[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 108 (Monday, June 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27163-27166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13245]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0041]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0048, Geological and 
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf, Revision 
of a Collection; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget Review; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0048).

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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 the Office of 
Management and Budget an information collection request (ICR) to renew 
approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 
part 251, ``Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer 
Continental Shelf,'' and related documents. This notice also provides 
the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of 
these regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by July 8, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any either of the following 
methods listed below.
     Either by fax (202) 395-5806 or email ([email protected]) directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior (1010-0048).
     Electronically: go to 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-0041 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 1010-0048 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 the form that 
require the subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 251, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) 
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Form: MMS-327, Application for Permit to Conduct Geological or 
Geophysical Exploration for Mineral Resources or Scientific Research in 
the Outer Continental Shelf.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
    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.
    The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1340) also states that ``any person 
authorized by the Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical 
explorations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not interfere 
with or endanger actual operations under any lease maintained or 
granted pursuant to this OCS Lands Act, and which are not unduly 
harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' The section further requires 
that permits to conduct such activities may only be issued if it is 
determined that the applicant is qualified; the activities are not 
polluting, hazardous, or unsafe; they do not interfere with other users 
of the area; and they do not disturb a site, structure, or object of 
historical or archaeological significance. Applicants for permits are 
required to submit Form MMS-327 to provide the information necessary to 
evaluate their qualifications. Upon approval, respondents are issued a 
permit.
    The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1352) further requires that certain 
costs be reimbursed to the parties submitting required G&G information 
and data. Under the OCS Lands Act, permittees are to be reimbursed for 
the costs of reproducing any G&G data required to be submitted. 
Permittees are to be reimbursed also for the reasonable cost of 
processing geophysical information required to be submitted when 
processing is in a form or manner required by the Director of the 
Minerals Management Service (MMS) and is not used in the normal conduct 
of the business of the permittee.
    The Independent Offices Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701), the 
Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26, 
1996), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25, 
authorize Federal agencies to recover the full cost of services that 
confer

[[Page 27164]]

special benefits. Under the Department of the Interior's (DOI) 
implementing policy, the MMS is required to charge the full cost for 
services that provide special benefits or privileges to an identifiable 
non-Federal recipient above and beyond those that accrue to the public 
at large. The G&G permits are subject to cost recovery, and MMS 
regulations specify the filing fee for the application.
    Regulations to carry out these responsibilities are contained in 30 
CFR part 251. This is a routine renewal request of the currently 
approved information collection (IC) aspects of these regulations.
    Responses are generally on occasion or as specified in each permit 
and the responses are mandatory or are required to obtain or retain a 
benefit. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. The MMS protects 
information according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) 
and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under regulations 
at 30 CFR 251.
    The MMS uses the information to ensure there is no environmental 
degradation, personal harm or unsafe operations and conditions, damage 
to historical or archaeological sites, or interference with other uses; 
to analyze and evaluate preliminary or planned drilling activities; to 
monitor progress and activities in the OCS; to acquire G&G data and 
information collected under a federal permit offshore; and to determine 
eligibility for reimbursement from the government for certain costs. 
The information is necessary to determine if the applicants for permits 
or filers of notices meet the qualifications specified by the OCS Lands 
Act. The MMS uses information collected to understand the G&G 
characteristics of oil- and gas-bearing physiographic regions of the 
OCS. It aids the Secretary in obtaining a proper balance among the 
potentials for environmental damage, the discovery of oil and gas, and 
adverse impacts on affected coastal states. Information from permittees 
is necessary to determine the propriety and amount of reimbursement.
    Form MMS-327 is also submitted to MMS under 30 CFR 251 for 
approval. The MMS needs this information to determine if permittees 
have the necessary qualifications pertinent to G&G explorations or 
scientific research.
    Frequency: Responses are generally on occasion or as specified in 
each permit.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Potentially 130 
respondents (OCS Federal oil, gas, and sulphur permittees and notice 
filers).
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 1,243 
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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                                             Reporting and recordkeeping                                                                   Annual burden
           Citation 30 CFR 251                       requirement              Hour burden        Average number of annual responses            hours
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                                                                               Non-hour cost burden
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                                                               30 CFR 251.1 through 251.6
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251.4(a), (b); 251.5(a), (b), (d);        Apply for permits (Form MMS-327)               3  144 applications............................             432
 251.6; 251.7.                             to conduct G&G exploration,
                                           including deep stratigraphic
                                           tests/revisions when necessary.
                                                                           -----------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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251.4(b); 251.5(c), (d); 251.6..........  File notices to conduct                        1  3 notices...................................               3
                                           scientific research activities,
                                           including notice to MMS prior
                                           to beginning and after
                                           concluding activities.
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251.6(b); 251.7(b)(5)...................  Notify MMS if specific actions                 1  1 notice....................................               1
                                           should occur; report
                                           archaeological resources (no
                                           instances reported since 1982).
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  148 responses...............................             436
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                                                                                                            $289,728 non-hour cost burden
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                                                               30 CFR 251.7 through 251.9
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251.7...................................  Submit information on test                       Burden included under 1010-0141                             0
                                           drilling activities under a
                                           permit, including Forms MMS-123
                                           and MMS-123S.
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251.7(c)................................  Enter into agreement for group                 1  1 agreement.................................               1
                                           participation in test drilling,
                                           including publishing summary
                                           statement; provide MMS copy of
                                           notice/list of participants (no
                                           agreements submitted since
                                           1989).
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251.7(d)................................  Submit bond(s) on deep                  Burden included under 30 CFR part 256 (1010-0006)                    0
                                           stratigraphic test.
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251.8(a)................................  Request reimbursement for                      1  1 request...................................               1
                                           certain costs associated with
                                           MMS inspections (no requests in
                                           many years. OCS Lands Act
                                           requires Government
                                           reimbursement).
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[[Page 27165]]

