[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63017-63019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25047]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0026]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-00570, Pollution 
Prevention and Control, Extension of a Collection; Submitted for Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of an extension of an information collection (1010-
0057).

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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 C, 
Pollution Prevention and Control and related documents. This notice 
also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the 
paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATE: Submit written comments by November 21, 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 (1010-0057), 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-0026 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. Submit comments to regulations.gov by 
November 21, 2008. 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 1010-0057, 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 regulation that requires the 
subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and 
Control.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0057.
    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 manage the mineral resources of the OCS. Such rules and 
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, 
right-of-use and easement, and pipeline right-of-way. 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 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.'' Section 
1334(a)(8) requires that regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
include provisions ``for compliance with the National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards [NAAQS] pursuant to the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 
et seq.), to the extent that activities authorized under this Act 
significantly affect the air quality of any State.'' Section 1843(b) 
calls for ``regulations requiring all materials, equipment, tools, 
containers, and all other items used on the Outer Continental Shelf to 
be properly color coded, stamped, or labeled, wherever practicable, 
with the owner's identification prior to actual use.''
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR 
Part 250, Subpart C. Responses are mandatory. No questions of a 
sensitive nature are asked. The MMS protects information considered 
proprietary according to 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be 
made available to the public or for limited inspection, and the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 
CFR 2).
    The MMS OCS Regions collect information required under part 250, 
subpart C, to ensure that:
     There is no threat of serious, irreparable, or immediate 
damage to the marine environment and to identify potential hazards to 
commercial fishing caused by OCS oil and gas exploration, development, 
and production activities;
     The operator records the location of items lost overboard 
to aid in recovery during site clearance activities on the lease;
     Operations are conducted according to all applicable 
regulations, permit conditions and requirements, and conducted in a 
safe and workmanlike manner;
     OCS oil and gas operations minimize air pollution of the 
OCS and adjacent onshore areas and comply with the required emission 
levels;
     A data baseline is established for the meteorological 
conditions in frontier areas of the OCS to determine that offshore 
facilities and operational practices can withstand the expected 
environmental forces in an area;
     Discharge or disposal of drill cuttings, sand, and other 
well solids, including those containing naturally occurring radioactive 
materials (NORM), are properly handled for the protection of OCS 
workers and the environment; and
     Facilities are inspected daily for the prevention of 
pollution, and problems observed are corrected.

[[Page 63018]]

    For the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR), this ICR also addresses 
the following non-routine information collection:
     The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, fine (i.e., < 
2.5 micron) particulate matter (PM2.5), and regulations for 
regional haze. Air quality related information will be needed to 
address any new or outstanding NAAQS and regional haze regulations. In 
preparation for usage by States and regional planning organizations, 
affected respondents are being required to collect and report air 
pollutant emissions data for OCS activities in the GOMR for the 2008 
calendar year. This data will be used in future regional air quality 
modeling in support of revisions to State Implementation Plans and 
other air quality regulations. OCS lessees and operators are being 
required to collect these emissions data during the period of 1/1/08 to 
12/31/08 and report the data to MMS in 2009.
    Frequency: On occasion, daily.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
potential Federal oil, gas, and sulphur lessees and/or operators and 17 
states.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual hour burden for this information collection is a total 
of 198,866 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Reporting and
Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart C and     recordkeeping         Hour burden       Average number of    Annual burden
          related NTL(s)               requirement                             annual responses        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Pollution Prevention
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
300(b)(1), (2)...................  Obtain approval to    Burden covered under 1010-0141 (30 CFR                0
                                    add petroleum-                Part 250, Subpart D).
                                    based substance to
                                    drilling mud
                                    system or approval
                                    for method of
                                    disposal of drill
                                    cuttings, sand, &
                                    other well solids,
                                    including those
                                    containing NORM.
                                                       ------------------------------------------
300(c)...........................  Mark items that      0.5................  130 lessees........              65
                                    could snag or
                                    damage fishing
                                    devices.
300(d)...........................  Report and record    1 hr ea x 2 = 2....  130 lessees........             260
                                    items lost
                                    overboard.
                                                                            ------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  260................             325
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Inspection of Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
301(a)...........................  Inspect drilling/    \1/4\ hr/day x 365   1,000 manned                 91,250
                                    production           days = 91.25.        facilities.
                                    facilities for
                                    pollution;
                                    maintain
                                    inspection/repair
                                    records 2 years.
                                   \1/12\ hr every 3rd  3,000 unmanned       30,510.............
                                    day (365/3 = 122)    facilities.
                                    = 10.17 hrs.
                                                                            ------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  4,000..............         121,760
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Facilities described in new or revised EP or DPP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
303(a) thru (d), (i), (j);         Submit, modify, or    Burden covered under 1010-0151 (30 CFR                0
 304(a), (f).                       revise Exploration            Part 250, Subpart B).
                                    Plans and
                                    Development and
                                    Production Plans;
                                    submit information
                                    required under 30
                                    CFR Part 250,
                                    Subpart B.
                                                       ------------------------------------------
303(k); 304(a), (g)..............  Collect and report   4 hrs per month x    1,585 platforms....          76,080
                                    air quality          12 months = 48.
                                    emissions related
                                    data (such as
                                    facility,
                                    equipment, fuel
                                    usage, and other
                                    activity
                                    information)
                                    during the
                                    calendar year 2008
                                    for input into
                                    State and regional
                                    planning
                                    organizations
                                    modeling.
303(l); 304(h)...................  Collect and submit   1..................  1..................               1
                                    meteorological
                                    data (not
                                    routinely
                                    collected--minimal
                                    burden).
                                                                            ------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  1,586..............          76,081
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                                               Existing Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
304(a), (f)......................  Affected State may   4..................  5 requests.........              20
                                    submit request to
                                    MMS for basic
                                    emission data from
                                    existing
                                    facilities to
                                    update State's
                                    emission inventory.
304(e)(2)........................  Submit compliance    40.................  10 schedules.......             400
                                    schedule for
                                    application of
                                    best available
                                    control technology
                                    (BACT).
                                                       ------------------------------------------
304(e)(2)........................  Apply for             Burden covered under 1010-0114 (30 CFR                0
                                    suspension of                 Part 250, Subpart A).
                                    operations.
                                                       ------------------------------------------

[[Page 63019]]

 
304(f)...........................  Submit information   15.................  10 submissions.....             150
                                    to demonstrate
                                    that exempt
                                    facility is not
                                    significantly
                                    affecting air
                                    quality of onshore
                                    area of a State.
                                                                            ------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  25.................             570
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
300-304..........................  General departure    2..................  65 requests........             130
                                    and alternative
                                    compliance
                                    requests not
                                    specifically
                                    covered elsewhere
                                    in subpart C
                                    regulations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  65.................             130
                                                                            ------------------------------------
        Total Burden.......................................................  5,936..............         198,866
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified no paperwork 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 May 28, 2008, we 
published a Federal Register notice (73 FR 30625) 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. 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 
November 21, 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: August 1, 2008.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-25047 Filed 10-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P