[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37475-37481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14893]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0007]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0141, 30 CFR Part 250, 
Subpart D, Oil and Gas Drilling Operations, Extension of a Collection; 
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 (1010-0141).

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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 Part 250, Subpart D, Oil 
and Gas Drilling Operations. This notice also provides the public a 
second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these 
regulatory requirements.

ADDRESSES: You should submit comments directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0141), either by fax (202) 395-
6566 or e-mail ([email protected]).
    Please also send a copy to MMS by either of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov. Under the tab ``More Search 
Options,'' click Advanced Docket Search, then select ``Minerals 
Management Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click 
``submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select MMS-2008-OMM-0007 to submit 
public comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
for this rulemaking. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing 
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through 
the site's ``User Tips'' link. The MMS will post all comments.
     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 1010-0141'' 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 and forms that require 
the subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart D, Oil and Gas Drilling Operations.
    Forms: MMS-123, MMS-123S, MMS-124, MMS-125, MMS-133, and MMS-133S.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0141.
    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 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 Outer 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.''
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR 
part 250, subpart D. Responses are mandatory or are required to obtain 
or retain a benefit. No questions of a ``sensitive'' nature are asked. 
The MMS will protect proprietary information according to 30 CFR 
250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the public or 
for limited inspection,'' 30 CFR part 252, ``OCS Oil and Gas 
Information Program,'' and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 
552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2).
    The MMS needs the information to ensure safe drilling operations 
and to protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. Among other 
things, MMS specifically uses the information to ensure: The drilling 
unit is fit for the intended purpose; the lessee or operator will not 
encounter geologic conditions that present a hazard to operations; 
equipment is maintained in a state of readiness and meets safety 
standards; each drilling crew is properly trained and able to promptly 
perform well-control activities at any time during well operations; 
compliance with safety standards; and the current regulations will 
provide for safe and proper field or reservoir development, resource 
evaluation, conservation, protection of correlative rights, safety, and 
environmental protection. We also review well records to ascertain 
whether drilling operations have encountered hydrocarbons or 
H2S and to ensure that H2S detection equipment, 
personnel protective equipment, and training of the crew are adequate 
for safe operations in zones known to contain H2S and zones 
where the presence of H2S is unknown.
    The following forms are also submitted to MMS under subpart D. The 
forms and their purposes are:

Application for Permit To Drill, Forms MMS-123 and MMS-123S

    The MMS uses the information from these forms to determine the 
conditions of a drilling site to avoid hazards inherent in drilling 
operations. Specifically, the appropriate MMS District Office uses the 
information to evaluate the adequacy of a lessee's plan and equipment 
for drilling, sidetracking or bypass operations. This includes the 
adequacy of the proposed casing design, casing setting depths, drilling 
fluid (mud), and cementing programs to ascertain that the proposed 
operations will be conducted in an operationally safe manner that 
provides adequate protection for the environment. The District Office 
also reviews the information to ensure conformance with specific 
provisions of the lease. In addition, except for proprietary data, MMS 
is required by the OCS Lands Act to make available to the public 
certain information submitted on forms MMS-123 and MMS-123S.

Application for Permit To Modify, Form MMS-124

    The MMS uses the information on this form to evaluate and approve 
the adequacy of the equipment, materials, and/or procedures that the 
lessee plans to use during such post APD modifications or operations as 
plugging back or temporary abandonment where the well bore will be 
reentered and

[[Page 37476]]

completed or permanently plugged. In addition, except for proprietary 
data, MMS is required by the OCS Lands Act to make available to the 
public certain information submitted on form MMS-124.

End of Operations Report, Form MMS-125

    The MMS uses this information to ensure that they have accurate and 
up-to-date data and information on wells and leasehold activities under 
their jurisdiction and to ensure compliance with approved plans and any 
conditions placed upon a suspension or temporary prohibition. It is 
also used to evaluate the remedial action in the event of well 
equipment failure or well control loss. Form MMS-125 is updated and 
resubmitted in the event the well status changes. The information keeps 
MMS aware of the status of drilling and completion operations. In 
addition, except for proprietary data, MMS is required by the OCS Lands 
Act to make available to the public certain information submitted on 
form MMS-125.

Well Activity Report, Forms MMS-133 and MMS-133S

    The MMS uses this information to monitor the conditions of a well 
and status of drilling operations. Specifically, the drilling engineer 
in the District Office reviews the information to be aware of the well 
conditions and current drilling activity (i.e., well depth, drilling 
fluid weight, casing types and setting depths, completed well logs, and 
recent safety equipment tests and drills). The engineer uses this 
information to determine how accurately the lessee anticipated well 
conditions and if the lessee is following the approved Application for 
Permit to Drill (form MMS-123). The MMS engineer and District 
Supervisor also use the information in their review of an Application 
for Permit to Modify (form MMS-124). With the information collected on 
form MMS-133 available, the reviewers can analyze the proposed 
revisions (i.e., revised grade of casing or deeper casing setting 
depth) and make a quick and informed decision on the request.
    In addition, except for proprietary data, MMS is required by the 
OCS Lands Act to make available to the public certain information 
submitted on forms MMS-133 and MMS-133S.
    Frequency: Submissions are generally on occasion, weekly, monthly, 
semi-annually, annually, and varies by section.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
respondents (Federal oil and gas OCS lessees).
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 146,827 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.

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BILLING CODE 4310-MR-C
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified two non-hour cost burdens for this collection. When 
respondents submit an Application for Permit to Drill (Form MMS-123), 
they submit a $1,850 fee for initial applications only (there is no fee 
for revisions); and when respondents submit an Application for Permit 
to Modify (Form MMS-124), they submit a $110 fee. These two fees total 
$1,789,340. Refer to the chart to see these specific fee breakdowns. 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 January 28, 
2008, we published a Federal Register notice (73 FR 4911) 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 part 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. The 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 31, 2008.
    Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address, 
phone number, e-mail 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: May 13, 2008.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-14893 Filed 6-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P