 
251.8(b), (c)...........................  Submit modifications to, and                   2  55 submissions x 3 reports = 165............             330
                                           status/final reports on,
                                           activities conducted under a
                                           permit.
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251.9(c)................................  Notify MMS to relinquish a                 \1/2\  2 notices...................................               1
                                           permit.
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  169 responses...............................             333
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                                                              30 CFR 251.10 through 251.13
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251.10(c)...............................  File appeals....................              Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c)                           0
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251.11; 251.12..........................  Notify MMS and submit G&G data                 4  40 submissions..............................             160
                                           and/or information collected
                                           under a permit and/or processed
                                           by permittees or 3rd parties,
                                           including reports, logs or
                                           charts, results, analyses,
                                           descriptions, etc.
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251.13..................................  Request reimbursement for                      2  40 submissions..............................              80
                                           certain costs associated with
                                           reproducing data/information.
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    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  80 responses................................             240
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                                                                      30 CFR 251.14
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251.14(a)...............................  Submit comments on MMS intent to               1  1 submission................................               1
                                           disclose data and/or
                                           information to the public.
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251.14(c)(2)............................  Submit comments on MMS intent to               1  1 submission................................               1
                                           disclose data and/or
                                           information to an independent
                                           contractor/agent.
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251.14(c)(4)............................  Contractor/agent submits written               1  1 submission................................               1
                                           commitment not to sell, trade,
                                           license, or disclose data and/
                                           or information without MMS
                                           consent.
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251.1-251.14............................  General departure and                          1  1 request...................................               1
                                           alternative compliance requests
                                           not specifically covered
                                           elsewhere in part 251
                                           regulations.
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  4 responses.................................               4
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                                                        Extension for Permit Form & Recordkeeping
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Permit form (Form MMS-327)..............  Request extension of permit time               1  100 extensions..............................             100
                                           period.
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Retain G&G data/information for                1  130 recordkeepers...........................             130
                                           10 years and make available to
                                           MMS upon request.
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  230 responses...............................             230
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total burden....................  ................................  ..............  631 responses...............................           1,243
                                                                                           -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            $289,728 non-hour cost burden
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one paperwork non-hour cost burden associated with this 
collection of information. Under 251.5(a), there is an application fee 
of $2,012. We have not identified any other paperwork non-hour cost 
burden 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 March 31,

[[Page 27166]]

2009, we published a Federal Register notice (74 FR 14576) announcing 
that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided 
the required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  251.15 provides 
the OMB control number for the information collection requirements 
imposed by the 30 CFR part 251 regulations and form. The regulation and 
form also inform the public that they may comment at any time on the 
collection of information and provide 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 8, 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: April 17, 2009.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-13245 Filed 6-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P