[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54372-54374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22188]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement

[Docket No. MMS-2010-OMM-0026]


BOEMRE Information Collection Activity: 1010-0081, Operations in 
the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and 
Sulphur, Extension of a Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement 
(BOEMRE), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of an extension of an information collection (1010-
0081).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
BOEMRE 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 282, Operations 
in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and 
Sulphur.

DATES: Submit written comments by November 8, 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-0026 
then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments 
and view supporting and related materials available for this 
collection. The BOEMRE will post all comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Mail or hand-carry 
comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management, Regulation, and Enforcement; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 
Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference 
ICR 1010-0081 in your comment and include your name and return address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR Part 282, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf 
for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0081.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary) to implement regulations to grant to the qualified 
persons, offering the highest cash bonus on a basis of competitive 
bidding, leases of any mineral other than oil, gas, and sulphur. This 
applies to any area of the OCS not then under lease for such mineral. 
This regulation governs mining operations within the OCS for minerals 
other than oil, gas and sulphur and establishes a comprehensive leasing 
and regulatory program for such minerals. These regulations have been 
designed to (1) recognize the differences between the OCS activities 
associated with oil, gas, and sulphur discovery and development and 
those associated with the discovery and development of other minerals; 
(2) facilitate participation by States directly affected by OCS mining 
activities; (3) provide opportunities for consultation and coordination 
with other OCS users and uses; (4) balance development with 
environmental protection; (5) insure a fair return to the public; (6) 
preserve and maintain free enterprise competition; and (7) encourage 
the development of new technology.
    Regulations at 30 CFR 282 implement these statutory requirements. 
However, there has been no activity in the OCS for minerals other than 
oil, gas and sulphur for many years and no associated information 
collected since 1991. Nevertheless, because these are regulatory 
requirements, the potential exists for information to be collected and 
we are renewing OMB approval.
    We use the information required by 30 CFR part 282 to determine if 
lessees are complying with the regulations that implement the mining 
operations program for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulphur. 
Specifically, BOEMRE uses the information:
     To ensure that operations for the production of minerals 
other than oil, gas, and sulphur in the OCS are conducted in a manner 
that will result in orderly resource recovery, development, and the 
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments.
     To ensure that adequate measures will be taken during 
operations to prevent waste, conserve the natural resources of the OCS, 
and to protect the environment, human life, and correlative rights.
     To determine if suspensions of activities are in the 
national interest, to facilitate proper development of a lease 
including reasonable time to develop a mine and construct its 
supporting facilities, or to allow for the construction or negotiation 
for use of transportation facilities.
     To identify and evaluate the cause(s) of a hazard(s) 
generating a suspension, the potential damage from a hazard(s) and the 
measures available to mitigate the potential for damage.
     For technical and environmental evaluations which provide 
a basis for BOEMRE to make informed decisions to approve, disapprove, 
or require modification of the proposed activities.
    We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
part 2), and 30 CFR 282.5, 282.6, and 282.7 and applicable sections of 
30 CFR parts 280 and 281. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. 
Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: Monthly; on occasion.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: As there are no 
active respondents, we estimated the potential annual number of 
respondents to be one. Respondents are OCS lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 201 
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.

