[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28052-28055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11921]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2009-OMM-0015]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0051, Oil and Gas 
Production Measurement, 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 (1010-0051).

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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 L, ``Oil and 
Gas Production Measurement,'' 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 June 18, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You should submit comments directly to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior (1010-0051), either by fax (202) 395-
5806 or e-mail ([email protected]).
    Please also send a copy to MMS by either of the following methods:
     Electronically go to: http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter docket ID MMS-2009-OMM-0015 
then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments 
and view supporting and related materials available for this collection 
of information. Include your name and address. Submit comments to 
regulations.gov no later than June 18, 2010. 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 1010-0051'' in your comment and include your 
name and address.

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 250, subpart L, Oil and Gas Production Measurement.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0051.
    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

[[Page 28053]]

return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and maintain free 
enterprise competition. The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act 
of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.) at section 1712(b)(2) prescribes that 
an operator will ``develop and comply with such minimum site security 
measures as the Secretary deems appropriate, to protect oil or gas 
produced or stored on a lease site or on the Outer Continental Shelf 
from theft.'' Regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart L, implement 
these statutory requirements. We use the information to ensure that the 
volumes of hydrocarbons produced are measured accurately, and royalties 
are paid on the proper volumes. Specifically, MMS needs the information 
to:
     Determine if measurement equipment is properly installed, 
provides accurate measurement of production on which royalty is due, 
and is operating properly;
     Obtain rates of production data in allocating the volumes 
of production measured at royalty sales meters, which can be examined 
during field inspections;
     Ascertain if all removals of oil and condensate from the 
lease are reported;
     Determine the amount of oil that was shipped when 
measurements are taken by gauging the tanks rather than being measured 
by a meter;
     Ensure that the sales location is secure and production 
cannot be removed without the volumes being recorded; and
     Review proving reports to verify that data on run tickets 
are calculated and reported accurately.
    The MMS 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, and 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas 
Information Program. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. 
Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: Varies by section, but primarily monthly, or on 
occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Respondents comprise Federal oil, gas 
and sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 32,957 
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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                                                                           Non-hour cost burdens
                                       Reporting or      -------------------------------------------------------
 Citation 30 CFR 250 Subpart L        recordkeeping                                                Annual burden
                                       requirement            Hour burden      Average number of       hours
                                                                               annual  responses     (rounded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Liquid Hydrocarbon Measurement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(a)(1), (b)(1); 1203(b)(1);  Submit application for   24.5..............  196 applications..           4,802
 1204(a)(1).                      liquid hydrocarbon or
                                  gas measurement
                                  procedures or changes;
                                  or for commingling of
                                  production or changes.
--------------------------------                         -------------------------------------------------------
Simple.........................                               $1,271 simple fee x 55 applications = $69,905.
--------------------------------                         -------------------------------------------------------
Complex........................                              $3,760 complex fee x 141 applications = $530,160.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No fee.........................  Submit meter status and  5.................  412 notifications.           2,060
                                  replacement
                                  notifications.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(a)(4).....................  Copy & send pipeline     1.2...............  40 volumes........              48
                                  (retrograde)
                                  condensate volumes
                                  upon request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(c)(1), (2); 1202(e)(4);     Record observed data,    Respondents record these items as part               0
 1202(h)(1), (2), (3), (4);       correction factors &          of normal business records &
 1202(i)(1)(iv), (2)(iii);        net standard volume on      practices to verify accuracy of
 1202(j).                         royalty meter and tank   production measured for sale purposes
                                  run tickets.
                                 Record master meter
                                  calibration runs.
                                 Record mechanical-
                                  displacement prover,
                                  master meter, or tank
                                  prover proof runs.
                                 Record liquid
                                  hydrocarbon royalty
                                  meter malfunction and
                                  repair or adjustment
                                  on proving report;
                                  record unregistered
                                  production on run
                                  ticket.
                                 List Cpl and Ctl
                                  factors on run tickets.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(c)(4)*....................  Copy & send all liquid   10 minutes........  20,034 tickets....           3,339
                                  hydrocarbon run
                                  tickets monthly.
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1202(d)(4); 1204(b)(1).........  Request approval for     2.................  550 requests......           1,100
                                  proving on a schedule
                                  other than monthly;
                                  request approval for
                                  well testing on a
                                  schedule other than
                                  every 60 days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(d)(5)*....................  Copy & submit liquid     15 minutes........  8,867 reports/               2,217
                                  hydrocarbon royalty                          requests.
                                  meter proving reports
                                  monthly & request
                                  waiver as needed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(f)(2)*....................  Copy & submit            16.5 minutes......  74 reports........              20
                                  mechanical-
                                  displacement prover &
                                  tank prover
                                  calibration reports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 28054]]

