[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 244 (Thursday, December 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77055-77057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29740]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0030]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0059, Oil and Gas 
Production Safety Systems, 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 (1010-0059).

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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 H, Oil and 
Gas Production Safety Systems. This notice also provides the public a 
second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these 
regulatory requirements.

DATE: Submit written comments by January 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You should submit comments directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0059), 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-0030 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 
January 20, 2009. 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 1010-0059 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 H, Oil and Gas Production Safety 
Systems.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0059.
    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 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 H. Responses are submitted to MMS on occasion and are 
mandatory. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. The MMS 
protects proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
Part 2), 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program, and 30 
CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or 
for limited inspection.
    The MMS uses the information collected under subpart H to evaluate 
equipment and/or procedures that lessees and/or operators propose to 
use during production operations, including evaluation of requests for 
departures or use of alternative procedures. Information is also used 
to verify that production operations are safe and protect the human, 
marine, and coastal environment. The MMS inspectors review the records 
maintained to verify compliance with testing and minimum safety 
requirements.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 
potential Federal oil or gas or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 47,021 
hours. The following chart

[[Page 77056]]

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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Non-hour cost burdens
 Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart H        Reporting and     --------------------------------------------------------
           and NTL(s)                 recordkeeping                           Average No. of     Annual burden
                                       requirement          Hour burden     annual  responses        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Submittals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
800; 801; 802; 803.............  Submit application for  8................  2................  16.
                                  a production safety
                                  system with > 125
                                  components.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                             $5,030 per submission x 2 = $10,060; $13,238 per
                                                             offshore visit x 2 = $26,476; $6,884 per shipyard
                                                                            visit x 1 = $6,884.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                 25-125 components.....  7................  21...............  147.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                             $1,218 per submission x 21 = $25,578; $8,313 per
                                                             offshore visit x 8 = $66,504; $4,766 per shipyard
                                                                            visit x 1 = $4,766.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                 < 25 components.......  6................  76...............  456.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   $604 per submission x 76 = $45,904.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                 Submit modification to  4................  324..............  1,296.
                                  application for
                                  production safety
                                  system with > 125
                                  components.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  $561 per submission x 324 = $181,764.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                 25-125 components.....  3.5..............  188..............  658.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   $201 per submission x 188 = $37,788.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                 < 25 components.......  3................  901..............  2,703.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   $85 per submission x 901 = $76,585.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
801(a).........................  Submit application for  3................  50...............  150.
                                  a determination that
                                  a well is incapable
                                  of natural flow.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
803(b)(2)......................  Submit required         Burden is covered by the application  0.
                                  documentation for        requirement in Sec.   250.802(e).
                                  unbonded flexible
                                  pipe.
                                                        --------------------------------------
803(b)(8); related NTLs........  Request approval to     8................  150..............  1,200.
                                  use chemical only
                                  fire prevention and
                                  control system in
                                  lieu of a water
                                  system.
804; related NTL...............  Submit copy of state-   1................  7................  7.
                                  required Emergency
                                  Action Plan (EAP)
                                  containing test
                                  abatement plans
                                  (Pacific OCS Region).
NTL............................  Plan (EAP) containing
                                  test abatement plans
                                  (Pacific OCS Region).
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..............................................................  1,719 responses..  6,633 hours.
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 $482,309.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
801(h)(2); 803(c)..............  Identify well with      Usual/customary safety procedure for  0.
                                  sign on wellhead that     removing or identifying out-of-
                                  subsurface safety             service safety devices.
                                  device is removed;
                                  flag safety devices
                                  that are out of
                                  service.
                                                        --------------------------------------
803(b)(8)(iv); (v).............  Post diagram of         2................  95...............  190.
                                  firefighting system;
                                  furnish evidence
                                  firefighting system
                                  suitable for
                                  operations in
                                  subfreezing climates.
804(a)(12); 800................  Notify MMS prior to     \3/4\............  208..............  156.
                                  production when ready
                                  to conduct pre-
                                  production test and
                                  upon commencement for
                                  a complete inspection.
806(c).........................  Request evaluation and  2................  1................  2.
                                  approval of other
                                  quality assurance
                                  programs covering
                                  manufacture of SPPE.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..............................................................  304 responses....  348 hours.

[[Page 77057]]

 
                                                  Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
801(h)(2); 802(e); 804(b)......  Maintain records on     20...............  770..............  15,400.
                                  subsurface and
                                  surface safety
                                  devices to include
                                  approved design &
                                  installation
                                  features, testing,
                                  repair, removal, etc.
803(b)(1)(iii), (2)(i).........  Maintain pressure-      17...............  770..............  13,090.
                                  recorder charts.
803(b)(4)(iii).................  Maintain schematic of   9................  770..............  6,930.
                                  the emergency
                                  shutdown (ESD) which
                                  indicates the control
                                  functions of all
                                  safety devices.
803(b)(11).....................  Maintain records of     6................  770..............  4,620.
                                  wells that have
                                  erosion-control
                                  programs and results
                                  for 2 years; make
                                  available to MMS upon
                                  request.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..............................................................  3,080 responses..  40,040 hours.
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Burden Hours................................................  5,103 responses..  47,021 hours.
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      $482,309 non-hour burden costs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Due to rulemaking (August 25, 2008, 73 FR 49942) cost recovery fees increased, effective 9/24/08.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified 10 non-hour cost burdens, all of which are the cost recovery 
fees required under Sec.  250.802(e). However, note that the actual fee 
amounts are specified in 30 CFR 250.125, which provides a consolidated 
table of all of the fees required under the 30 CFR part 250 
regulations. The total of the non-hour cost burden (cost recovery fees) 
in this IC request is an estimated $482,309.
    The non-hour cost burdens required in 30 CFR part 250, subpart H 
(and respective cost-recovery fee amount per transaction) are required 
as follows:
     Submit application for a production safety system with > 
125 components--$5,030 per submission; $13,238 per offshore visit; and 
$6,884 per shipyard visit.
     Submit application for a production safety system with 25-
125 components--$1,218 per submission; $8,313 per offshore visit; and 
$4,766 per shipyard visit.
     Submit application for a production safety system with < 
25 components--$604 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with > 125 components--$561 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with 25-125 components--$201 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with < 25 components--$85 per submission.
    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 June 18, 2008, 
we published a Federal Register notice (73 FR 34787) 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, subpart H regulation. 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 
January 20, 2009.
    Public Availability of Comments: 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: October 8, 2008.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
 [FR Doc. E8-29740 Filed 12-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P