[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 18 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4025-4027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1288]


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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 (1010-0067).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS 
is inviting comments on a

[[Page 4026]]

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 E, ``Oil and Gas Well-Completion 
Operations.''

DATE: Submit written comments by March 30, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1010-0067 as 
an identifier in your message.
     E-mail MMS at [email protected]. Identify with 
Information Collection Number 1010-0067 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1010-0067.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 
Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference 
``Information Collection 1010-0067'' 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 E, Oil and Gas Well-Completion 
Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0067.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 
1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et. seq., requires the Secretary of the 
Interior to preserve, protect, and develop oil and gas resources in the 
OCS 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; 
balance orderly energy resources development with protection of the 
human, marine, and coastal environment; ensure the public a fair and 
equitable return on OCS resources; and preserve and maintain free 
enterprise competition. Section 1332(6) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1332) requires that ``operations in the [O]uter 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.'' This 
authority and responsibility are among those delegated to the Minerals 
Management Service (MMS). To carry out these responsibilities, MMS 
issues regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the 
OCS. This information collection request (ICR) addresses 30 CFR part 
250, Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well-Completion Operations and the 
associated supplementary Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTL) 
intended to provide clarification, description, or explanation of these 
regulations.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 250 implement these statutory 
requirements. The MMS District Managers analyze and evaluate the 
information and data collected under Subpart E to ensure that planned 
well-completion operations will protect personnel safety and natural 
resources. They use the analysis and evaluation results in the decision 
to approve, disapprove, or require modification to the proposed well-
completion operations. Specifically, MMS uses the information to 
ensure: (a) Compliance with personnel safety training requirements; (b) 
crown block safety device is operating and can be expected to function 
to avoid accidents; (c) proposed operation of the annular preventer is 
technically correct and provides adequate protection for personnel, 
property, and natural resources; (d) well-completion operations are 
conducted on well casings that are structurally competent; and (e) 
sustained casing pressures are within acceptable limits.
    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, weekly, monthly, annually, and varies by 
section.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
Federal OCS lessees and operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 
11,995 hours. The following chart details the individual components and 
respective hour burden estimates 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart E & LTL/        Reporting and
                NTL                   recordkeeping requirement                    Hour burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
502................................  Request approval not to     1 hour
                                      shut-in well during
                                      equipment movement.
502................................  Notify MMS of well-         Burden included in 1010-0150.
                                      completion rig movement
                                      on/off platform or from
                                      well to well on same
                                      platform (Form MMS-144)
                                      (reference Sec.
                                      250.403).
505; 513; 515(a)...................  Submit forms MMS-123, MMS-  Burden included in 1010-0141.
                                      124, MMS-125 for various
                                      approvals, including
                                      remediation procedure for
                                      SCP.
506................................  Instruct crew members in    20 minutes
                                      safety requirements of
                                      operations to be
                                      performed; document
                                      meeting (weekly for 2
                                      crews x 2 weeks per
                                      completion = 4).
511................................  Perform operational check   6 minutes
                                      of traveling-block safety
                                      device; document results
                                      (weekly x 2 weeks per
                                      completion = 2).
512................................  Request field well-         1 hour.
                                      completion rules be
                                      established, amended or
                                      canceled (on occasion,
                                      however, there have been
                                      no requests in many
                                      years).
514(c); 515(a).....................  Calculate well-control      1 hour.
                                      fluid volume and post
                                      near operator's station;
                                      submit well-control
                                      procedure.
 516 tests; 516(i),(j).............  Record BOP test results;    \1/4\ hour.
                                      retain records 2 years
                                      following completion of
                                      well (when installed;
                                      minimum every 7 days; as
                                      stated for component);
                                      request alternative
                                      methods.

[[Page 4027]]

 
516(d)(5) test; 516(i).............  Function test annulars and  \1/2\ hour.
                                      rams; document results
                                      (every 7 days between BOP
                                      tests-biweekly; note:
                                      part of BOP test when
                                      conducted).
516(e).............................  Record reason for           10 minutes.
                                      postponing BOP system
                                      tests (on occasion).
516(f).............................  Perform crew drills;        \1/2\ hour.
                                      record results (weekly
                                      for 2 crews x 2 weeks per
                                      completion = 4).
517(b).............................  Pressure test, caliper, or  9 hours.
                                      otherwise evaluate tubing
                                      & wellhead equipment
                                      casing; submit results
                                      (every 30 days during
                                      prolonged operations).
517(c); LTL*/NTL...................  Notify MMS if sustained     \1/4\ hour.
                                      casing pressure is
                                      observed on a well.
LTL/NTL............................  Report failure of casing    4 hours.
                                      pressure to bleed to zero
                                      including plan to
                                      remediate.
LTL/NTL............................  Notify MMS when             1 hour.
                                      remediation procedure is
                                      complete.
LTL................................  Retain complete record of   \1/4\ hour.
                                      well's casing pressure
                                      for 2 years and retain
                                      diagnostic test records
                                      permanently.
LTL................................  Record diagnostic test      \1/4\ hours.
                                      results.
500-517............................  General departure and       2 hours.
                                      alternative compliance
                                      requests not specifically
                                      covered elsewhere in
                                      Subpart E regulations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* LTL dated 13 January 1994.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified no ``non-hour cost'' burdens for this collection.
    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: (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: 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 
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: January 19, 2007.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
 [FR Doc. E7-1288 Filed 1-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P