid
                               hydrocarbon royalty
                               meter malfunction
                               and repair or
                               adjustment on
                               proving report;
                               record unregistered
                               production on run
                               ticket..
                              List Cpl and Ctl
                               factors on run
                               tickets..
1202(e)(6)..................  Retain master meter   1 minute.
                               calibration reports
                               for 2 years.
1202(k)(5)..................  Retain liquid         1 minute.
                               hydrocarbon
                               allocation meter
                               proving reports for
                               2 years.
1202(l)(3)..................  Retain liquid         5 minutes.
                               hydrocarbon
                               inventory tank
                               calibration charts
                               for as long as
                               tanks are in use.
1203(c)(4)..................  Retain calibration    1 minute.
                               reports for 2 years.
1203(f)(4)..................  Document & retain     1 minute.
                               measurement records
                               on gas lost or used
                               on lease for 2
                               years at field
                               location and
                               minimum 7 years at
                               location of
                               respondent's choice.
1204(b)(3)..................  Retain well test      2 minutes.
                               data for 2 years.
1205(b)(3), (4).............  Retain seal number    2 minutes.
                               lists for 2 years.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Respondents gather this information as part of their normal business
  practices. MMS only requires copies of readily available documents.
  There is no burden for testing, meter reading, etc.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: The 
currently approved ``non-hour cost'' burden for this information 
collection is a total of $1,077,437. This cost burden is for filing 
fees associated with submitting requests for approval of simple 
applications (applications to temporarily reroute production (for a 
duration not to exceed 6 months); production tests prior to pipeline 
construction; departures related to

[[Page 58431]]

meter proving, well testing, or sampling frequency ($1,200 per 
application)) or to submit requests for approval of complex 
applications (creation of new facility measurement points (FMPs); 
association of leases or units with existing FMPs; inclusion of 
production from additional structures; meter updates which add buyback 
gas meters or pigging meters; other applications which request 
deviations from the approved allocation procedures ($3,550 per 
application)).
    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: (a) Before October 1, 1995; (b) to comply with requirements 
not associated with the information collection; (c) for reasons other 
than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (d) 
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 Policy: MMS's practice is to make comments, 
including the names and addresses of respondents, available for public 
review. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their 
address from the rulemaking record, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. There may be circumstances in which we would withhold 
from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by the law. If 
you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your comment. In addition, you must 
present a rationale for withholding this information. This rationale 
must demonstrate that disclosure ``would constitute an unwarranted 
invasion of privacy.'' Unsupported assertions will not meet this 
burden. In the absence of exceptional, documentable circumstances, this 
information will be released. However, we will not consider anonymous 
comments. Except for proprietary information, we will make all 
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
    MMS Federal Register Liaison Officer: Arlene Bajusz, (202) 208-
7744.

    Dated: September 26, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-16305 Filed 10-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P