[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50748-50751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20562]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement

[Docket ID No. BOEM-2011-0068]


Information Collection Activity: Production Safety Systems, 
Revision 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.

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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 ``Oil and Gas 
Production Safety Systems'' (OMB No. 1010-0059).

DATES: Submit written comments by October 17, 2011.

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 BOEM-2011-0068 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 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 1010-0059 in your comment and include your name and return address.

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 regulations that require the 
subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR part 250, subpart H, Oil and Gas Production Safety 
Systems.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0059.
    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

[[Page 50749]]

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.
    The OCS Lands Act at 43 U.S.C. 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 techniques 
sufficient to prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of 
well control, fires, spillages, physical obstruction 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 Office of Management and Budget (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 the full cost 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. Facility Production Safety System Applications are subject to 
cost recovery, and BOEMRE regulations specify filing fees for these 
applications.
    This notice concerns the reporting and recordkeeping elements of 30 
CFR part 250, subpart H, Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems, and 
related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that clarify and 
provide additional guidance on some aspects of the regulations.
    BOEMRE uses the information submitted under subpart H to evaluate 
equipment and/or procedures that lessees propose to use during 
production operations, including evaluation of requests for departures 
or use of alternative procedures. Information submitted is also used to 
verify the no-flow condition of wells to continue the waiver of 
requirements to install valves capable of preventing backflow. BOEMRE 
inspectors review the records maintained to verify compliance with 
testing and minimum safety requirements.
    The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) has a policy regarding 
approval of requests to use a chemical-only fire prevention and control 
system in lieu of a water system. BOEMRE may require additional 
information be submitted to maintain approval. The information is used 
to determine if the chemical-only system provides the equivalent 
protection of a water system for the egress of personnel should a fire 
occur.
    We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to the public 
or for limited inspection,'' and 30 CFR part 252, ``OCS Oil and Gas 
Information Program.'' No items of a sensitive nature are collected. 
Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion or annual.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 47,021 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Reporting and                            Hour burden
  Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart H        recordkeeping      ------------------------------------------------------
           and NTL(s)                   requirement                        Non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Submittals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
800; 801; 802; 803..............  Submit application, and  8
                                   all required/
                                   supporting
                                   information, for a
                                   production safety
                                   system with >125
                                   components.
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                                                           $5,030 per application; $13,238 per offshore visit;
                                                            $6,884 per shipyard visit.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  25-125 components        7
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                                                           $1,218 per application; $8,313 per offshore visit;
                                                            $4,766 per shipyard visit.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  <25 components.........  6
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                                                           $604 per application.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Submit modification to   4
                                   application for
                                   production safety
                                   system with >125
                                   components.
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                                                           $561 per application.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  25-125 components......  3.5
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                                                           $201 per application.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  <25 components.........  3
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                                                           $85 per application.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 50750]]

 
801(a)..........................  Submit application for   3
                                   a determination that a
                                   well is incapable of
                                   natural flow.
803(b)(2).......................  Submit required          Burden is covered by the application requirement in
                                   documentation for        Sec.   250.802(e).
                                   unbonded flexible pipe.
803(b)(8); related NTL..........  Request approval to use  8
                                   chemical only fire
                                   prevention and control
                                   system in lieu of a
                                   water system.
807.............................  Submit detailed info     0
                                   regarding installing
                                   SSVs in an HPHT
                                   environment with your
                                   APD, APM, DWOP, etc.
                                   Burden is covered
                                   under 1010-0141.
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                                                     General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
801(h)(2); 803(c)...............  Identify well with sign  0
                                   on wellhead that
                                   subsurface safety
                                   device is removed;
                                   flag safety devices
                                   that are out of
                                   service. Usual/
                                   customary safety
                                   procedure for removing
                                   or identifying out-of-
                                   service safety devices.
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
802(e), (f), (h)(3); 803(b)(2)    Specific alternate       0
                                   approval requests
                                   requiring District
                                   Manager approval.
                                   Burden covered under
                                   1010-0114.
803(b)(8)(iv); (v)..............  Post diagram of          2
                                   firefighting system;
                                   furnish evidence
                                   firefighting system
                                   suitable for
                                   operations in
                                   subfreezing climates.
804(a)(12); 800.................  Notify BOEMRE prior to   \3/4\
                                   production when ready
                                   to conduct pre-
                                   production test and
                                   inspection; upon
                                   commencement of
                                   production for a
                                   complete inspection.
806(c)..........................  Request evaluation and   2
                                   approval of other
                                   quality assurance
                                   programs covering
                                   manufacture of SPPE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
801(h)(2); 802(e); 804(b).......  Maintain records for 2   20
                                   years on subsurface
                                   and surface safety
                                   devices to include
                                   approved design &
                                   installation features,
                                   testing, repair,
                                   removal, etc; make
                                   records available to
                                   BOEMRE.
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
803(b)(1)(iii), (2)(i)..........  Maintain pressure-       17
                                   recorder charts.
803(b)(4)(iii)..................  Maintain schematic of    9
                                   the emergency shutdown
                                   (ESD) which indicates
                                   the control functions
                                   of all safety devices.
803(b)(11)......................  Maintain records of      6
                                   wells that have
                                   erosion-control
                                   programs and results
                                   for 2 years; make
                                   available to BOEMRE
                                   upon request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: The 
currently OMB approved non-hour cost burdens total $482,309. We have 
identified nine non-hour cost burdens for this collection. These non-
hour cost burdens consist of service fees which are determined by the 
number of components involved in the review and approval process; along 
with the cost of the offshore and/or shipyard visits under Sec.  
250.802(e). We have not identified any other non-hour cost burdens.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated 
to respond.
    Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and 
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning each proposed collection of information * * *''. Agencies 
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Agencies must also estimate the non-hour 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.

[[Page 50751]]

    Public Comment Procedures: Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    BOEMRE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz 
(703) 787-1025.

    Dated: July 20, 2011.
Doug Slitor,
 Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-20562 Filed 8-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P