[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 145 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43781-43783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17185]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0082, 30 CFR Part 281, 
Leasing of Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas and Sulphur in the Outer 
Continental Shelf, Reinstatement--Not Violation of a Collection; 
Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a reinstatement of an information collection (1010-
0082).

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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 281, Leasing of 
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur in the Outer Continental 
Shelf. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to 
comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by August 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You should submit comments directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0082), either by fax (202) 395-
6566 or e-mail ([email protected]).
    Please also send a copy to MMS by 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 1010-0082'' 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 part 281, Leasing of Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, 
and Sulphur in the Outer Continental Shelf.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0082.
    Abstract: Section 8(k) of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands 
Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1337), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary)

[[Page 43782]]

to grant to the qualified persons, offering the highest cash bonuses on 
a basis of competitive bidding, leases of any mineral other than oil, 
gas, and sulphur in any area of the OCS not then under lease for such 
mineral upon such royalty, rental, and other terms and conditions as 
the Secretary may prescribe at the time of offering the area for lease. 
The Secretary is to administer the leasing provisions of the Act and 
prescribe the rule and regulations necessary to carry out those 
provisions.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR 
part 281. Responses are mandatory or required to obtain or retain a 
benefit. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. The MMS protects 
information considered proprietary according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
part 2, and 30 CFR parts 280 and 282).
    The MMS would use the information required by 30 CFR part 281 to 
determine if statutory requirements are met prior to the issuance of a 
lease. Specifically, MMS would use the information to:
     Evaluate the area and minerals requested by the lessee to 
assess the viability of offering leases for sale.
     Request the State(s) to initiate the establishment of a 
joint working group or task force to assess the proposed action and 
provide input.
     Ensure excessive overriding royalty interests are not 
created that would put economic constraints on all parties involved.
     Document that a leasehold or geographical subdivision has 
been surrendered by the record title holder.
     Determine if activities on the proposed lease area(s) will 
have significant impact on the environment.
    There has been no activity in the OCS for minerals other than oil, 
gas and sulphur for many years and no information collected since we 
allowed the OMB approval to expire in 1991. However, because these are 
regulatory requirements, the potential exists for information to be 
collected, and we are requesting that OMB reinstate this collection of 
information.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: There are no 
active respondents; therefore, we estimated the potential annual number 
of respondents to be one.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a 
total of 1,248 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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                                                                                  Average number
        Citation 30 CFR 281                Reporting and/or         Hour burden     of  annual    Annual  burden
                                      recordkeeping requirements                     reponses          hours
                                     ...........................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                              Non-hour cost burden(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart A--General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6..................................  Appeal decisions...........        Exempt under 5 CFR                     0
                                                                         1320.4(a)(2), (c)
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                                          Subpart B--Leasing Procedures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(a), (c).........................  Request approval for                     60               1              60
                                      mineral lease with
                                      relevant information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All sections.......................  Submit response to Call for             120               1             120
                                      Information and Interest
                                      on areas for leasing of
                                      minerals (other than oil,
                                      gas, sulphur) in
                                      accordance with approved
                                      lease program, including
                                      information from States/
                                      local governments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.................................  States or local governments             200               1             200
                                      submit comments/
                                      recommendations on
                                      planning, coordination,
                                      consultation, and other
                                      issues that may contribute
                                      to the leasing process.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All sections.......................  Submit suggestions and                  160               1             160
                                      relevant information in
                                      response to request for
                                      comments on proposed lease
                                      including information from
                                      States/local governments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18(a), (b), (c); 20(e), (f); 26(a).  Submit bids (oral or                    250               1             250
                                      sealed) and required
                                      information.
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18(c); 20(e), (f)..................  Tie bids--submit oral bids               20               1              20
                                      for highest bidder.
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20(a), (b), (c); 41(a).............  Establish a Company File                 58               1              58
                                      for qualification; submit
                                      updated information,
                                      submit qualifications for
                                      lessee/bidder.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21(a); 47(c).......................  Request for reconsideration   Requirement not considered IC               0
                                      of bid rejection/               per 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(9)
                                      cancellation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................................               7             868
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[[Page 43783]]


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                                                                                  Average number
        Citation 30 CFR 281                Reporting and/or         Hour burden     of  annual    Annual  burden
                                      recordkeeping requirements                     reponses          hours
                                     ...........................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                              Non-hour cost burden(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Subpart C--Financial Considerations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26; 21(b), (e); 40(b); 41(b).......  Execute lease (includes                 100               1             100
                                      submission of evidence of
                                      authorized agent and
                                      request for dating of
                                      leases).
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31(b); 41..........................  File application and                    160               1             160
                                      required information for
                                      assignment or transfer for
                                      approval.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                   $50 required or non-required filing document
                                                                                   fee x 1 = $50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32(b), (c).........................  File application for                     80               1              80
                                      waiver, suspension, or
                                      reduction and supporting
                                      documentation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33; 41(c)..........................  Submit surety or personal    Burden covered under 1010-0081               0
                                      bond.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................................               3             340
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                                               $50 non-hour cost burden
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                                         Subpart E--Terminaton of Leases
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46(a)..............................  File written request for                 40               1              40
                                      relinquishment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden................................................................              11           1,248
                                    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               $50 non-hour cost burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified one non-hour cost burden. In Sec.  281.41, respondents 
would pay a $50 application fee for any instrument to be filed (see the 
burden table). We have identified no other non-hour cost burdens for 
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 September 24, 
2007, we published a Federal Register notice (72 FR 54283) announcing 
that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided 
the required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  282.0 provides 
the OMB control number for the information collection requirements 
imposed by the 30 CFR part 282 regulations. The PRA (5 U.S.C. 1320) 
informs the public that they may comment at any time on the collection 
of information and MMS 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 
August 27, 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.

    May 15, 2008.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
 [FR Doc. E8-17185 Filed 7-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P