[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54363-54366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22210]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement

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


BOEMRE Information Collection Activity: 1010-0142, 
Decommissioning Activities, Extension of a Collection, Submitted for 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement 
(BOEMRE), 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), 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 Q, 
Decommissioning Activities, 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 October 7, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or e-mail 
([email protected]) directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior (1010-0142). Please also submit a copy of your comments to 
BOEMRE by any of the means 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 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 1010-0142 in your comment and include your name and return 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 regulation that requires the subject 
collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR 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 manage the mineral resources 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.''
    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 OMB Circular A-25, authorize Federal agencies to recover the 
full cost of services that confer special benefits. Under the 
Department of the Interior's (DOI) implementing policy, the Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) is 
required to charge fees for services that provide special benefits or 
privileges to an identifiable non-Federal recipient above and beyond 
those which accrue to the public at large. Applications to remove/
decommission a platform are subject to cost recovery, and BOEMRE 
regulations specify cost recovery fees for these requests.
    This authority and responsibility are among those delegated to 
BOEMRE. 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. 
This request also covers the related Notices to Lessees and Operators 
(NTLs) that BOEMRE issues to clarify, supplement, or provide additional 
guidance on some aspects of our regulations.
    The BOEMRE uses the information collected under subpart Q primarily 
for the following reasons:
     To determine the necessity for allowing a well to be 
temporarily abandoned, the lessee/operator must demonstrate that there 
is a reason for not permanently plugging the well, and the temporary 
abandonment will not interfere with fishing, navigation, or other uses 
of the OCS. We use the information and documentation to verify that the 
lessee/operator is diligently pursuing the final disposition of the 
well and has performed the temporary plugging of the wellbore.
     The information submitted in initial decommissioning plans 
in the Alaska and Pacific OCS Regions will permit BOEMRE to become 
involved on the ground floor planning of 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.
     Information regarding 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.
    Responses are mandatory. No questions of a sensitive nature are 
asked. We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
2),

[[Page 54364]]

and 30 CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the 
public or for limited inspection.''
    Frequency: On occasion, annual; and as specified in sections.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulphur operators, lessees, and holders of pipeline 
rights-of-way.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 15,716 
hours. The following chart details the individual components and 
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
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      Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart Q            Reporting/recordkeeping                                                                     Annual burden
                                                     requirement              Hour burden        Average number of annual responses            hours
                                                                                                                                             (rounded)
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                                                                         General
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1700 thru 1754..........................  General departure and                          3  50 requests.................................             150
                                           alternative compliance requests
                                           not specifically covered
                                           elsewhere in subpart Q
                                           regulations.
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1703; 1704..............................  Request approval for                        Burden included in specific requirement.                         0
                                           decommissioning.
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1704(g); 1712; 1716; 1717; 1721(a), (d),  Submit form MMS-124 to plug                   Burden covered under 1010[dash]0141.                           0
 (f), (g); 1722(a), (b), (d); 1723(b);     wells; 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.
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    Subtotal..............................................................................  50 responses................................             150
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                                                               Permanently Plugging Wells
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1711....................................  Required data if permanently        Requirement not considered Information Collection under 5                0
                                           plugging a well.                                       CFR 1320.3(h)(9).
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1713....................................  Notify BOEMRE 48 hours before                 .5  995 notices.................................             498
                                           beginning operations to
                                           permanently plug a well.
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    Subtotal..............................................................................  995 responses...............................             498
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                                                                Temporary Abandoned Wells
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1721(e); 1722(e), (h)(1); 1741(c).......  Identify and report subsea                       U.S. Coast Guard requirements.                              0
                                           wellheads, casing stubs, or
                                           other obstructions; mark wells
                                           protected by a dome; mark
                                           location to be cleared as
                                           navigation hazard.
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1722(c), (g)(2).........................  Notify BOEMRE within 5 days if                 1  10 notices..................................              10
                                           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.
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1722(f), (g)(3).........................  Submit annual report on plans                2.5  92 reports..................................             230
                                           for re-entry to complete or
                                           permanently abandon the well
                                           and inspection report.
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1722(h).................................  Request waiver of trawling test.               2  5 requests..................................              10
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    Subtotal..............................................................................  107 responses...............................             250
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                                                         Removing Platforms and Other Facilities
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1726; 1704(a)...........................  Submit initial decommissioning                20  2 applications..............................              40
                                           application in the Pacific and
                                           Alaska OCS Regions.
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1725; 1727; 1728; 1730; 1704(b).........  Submit final application and                  22  252 applications............................           5,544
                                           appropriate data to 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.
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                                                                                                   $4,342 fee x 252 = $1,094,184.
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[[Page 54365]]

 
1725(e).................................  Notify BOEMRE 48 hours before                 .5  214 notices.................................             107
                                           beginning removal of platform
                                           and other facilities.
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1729; 1704(c)...........................  Submit post platform or other                  9  214 reports.................................           1,926
                                           facility removal report;
                                           supporting documentation;
                                           signed statements, etc.
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1731(c).................................  Request deferral of facility                   1  1 request...................................               1
                                           removal subject to RUE issued
                                           under 30 CFR 285.
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    Subtotal..............................................................................  683 responses...............................           7,618
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                                                  $1,094,184 non-hour cost burdens.
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                                                Site Clearance for Wells, Platforms, and Other Facilities
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1740;...................................  Request approval to use                       15  75 requests.................................           1,125
                                           alternative methods of well
                                           site, platform, or other
                                           facility clearance.
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1743(b); 1704(f)........................  Verify permanently plugged well,               5  189 verifications...........................             945
                                           platform, or other facility
                                           removal site cleared of
                                           obstructions; supporting
                                           documentation; and submit
                                           certification letter.
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    Subtotal..............................................................................  264 responses...............................           2,070
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                                                                Pipeline Decommissioning
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1750; 1751; 1752; 1754; 1704(d).........  Submit application to                         10  399 applications............................           3,990
                                           decommission pipeline in place
                                           or remove pipeline (L/T or ROW).
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                                                                                            $1,059 L/T decommission fee x 230 = $243,570.
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                                                                                            $2,012 ROW decommission fee x 169 = $340,028.
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1753; 1704(e)...........................  Submit post pipeline                           3  380 reports.................................           1,140
                                           decommissioning report.
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    Subtotal..............................................................................  779 responses...............................           5,130
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                                                   $583,598 non-hour cost burdens.
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                                                                                            2,878 responses.............................          15,716
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    Total Burden..................................$1,677,782 Non-Hour Cost Burdens........
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1 L/T = Lease Term.
2 ROW = Right of Way.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: There 
are three non-hour paperwork costs associated with this information 
collection. The estimated non-hour cost burden is $1,677,782. Sections 
250.1751(a), 250.1752(a), and 250.1727 require respondents to pay a 
cost recovery fee when submitting a request to remove a platform or 
other facility, to decommission a lease term pipeline, or to 
decommission a ROW pipeline. The fees are required to recover the 
Federal Government's processing costs. 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 March 22, 2010, 
we published a Federal Register notice (75 FR 13568) 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 and forms. 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 received one comment in

[[Page 54366]]

response to the Federal Register notice and the comment was not germane 
to the collection of information.
    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 
October 7, 2010.
    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: August 30, 2010.
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-22210 Filed 9-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P