[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 183 (Friday, September 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54062-54064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18644]


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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 (1010-0142).

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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 250, subpart Q, 
Decommissioning Activities. This notice also provides the public a 
second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these 
regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by October 22, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments either by fax (202) 395-6566 or e-
mail [email protected] directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior (1010-0142). Mail or hand carry a copy of your comments to 
the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: 
Cheryl Blundon; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 
20170-4817. If you wish to e-mail your comments to MMS, the address is: 
[email protected]. Reference Information Collection 1010-0142 in 
your subject line and mark your message for return receipt. Include 
your name and return address in your message text.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch, (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 250, subpart Q, Decommissioning Activities.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0142.
    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.''
    This authority and responsibility are among those delegated to the 
Minerals Management Service (MMS). The regulations at 30 CFR 250, 
Subpart Q, concern decommissioning of platforms, wells, and pipelines, 
as well as site clearance and platform removal and are the subject of 
this collection.
    The MMS uses the information collected under Subpart Q in the 
following ways:
     Sec.  250.1722(c). MMS requires notification within 5 days 
in the event a trawl hangs up on (or damages) a protective device 
(dome) over a subsea wellhead or casing stub in order to ensure that 
repairs are initiated as soon as possible in order to eliminate or 
minimize the possibility that shrimp boats will hang up on the 
obstruction and cause damage to their nets. It allows MMS to notify 
other users of the OCS of the obstruction in a timely manner, thereby 
reducing the risk to their equipment.
     Sec.  250.1713. MMS requires notification within 48 hours 
before beginning well plugging and abandonment operations in order to 
have the option of scheduling MMS personnel to observe operations on 
site to ensure they are conducted in accordance with applicable 
regulations and approved procedures.
     Sec.  250.1725. MMS requires notification within 48 hours 
before beginning platform removal operations in order to have the 
option of scheduling MMS personnel to observe removal operations on 
site in the field to ensure that they are conducted in accordance with 
applicable regulations and approved procedures for the use of 
explosives, removal of platform piling to 15 feet below the seafloor, 
proper site clearance, etc.
    Responses are mandatory. No questions of a ``sensitive'' nature are 
asked. We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
part 2), and 30 CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made 
available to the public or for limited inspection.''
    Frequency: On occasion, annual; and as specified in sections.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 218 
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulphur lessees and holders of pipeline 
rights-of-way.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 17,991 hours. The following chart details the individual 
components and 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 54063]]



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                                                                              Average number of    Annual burden
  Citation 30 CFR 250  Subpart Q     Reporting requirement     Hour burden     annual responses        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Fees
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
1700 thru 1754...................  General departure and                  3  50 requests........             150
                                    alternative compliance
                                    requests not
                                    specifically covered
                                    elsewhere in subpart Q
                                    regulations.
1703; 1704.......................  Request approval for             Burden included below                      0
                                    decommissioning.
1704(g); 1712; 1716; 1717;         Submit form MMS-124 to      Burden included under 1010-0141                 0
 1721(a), (d), (f), (g); 1722(a),   plug wells; provide
 (b), (d); 1723(b); 1743(a).        subsequent report;
                                    request alternate 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.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  50 responses.......             150
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Permanently Plugging Wells
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1713.............................  Notify MMS 48 hours                  .25  400 notices........             100
                                    before beginning
                                    operations to
                                    permanently plug a well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  400 responses......             100
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                            Temporary Abandoned Wells
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1721(e); 1722(e), (h)(1); 1741(c)  Identify and report          U.S. Coast Guard requirements                  0
                                    subsea wellheads,
                                    casing stubs, or other
                                    obstructions; mark
                                    wells protected by a
                                    dome; mark location to
                                    be cleared as
                                    navigation hazard.
1722(c), (g)(2)..................  Notify MMS within 5 days             .25  10 notices.........               3
                                    if trawl does not 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                2  75 reports.........             150
                                    plans for re-entry to
                                    complete or permanently
                                    abandon the well and
                                    inspection report.
1722(h)..........................  Request waiver of                      2  5 requests.........              10
                                    trawling test.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  90 responses.......             163
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                     Removing Platforms and Other Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1726; 1704(a)....................  Submit initial                        20  2 applications.....              40
                                    decommissioning
                                    application in the
                                    Pacific OCS Region and
                                    Alaska OCS Region.
1725; 1727; 1728; 1730; 1704(b)..  Submit final application              20  150 applications...           3,000
                                    and appropriate 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 x 150 - $615,000
1725(e)..........................  Notify MMS 48 hours                  .25  150 notices........              38
                                    before beginning
                                    removal of platform and
                                    other facilities.
1729; 1704(c)....................  Submit post platform or                8  150 reports........           1,200
                                    other facility removal
                                    report.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  452 responses......           4,278
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           $615,000
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                            Site Clearance for Wells, Platforms, and Other Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1740;............................  Request approval to use               12  75 requests........             900
                                    alternative methods of
                                    well site, platform, or
                                    other facility
                                    clearance.
1743(b)..........................  Verify permanently                    18  400 verifications..           7,200
                                    plugged well, platform,
                                    or other facility
                                    removal site cleared of
                                    obstructions and submit
                                    certification letter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  475 responses......           8,100
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                            Pipeline Decommissioning
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1751; 1752; 1704(d)..............  Submit application to                 10  400 applications...           4,000
                                    decommission pipeline
                                    in place or remove
                                    pipeline (L/T or ROW).

[[Page 54064]]

 
                                                                 $1,000 L/T decommission fee x 247 = $247,000
                                                                 $1,900 ROW decommission fee x 153 = $290,700
1753.............................  Submit post pipeline                   3  400 reports........           1,200
                                    decommissioning report.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  800 responses......           5,200
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                                                                           $537,700
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden.................  ........................  ..............  2,267 responses....          17,991
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                                                                       $1,152,700 Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
L/T = Lease Term ROW = Right of Way.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are three non-hour costs associated with this information 
collection. The estimated non-hour cost burden is $1,152,700. Sections 
250.1751(a), 250.1752(a), and 250.1727 require respondents to pay 
filing fees when submitting a request to remove a platform or other 
facility, to decommission a lease term pipeline, or to decommission a 
ROW pipeline. The application filing fees are required to recover the 
Federal Government's processing costs. We have not identified any other 
``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this 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 December 4, 
2006, we published a Federal Register notice (71 FR 70424) 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 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 October 22, 2007.
    Public Comment Procedures: Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment-including 
your personal identifying information-may be made publicly available at 
any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz, (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: September 17, 2007.
Melinda Mayes,
 Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
 [FR Doc. E7-18644 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P