[[Page 54373]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Reporting or
      Citation 30 CFR 282            recordkeeping      Hour burden  Non-
                                      requirement       hour cost burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Subpart A--General
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4(a), (b); 11(b);               Submit delineation      40
 12(b)(2)(ii); 12(f)(l), (2);    plan, including
 13(d), (e)(2); 21; 22; 25;      environmental
 26; 28.                         information,
                                 contingency plan,
                                 monitoring program,
                                 and various requests
                                 for approval referred
                                 to throughout; submit
                                 modifications.
4(a), (c); 11(b);               Submit testing          40
 12(c)(2)(ii); 12(f)(l), (2);    delineation plan,
 13(d), (e)(2); 15(d); 21; 23;   including
 25; 26; 28.                     environmental
                                 information,
                                 contingency plan,
                                 monitoring program,
                                 and various requests
                                 for approval referred
                                 to throughout;
                                 demonstrate
                                 compliance before
                                 plan disapproved;
                                 submit modifications.
4(a), (d); 11(b);               Submit mining           40
 12(d)(2)(ii); 12(f)(1), (2);    delineation plan,
 13(d), (e)(2); 15(d); 21; 24;   including
 25; 26; 28.                     environmental
                                 information,
                                 contingency plan,
                                 monitoring program,
                                 and various requests
                                 for approval referred
                                 to throughout;
                                 demonstrate
                                 compliance before
                                 plan disapproved;
                                 submit modifications.
5; 6; 7.......................  Request non-disclosure/ 10
                                 disclosure of data
                                 and information.
                                 Governor enters into
                                 agreements pertaining
                                 to confidentiality;
                                 jurisdictional
                                 controversies, etc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subpart B--Jurisdiction and Responsibilities of Director
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(c); 30(a), (b).............  Apply for right-of-use  30
                                 and easement; comment
                                 on request;
                                 demonstrate correct
                                 purpose.
11(d);........................  Request consolidation   1
                                 of two or more OCS
                                 mineral leases or
                                 portions.
12(f)(1), (h); 20(g), (h).....  Request approval of     Burden included
                                 operations or           with applicable
                                 departure from          operation.
                                 operating
                                 requirements.
13(b), (f)(2); 31.............  Request suspension or   2
                                 temporary prohibition
                                 of production or
                                 operations.
13(e).........................  Submit site-specific    8
                                 study plan and         1 study =
                                 results.                $100,000
14............................  Submit ``green''        2
                                 response copy of Form
                                 MMS-1832 indicating
                                 date violations
                                 (INCs) corrected.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Subpart C--Obligations and Responsibilities of Lessees
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20(a), (g);...................  Make available all      Burden included
                                 mineral resource or     with applicable
                                 environmental data      operation.
                                 and information;
                                 submit reports and
                                 maintain records.
20(c) thru (e)................  Submit designation of   1
                                 payor, operator, or
                                 local representative;
                                 submit changes.
21(d).........................  Notify BOEMRE of        1
                                 preliminary
                                 activities.
27(b).........................  Request use of new or   1
                                 alternative
                                 technologies,
                                 techniques, etc.
27(c).........................  Notify BOEMRE of death  1
                                 or serious injury;
                                 fire, exploration, or
                                 other hazardous
                                 event; submit report.
27(d)(2)......................  Request reimbursement   2
                                 for furnishing food,
                                 quarters, and
                                 transportation for
                                 BOEMRE
                                 representatives (no
                                 requests received in
                                 many years; minimal
                                 burden).
27(e).........................  Identify vessels,       1
                                 platforms,
                                 structures, etc. with
                                 signs.
27(f)(2)......................  Log all drill holes     3
                                 susceptible to
                                 logging; submit
                                 copies of logs to
                                 BOEMRE.
27(h)(3), (4).................  Mark equipment; record  1
                                 items lost overboard;
                                 notify BOEMRE.
29(a); 27(k)..................  Submit monthly report   1
                                 of minerals produced;
                                 request extension;
                                 submit other
                                 information as
                                 required by Director.
29(b), (c)....................  Submit quarterly        5
                                 status and final
                                 report on exploration
                                 and/or testing
                                 activities.
29(d).........................  Submit results of       5
                                 environmental
                                 monitoring activities.
29(e).........................  Submit marked and       1
                                 certified maps
                                 annually or as
                                 required.
29(f).........................  Maintain rock,          1
                                 minerals, and core
                                 samples for 5 years
                                 and make available
                                 upon request.
29(g).........................  Maintain original data  1
                                 and information and
                                 navigation tapes as
                                 long as lease is in
                                 effect and make
                                 available upon
                                 request.
29(h).........................  Maintain hard mineral   1
                                 records and make
                                 available upon
                                 request.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Subpart D--Payments
------------------------------------------------------------------------
40............................  Submit surety or        2
                                 personal bond; submit
                                 authority for
                                 Director to sell
                                 security(ies).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Subpart E--Appeals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50; 15........................  File an appeal........  Burden exempt
                                                         under 5 CFR
                                                         1320.4(a)(2),
                                                         (c).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There is one non-hour cost burden associated with Sec.  282.13(e)(1), a 
site specific study. Since this has not been done to date, we estimated 
that the cost of such study would cost industry at least $100,000 to 
comply with the requirement.
    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.

[[Page 54374]]

    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 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, 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.
    BOEMRE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz 
(202) 208-7744.

    Dated: June 28, 2010.
    .
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-22188 Filed 9-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P