[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 232 (Monday, December 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70424-70426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20425]


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

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 (1010-0142).

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

SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS 
is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit 
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 Q, 
``Decommissioning Activities.''

DATES: Submit written comments by February 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1010-0142 as 
an identifier in your message.
     Public Connect online 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 1010-0142 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0142.
     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 1010-0142'' 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 Q, Decommissioning Activities.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-00142.
    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 other techniques sufficient to 
prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, 
fires, spillages, physical obstructions 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.''
    MMS uses the information collected under subpart Q primarily for 
the following reasons:
     To determine the necessity for allowing a well to be 
temporarily abandoned, the lessee/operator must demonstrate that there 
is a reason for not permanently abandoning the well and the temporary 
abandonment will not constitute a significant threat to fishing, 
navigation, or other uses of the seabed. We use the information and 
documentation to verify that the lessee is diligently pursuing the 
final disposition of the well, and the lessee has performed the 
temporary plugging of the wellbore.
     The information submitted in ``initial'' decommissioning 
plans in the Alaska and Pacific OCS Regions will permit MMS to become 
involved on the ground floor planning of the world-class platform 
removals anticipated to occur in these OCS regions.
     Site clearance and platform or pipeline removal 
information ensures that all objects (wellheads, platforms, etc.) 
installed on the OCS are properly removed using procedures that will 
protect marine life and the environment during removal operations, and 
the site cleared so as not to conflict with or harm other uses of the 
OCS.
     Decommissioning a pipeline in place is needed to ensure 
that it will not constitute a hazard to navigation and commercial 
fishing operations, unduly interfere with other uses of the OCS, or 
have adverse environmental effects.
     The information is necessary to verify that 
decommissioning activities comply with approved applications and 
procedures and are satisfactorily completed.
    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 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the 
public.'' No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are 
mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion, annually and varies by requirement.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 236 
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulphur lessees and holders of pipeline 
rights-of-way.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 8,579 
hours. The following chart details the individual components and 
respective hour burden estimates and fees of this ICR. 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 70425]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              Hour burden
      Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart Q                  Reporting requirement           ---------------------------
                                                                                                 Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1703; 1704..............................  Request approval for decommissioning......  Burden included below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1704(g); 1712; 1716; 1717; 1721(a), (d),  Submit form MMS-124 to plug wells; provide  Burden included under 1010-
 (f), (g); 1722(a), (b), (d); 1723(b);     subsequent report; request alternate        00141.
 1743(a).                                  depth departure; request procedure to
                                           protect obstructions above seafloor;
                                           report within 30 days, results of
                                           trawling; certify area cleared of
                                           obstructions; remove casing stub or mud
                                           line suspension equipment and subsea
                                           protective covering; or other departures.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1713....................................  Notify MMS 48 hours before beginning        .25
                                           operations to permanently plug a well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1721(e); 1722(e), (h)(1); 1741(c).......  Identify and report subsea wellheads,       U.S. Coast Guard
                                           casing stubs, or other obstructions; mark   requirements.
                                           wells protected by a dome; mark location
                                           to be cleared as navigation hazard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1722(c), (g)(2).........................  Notify MMS within 5 days if trawl does not  .25
                                           pass over protective device or causes
                                           damages to it; or if inspection reveals
                                           casing stub or mud line suspension is no
                                           longer protected.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1722(f), (g)(3).........................  Submit annual report on plans for re-entry  2
                                           to complete or permanently abandon the
                                           well and inspection report.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1722(h).................................  Request waiver of trawling test...........  2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1726; 1704(a)...........................  Submit initial decommissioning application  20
                                           in the Pacific OCS Region and Alaska OCS
                                           Region.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1725; 1727; 1728; 1730; 1704(b).........  Submit final application and appropriate    10
                                           data to remove platform or other subsea
                                           facility structures (including alternate
                                           depth departure) or approval to maintain,
                                           to conduct other operations, or to
                                           convert to artificial reef.
                                                                                     ---------------------------
                                                                                      $4,100 fee per submission.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1725(e).................................  Notify MMS 48 hours before beginning        .25
                                           removal of platform and other facilities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1729; 1704(c)...........................  Submit post platform or other facility      8
                                           removal report.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1740....................................  Request approval to use alternative         8
                                           methods of well site, platform, or other
                                           facility clearance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1743(b).................................  Verify permanently plugged well, platform,  12
                                           or other facility removal site cleared of
                                           obstructions and submit certification
                                           letter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1751; 1752; 1704(d).....................  Submit application to decommission          8
                                           pipeline in place or remove pipeline (L/T
                                           or ROW).
                                                                                     ---------------------------
                                                                                      $1,000 L/T fee per
                                                                                       submission.
                                                                                     ---------------------------
                                                                                      $1,900 ROW fee per
                                                                                       submission.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1753....................................  Submit post pipeline decommissioning        2
                                           report.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1700 thru 1754..........................  General departure and alternative           2
                                           compliance requests not specifically
                                           covered elsewhere in subpart Q
                                           regulations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: The 
currently approved ``non-hour cost'' burdens for this collection is a 
total of $1,032,006. These cost burdens are for filing fees associated 
with submitting requests for approval to remove a platform or other 
facility or decommission a pipeline. We have not identified any other 
non-hour cost burdens associated with this collection of information. 
See the above table for the specific non-hour cost burdens associated 
with this ICR.
    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)

[[Page 70426]]

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: (i) Before October 1, 1995; (ii) to comply with requirements 
not associated with the information collection; (iii) for reasons other 
than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (iv) 
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 Procedures: The 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. The MMS will 
honor this request to the extent allowable by law; however, anonymous 
comments will not be considered. 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. 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: November 27, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-20425 Filed 12-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P