[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5189-5192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1853]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement

[Docket ID No. BOEM-2010-0069]


BOEMRE Information Collection Activities: 1010-0081, Operations 
in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and 
Sulphur, 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 a renewal of an information collection (1010-0081).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 282, Operations in the 
Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur. 
This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on 
the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by February 28, 2011.

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 (1010-0081). 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 BOEM-2010-0069 then click 
search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view 
supporting and related materials available for this collection. BOEMRE 
will post all comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Mail or hand-carry 
comments to: 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.

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 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 leases of any 
mineral other than oil, gas, and sulphur to qualified parties. This 
regulation governs mining operations within the OCS and establishes a 
comprehensive leasing and regulatory program for such minerals. This 
regulation has 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.
    The authorities and responsibilities described above are among 
those delegated to BOEMRE. This ICR addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 
282, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than 
Oil, Gas, and Sulphur. Note that there has been no activity in the OCS 
for minerals other than oil, gas and sulphur for many years and no 
information collected. However, because these are regulatory 
requirements, the potential exists for information to be collected; 
therefore, we are requesting a renewal of this collection of 
information.
    Assuming one lease to this ICR is 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), 30 CFR 282.5, 282.6, 282.7, and 
applicable sections of 30 CFR parts 280 and 281.
    BOEMRE will use the information required by 30 CFR 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 will use 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

[[Page 5190]]

approve, disapprove, or require modification of the proposed 
activities.
    Frequency: Monthly, and as a result of situations encountered.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: There are no 
active respondents; therefore, we estimated the potential annual number 
of respondents to be one.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
estimated annual hour burden for this ICR is a total of 201 hours. The 
following table 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Reporting or                                          Average number of annual
       Citation 30 CFR 282         recordkeeping requirement           Hour burden                     responses                 Annual burden hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Non-hour cost burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Subpart A--General
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4(b); 12(b)Subpar(2)(ii);          Submit delineation plan,   40...........................  1............................  40
 12(f)(l), (2); 13(d), (e)(2);      including environmental
 21; 22; 25; 26; 28.                information, contingency
                                    plan, monitoring
                                    program, and various
                                    requests for approval
                                    referred to throughout;
                                    submit modifications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4(c); 12(c)(2)(ii); 12(f)(l),      Submit testing             40...........................  1............................  40
 (2); 13(d), (e)(2); 21; 23; 25;    delineation plan,
 26; 28.                            including environmental
                                    information, contingency
                                    plan, monitoring
                                    program, and various
                                    requests for approval
                                    referred to throughout;
                                    submit modifications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4(d); 12(d)(2)(ii); 12(f)(1),      Submit mining delineation  40...........................  1............................  40
 (2); 13(d), (e)(2); 21; 24; 25;    plan, including
 26; 28.                            environmental
                                    information, contingency
                                    plan, monitoring
                                    program, and various
                                    requests for approval
                                    referred to throughout;
                                    submit modifications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5................................  Request non-disclosure of  10...........................  1............................  10
                                    G&G info.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  4 Responses..................  130 hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Subpart B--Jurisdiction and Responsibilities of Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(c); 12(c).....................  Apply for right-of-use     30...........................  1............................  30
                                    and easement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(d); 12(d).....................  Request consolidation of   1............................  1............................  1
                                    two or more OCS mineral
                                    leases or portions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12(f)(1), (h); 20(g), (h)........  Request approval of        Burden included with           0............................
                                    operations or departure    applicable operation.
                                    from operating
                                    requirements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13(b), (f)(2); 31................  Request suspension or      2............................  1............................  2
                                    temporary prohibition or
                                    production or operations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13(e)(1).........................  Submit site-specific       8............................  1............................  8
                                    study plan and results;
                                    request payment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             1 study x $100,000 = $100,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14...............................  Submit ``green'' response  2............................  1............................  2
                                    copy of Form MMS-1832
                                    indicating date
                                    violations (INCs)
                                    corrected.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  5 responses..................  43 hours
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             $100,000 non-hour cost burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Subpart C--Obligations and Responsibilities of Lessees
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20(a), (g); 29(i)................  Make available all         Burden included with           0............................
                                    mineral resource or        applicable operation..
                                    environmental data and
                                    information; submit
                                    reports and maintain
                                    records.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20(b) thru (e)...................  Submit designation of      1............................  1............................  1
                                    payor, operator, or
                                    local representative;
                                    submit changes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21(d)............................  Notify BOEMRE of           1............................  1............................  1
                                    preliminary activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(b)............................  Request use of new or      1............................  1............................  1
                                    alternative
                                    technologies,
                                    techniques, etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 5191]]

 
27(c)............................  Notify BOEMRE of death or  1............................  1............................  1
                                    serious injury; fire,
                                    exploration, or other
                                    hazardous event; submit
                                    report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(d)(2).........................  Request reimbursement for  2............................  1............................  2
                                    furnishing food,
                                    quarters, and
                                    transportation for
                                    BOEMRE representatives
                                    (no requests received in
                                    many years; minimal
                                    burden).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(e)............................  Identify vessels,          1............................  1............................  1
                                    platforms, structures,
                                    etc. with signs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(f)(2).........................  Log all drill holes        3............................  1............................  3
                                    susceptible to logging;
                                    submit copies of logs to
                                    BOEMRE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(h)(3), (4)....................  Mark equipment; record     1............................  1............................  1
                                    items lost overboard;
                                    notify BOEMRE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29(a)............................  Submit monthly report of   1............................  1............................  1
                                    minerals produced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29(b), (c).......................  Submit quarterly status    5............................  1............................  5
                                    and final report on
                                    exploration and/or
                                    testing activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29(d)............................  Submit results of          5............................  1............................  5
                                    environmental monitoring
                                    activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29(e)............................  Submit marked and          1............................  1............................  1
                                    certified maps annually
                                    or as required.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29(f)............................  Maintain rock, minerals,   1............................  1............................  1
                                    and core samples for 5
                                    years and make available
                                    upon request.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29(g)............................  Maintain original data     1............................  1............................  1
                                    and information and
                                    navigation tapes as long
                                    as lease is in effect
                                    and make available upon
                                    request.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29(h)............................  Maintain hard mineral      1............................  1............................  1
                                    records and make
                                    available upon request.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  15 responses.................  26 hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Subpart D--Payments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40...............................  Submit surety or personal  2............................  1 response...................  2 hours
                                    bond.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Subpart E--Appeals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50; 15...........................  File an appeal...........  Burden exempt under 5 CFR      0............................
                                                               1320.4(a)(2), (c)..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL BURDEN.................  .........................  .............................  25 Responses.................  201 Hours
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             $100,000 Non-Hour Cost Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one cost burden; Sec.  282.13(e)(1), would require a site-
specific study to determine and evaluate hazards that results in a 
suspension of operation. Since this has not been done to date, BOEMRE 
estimated that this study would cost approximately $100,000. There are 
no other non-hour cost burdens associated with the 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)

[[Page 5192]]

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 September 7, 
2010, we published a Federal Register notice (75 FR 54372) announcing 
that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided 
the required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  282.0 provides 
the OMB control number for the information collection requirements 
imposed by the 30 CFR 282 regulations. The PRA (5 U.S.C. 1320) informs 
the public that they may comment at any time on the collection of 
information and BOEMRE 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 
February 28, 2011.
    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.
    BOEMRE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz 
(703) 787-1025.

    Dated: December 16, 2010.
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-1853 Filed 1-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P