 
1202(l)(2)*....................  Copy & submit royalty    45 minutes........  8 charts..........               6
                                  tank calibration
                                  charts before using
                                  for royalty
                                  measurement.
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1202(l)(3)*....................  Copy & submit inventory  45 minutes........  5 charts..........               4
                                  tank calibration
                                  charts upon request;
                                  retain charts for as
                                  long as tanks are in
                                  use.
                                                          10 minutes........  82 charts.........              14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  30,268 responses..   13,610 hours.
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       $600,065 non-hour cost burdens.
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                                                 Gas Measurement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1203(b)(6), (8), (9)*..........  Copy & submit gas        15 minutes........  21,792 Statements.           5,448
                                  quality and volume
                                  statements monthly or
                                  as requested (most
                                  will be routine; few
                                  will take longer).
                                                          36 minutes........  48................              29
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1203(c)(1).....................  Request approval for     1.2...............  546 requests......             655
                                  proving on a schedule
                                  other than monthly.
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1203(c)(4)*....................  Copy & submit gas meter  13 minutes........  44 reports........              10
                                  calibration reports
                                  upon request; retain
                                  for 2 years.
                                                          7.5 minutes.......  19,290 reports....           2,411
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1203(e)(1)*....................  Copy & submit gas        1.2...............  4 records.........               5
                                  processing plant
                                  records upon request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1203(f)(5).....................  Copy & submit measuring  42 minutes........  24 records........              17
                                  records of gas lost or
                                  used on lease upon
                                  request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  41,748 responses..    8,575 hours.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Surface Commingling
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1204(a)(2).....................  Provide state            6.................  1 report..........               6
                                  production volumetric
                                  and/or fractional
                                  analysis data upon
                                  request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1205(a)(2).....................  Post signs at royalty    2.................  85 signs..........             170
                                  or inventory tank used
                                  in royalty
                                  determination process.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1205(a)(4).....................  Report security          18 minutes........  2 calls...........               1
                                  problems (telephone).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  88 responses......      177 hours.
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                                         Miscellaneous and Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1200 thru 1205.................  General departure and    1.3...............  60 requests.......              78
                                  alternative compliance
                                  requests not
                                  specifically covered
                                  elsewhere in subpart L.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(e)(6).....................  Retain master meter      23 minutes........  1,420.............             544
                                  calibration reports
                                  for 2 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1202(k)(5).....................  Retain liquid            10 minutes........  10,875............           1,813
                                  hydrocarbon allocation
                                  meter proving reports
                                  for 2 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1203(f)(4).....................  Document & retain        15 minutes........  4,045.............           1,011
                                  measurement records on
                                  gas lost or used on
                                  lease for 2 years at
                                  field location and
                                  minimum 7 years at
                                  location of
                                  respondent's choice.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1204(b)(3).....................  Retain well test data    6.7 minutes.......  57,400............           6,410
                                  for 2 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1205(b)(3), (4)................  Retain seal number       5 minutes.........  8,870.............             739
                                  lists for 2 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  82,670 responses..   10,595 hours.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden............................................................  154,774 responses.   32,957 hours.
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 28055]]

 
                                       $600,065 Non-Hour Cost Burdens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified two non-hour cost burdens, both of which are cost recovery 
fees. Note that the actual fee amounts are specified in 30 CFR 250.125, 
which provide a consolidated table of all the fees required under the 
30 CFR part 250 regulations. The non-hour cost burden total in this 
collection of information is an estimated $600,065. The cost burdens 
are for: (1) Filing fees associated with submitting requests for 
approval of simple applications (applications to temporarily reroute 
production (for a duration not to exceed 6 months); production tests 
prior to pipeline construction; departures related to meter proving, 
well testing, or sampling frequency ($1,271 per application)) or, (2) 
submitting a request for approval of a complex application (creation of 
new facility measurement points (FMPs); association of leases or units 
with existing FMPs; inclusion of production from additional structures; 
meter updates which add buyback gas meters or pigging meters; other 
applications which request deviations from the approved allocation 
procedures ($3,760 per application)).
    We have not identified any other non-hour paperwork 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 November 3, 
2009, we published a Federal Register notice (74 FR 56858) 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. 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 
June 18, 2010.
    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 1, 2010.
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-11921 Filed 5-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P