[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13568-13570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6110]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket no. MMS-2010-OMM-0011]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0142, Decommissioning 
Activities, Extension of a Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0142).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS 
is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. 
The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork 
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 250, Subpart Q, 
``Decommissioning Activities.''

DATES: Submit written comments by May 21, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch at (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.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods 
listed below.
     Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter docket ID MMS-2010-OMM-0011 
then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments 
and view supporting and related materials available for this 
collection. 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 
ICR 1010-0142 in your comment and include your name and return address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart Q, Decommissioning Activities.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0142.
    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.
    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.''
    This authority and responsibility are among those delegated to the 
Minerals Management Service (MMS). The regulations at 30 CFR 250, 
Subpart Q, concern decommissioning of platforms, wells, and pipelines, 
as well as site clearance and platform removal and are the subject of 
this collection.
    Regulations at 30 CFR 250, Subpart Q, implement these statutory 
requirements. We use the information for the following reasons:
     To determine the necessity for allowing a well to be 
temporarily abandoned, the lessee/operator must

[[Page 13569]]

demonstrate that there is a reason for not permanently abandoning the 
well, and the temporary abandonment will not constitute a significant 
threat to fishing, navigation, or other uses of the seabed. We use the 
information and documentation to verify that the lessee is diligently 
pursuing the final disposition of the well, and the lessee has 
performed the temporary plugging of the wellbore.
     The information submitted in ``initial'' decommissioning 
plans in the Alaska and Pacific OCS Regions will permit MMS to become 
involved on the ground floor planning of the world-class platform 
removals anticipated to occur in these OCS regions.
     Site clearance and platform or pipeline removal 
information ensures that all objects (wellheads, platforms, etc.) 
installed on the OCS are properly removed using procedures that will 
protect marine life and the environment during removal operations, and 
the site cleared so as not to conflict with or harm other uses of the 
OCS.
     Decommissioning a pipeline in place is needed to ensure 
that it will not constitute a hazard to navigation and commercial 
fishing operations, unduly interfere with other uses of the OCS, or 
have adverse environmental effects.
     The information is necessary to verify that 
decommissioning activities comply with approved applications and 
procedures and are satisfactorily completed.
    We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or 
for limited inspection. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. 
Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 17,991 hours. 
The following chart details the individual components and respective 
hour burden estimates of this ICR. 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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Hour burden
 Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart        Reporting      ---------------------
              Q                    requirement      Non-hour cost burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 General
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1700 thru 1754..............  General departure     3
                               and alternative
                               compliance requests
                               not specifically
                               covered elsewhere
                               in subpart Q
                               regulations.
1703; 1704..................  Request approval for  0
                               decommissioning--bu
                               rden included below.
1704(g); 1712; 1716; 1717;    Submit form MMS-124   Burden included
 1721(a), (d), (f), (g);       to plug wells;        under 1010-0141.
 1722(a), (b), (d); 1723(b);   provide subsequent
 1743(a).                      report; request
                               alternate depth
                               departure; request
                               procedure to
                               protect
                               obstructions above
                               seafloor; report
                               within 30 days,
                               results of
                               trawling; certify
                               area cleared of
                               obstructions;
                               remove casing stub
                               or mud line
                               suspension
                               equipment and
                               subsea protective
                               covering; or other
                               departures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Permanently Plugging Wells
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1711........................  Required data if      0
                               permanently
                               plugging a well
                               (requirement not
                               considered IC under
                               5 CFR 1320.3(h)(9)).
1713........................  Notify MMS 48 hours   .25
                               before beginning
                               operations to
                               permanently plug a
                               well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Temporary Abandoned Wells
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1721(e); 1722(e), (h)(1);     Identify and report   U.S. Coast Guard
 1741(c).                      subsea wellheads,     requirements.
                               casing stubs, or
                               other obstructions;
                               mark wells
                               protected by a
                               dome; mark location
                               to be cleared as
                               navigation hazard.
1722(c), (g)(2).............  Notify MMS within 5   .25
                               days if trawl does
                               not pass over
                               protective device
                               or causes damages
                               to it; or if
                               inspection reveals
                               casing stub or mud
                               line suspension is
                               no longer protected.
1722(f), (g)(3).............  Submit annual report  2
                               on plans for re-
                               entry to complete
                               or permanently
                               abandon the well
                               and inspection
                               report.
1722(h).....................  Request waiver of     2
                               trawling test.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Removing Platforms and Other Facilities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1726; 1704(a)...............  Submit initial        20
                               decommissioning
                               application in the
                               Pacific OCS Region
                               and Alaska OCS
                               Region.
1725; 1727; 1728; 1730;       Submit final          20
 1704(b).                      application and      $4,342 application
                               appropriate data to   fee
                               remove platform or
                               other subsea
                               facility structures
                               (including
                               alternate depth
                               departure) or
                               approval to
                               maintain, to
                               conduct other
                               operations, or to
                               convert to
                               artificial reef.
1725(e).....................  Notify MMS 48 hours   .25
                               before beginning
                               removal of platform
                               and other
                               facilities.
1729; 1704(c)...............  Submit post platform  8
                               or other facility
                               removal report;
                               supporting
                               documentation;
                               signed statements,
                               etc.
1731(c).....................  Request deferral of
                               facility removal
                               subject to RUE
                               issued under 30 CFR
                               285.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Site Clearance for Wells, Platforms, and Other Facilities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1740........................  Request approval to   12
                               use alternative
                               methods of well
                               site, platform, or
                               other facility
                               clearance.

[[Page 13570]]

 
1743(b); 1704(f)............  Verify permanently    18
                               plugged well,
                               platform, or other
                               facility removal
                               site cleared of
                               obstructions;
                               supporting
                               information; submit
                               certification
                               letter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Pipeline Decommissioning
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1750; 1751; 1752; 1754;       Submit application    10
 1704(d).                      to decommission
                               pipeline in place
                               or remove pipeline
                               (L/T or ROW).
                                                   ---------------------
                                                    $1,059 L/T
                                                     application fee.
                                                   ---------------------
                                                    $2,012 ROW
                                                     application fee.
                                                   ---------------------
1753; 1704(e)...............  Submit post pipeline  3
                               decommissioning
                               report.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified three non-hour paperwork cost burdens for this collection. 
Respondents pay filing fees when removing a platform or other facility 
under Sec.  250.1727 for $4,342, or for decommissioning a pipeline 
under Sec.  250.1751(a)--L/T for $1,059 or a ROW for $2,012. The 
application filing fees are required to recover the Federal 
Government's processing costs. 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: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) 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.
    Agencies must also estimate the non-hour paperwork cost burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you have costs to generate, maintain, and 
disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total 
capital and startup cost components or annual operation, maintenance, 
and purchase of service components. You should describe the methods you 
use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology 
acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount 
rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup 
costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase 
to prepare for collecting information, monitoring, and record storage 
facilities. You should not include estimates for equipment or services 
purchased: (i) Before October 1, 1995; (ii) to comply with requirements 
not associated with the information collection; (iii) for reasons other 
than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (iv) 
as part of customary and usual business or private practices.
    We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them 
in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we 
will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to 
OMB.
    Public Comment Procedures: 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: March 15, 2010.
Sharon Buffington,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-6110 Filed 3-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P