[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52963-52965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21573]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement

[Docket ID No. BOEM-2011-0076]


Information Collection Activity: Prospecting for Minerals Other 
Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf, 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, Prospecting for 
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental 
Shelf (OMB No. 1010-0072), and in particular, we are revising BOEMRE 
Form 0134 to adapt to new advances in technology (digital options) and 
clarifying requirements for environmental compliance.

DATES: Submit written comments by October 24, 2011.

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 and the form 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 BOEM-2011-0076 then click 
search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view 
supporting and related materials. 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 1010-0072 in your comment and include your name and return address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR Part 280, Prospecting for Minerals Other than Oil, 
Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf.
    BOEMRE Form(s): 0134.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0072.
    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 to prescribe rules and regulations to 
administer leasing of mineral resources on the OCS. An amendment to the 
OCS Lands Act (Pub. L. 103-426) authorizes the Secretary to negotiate 
agreements (in lieu of the previously required competitive bidding 
process) for the use of OCS sand, gravel, and shell resources for 
certain specified types of public uses. The specified uses will support 
construction of governmental projects for beach nourishment, shore 
protection, and wetlands enhancement; or any project authorized by the 
Federal Government.
    Section 1340 states that ``* * * any person authorized by the 
Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical [G&G] explorations in 
the Outer Continental Shelf, which do not interfere with or endanger 
actual operations under any lease maintained or granted pursuant to 
this Act, and which are not unduly harmful to aquatic life in such 
area.''
    Section 1352 further requires that certain costs be reimbursed to 
the parties submitting required G&G information and data. Permittees 
are to be reimbursed costs of reproducing any G&G data required to be 
submitted and for the reasonable cost of processing geophysical 
information required to be submitted when processing is in a form or 
manner required by the Director and is not used in the normal conduct 
of the business of the permittee. Regulations implementing these 
responsibilities are in 30 CFR part 280. 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 the OMB Circular 
A-25, authorize Federal agencies to recover the full cost of services 
that confer special benefits. Prospecting permits are subject to cost 
recovery under Department of the Interior's implementing policy, and 
BOEMRE regulations specify service fees for these requests.
    We use the information: (1) To ensure there is no environmental 
degradation, personal harm or unsafe operations and

[[Page 52964]]

conditions; (2) the activities do not damage historical or 
archaeological sites or interfere with other uses; (3) to analyze and 
evaluate preliminary or planned drilling activities; (4) to monitor 
progress and activities in the OCS; (5) to acquire G&G data and 
information collected under a Federal permit offshore; (6) to determine 
eligibility for reimbursement from the Government for certain costs; 
and (7) to determine the qualifications of applicants. BOEMRE also uses 
the information collected to understand the G&G characteristics of hard 
mineral-bearing physiographic regions of the OCS.
    We will protect information considered proprietary according to 30 
CFR 280.70, ``What data and information will be protected from public 
disclosure?'', 30 CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made 
available to the public or for limited inspection,'' 30 CFR part 252, 
``OCS Oil and Gas Information Program,'' and the Freedom of Information 
Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 2). No 
items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion; and as required in the permit.
    Description of Respondents: Permittee(s).
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 116 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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Hour burden
                                     Reporting and     -----------------
   Citation 30 CFR part 280          recordkeeping        Non-hour cost
                                     requirements            burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Subpart B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10; 11(a); 12; 13; Permit Form  Apply for permit                       8
                                 (BOEMRE Form 0134) to
                                 conduct prospecting
                                 or G&G scientific
                                 research activities,
                                 including prospecting/
                                 scientific research
                                 plan and
                                 environmental
                                 assessment or
                                 required drilling
                                 plan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  $2,012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(b); 12(c)..................  File notice to conduct                 8
                                 scientific research
                                 activities related to
                                 hard minerals,
                                 including notice to
                                 BOEMRE prior to
                                 beginning and after
                                 concluding activities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Subpart C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
21(a).........................  Report to BOEMRE if                    1
                                 hydrocarbon/other
                                 mineral occurrences
                                 or environmental
                                 hazards are detected
                                 or adverse effects
                                 occur.
22............................  Request approval to                    1
                                 modify operations.
23(b).........................  Request reimbursement                  1
                                 for expenses for
                                 BOEMRE inspection.
24............................  Submit status and                      8
                                 final reports on
                                 specified schedule.
28............................  Request relinquishment                 1
                                 of permit.
31(b); 73.....................  Governor(s) of                         1
                                 adjacent State(s)
                                 submissions to
                                 BOEMRE: Comments on
                                 activities involving
                                 an environmental
                                 assessment; request
                                 for proprietary data,
                                 information, and
                                 samples; and
                                 disclosure agreement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
33, 34........................    Appeal penalty, order, or decision--
                                 burden exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2),
                                                   (c).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Subpart D
------------------------------------------------------------------------
40; 41; 50; 51; Permit Form...  Notify BOEMRE and                      4
                                 submit G&G data/
                                 information collected
                                 under a permit and/or
                                 processed by
                                 permittees or 3rd
                                 parties, including
                                 reports, logs or
                                 charts, results,
                                 analyses,
                                 descriptions, etc.
42(b); 52(b)..................  Advise 3rd party                     1/3
                                 recipient of
                                 obligations. Part of
                                 licensing agreement
                                 between parties; no
                                 submission to BOEMRE.
42(c), 42(d); 52(c), 52(d)....  Notify BOEMRE of 3rd                   1
                                 party transactions.
60; 61(a).....................  Request reimbursement                  1
                                 for costs of
                                 reproducing data/
                                 information and
                                 certain processing
                                 costs.
72(b).........................  Submit in not less                     1
                                 than 5 days comments
                                 on BOEMRE intent to
                                 disclose data/
                                 information.
72(d).........................  Contractor submits                     1
                                 written commitment
                                 not to sell, trade,
                                 license, or disclose
                                 data/information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 General
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 280......................  General departure and                  2
                                 alternative
                                 compliance requests
                                 not specifically
                                 covered elsewhere in
                                 part 280 regulations.
Permit Form...................  Request extension of                   1
                                 permit time period.
Permit Form...................  Retain G&G data/                       1
                                 information for 10
                                 years and make
                                 available to BOEMRE
                                 upon request.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one non-hour paperwork cost burden for this collection. 
There is a $2,012 permit application fee.

[[Page 52965]]

    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, 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. Agencies 
must also estimate the non-hour paperwork 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 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, 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: August 16, 2011.
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-21573 Filed 8-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P