[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 210 (Monday, October 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67201-67205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28041]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

[Docket ID No. BOEM-2011-0068; OMB Number 1014-0003]


Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas Production Safety 
Systems; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; 
Comment Request

ACTION: 30-day Notice.

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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 Subpart H, ``Oil and Gas 
Production Safety Systems.'' This notice also provides the public a 
second opportunity to comment on the revised paperwork burden of these 
regulatory requirements.

DATES: You must submit comments by November 30, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or email 
([email protected]) directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior (1014-0003). Please provide a copy of your comments to 
BSEE by any of the means 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 all 
related materials. We will post all comments.
     Email [email protected]. Mail or hand-carry comments 
to: Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
Enforcement; Regulations Development Branch;

[[Page 67202]]

Attention: Cheryl Blundon 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-
4817. Please reference 1014-0003 in your comment and include your name 
and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon by email at 
[email protected] or by telephone at (703) 787-1607, to request 
additional information about this ICR. To see a copy of the entire ICR 
submitted to OMB, go to http://www.reginfo.gov (select Information 
Collection Review, Currently Under Review).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart H, Oil and Gas Production Safety 
Systems.
    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 to prescribe rules and regulations necessary for the 
administration of the leasing provisions of that Act related to mineral 
resources on the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to all 
operations conducted under a lease, pipeline right-of-way, or a right-
of-use and easement. 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25, 
authorize Federal agencies to recover the full cost of services that 
confer special benefits. Facility Production Safety System Applications 
are subject to cost recovery and BSEE regulations specify filing fees 
for these applications.
    This submittal also removes an IC requirement that was 
inadvertently included in this collection. The requirement pertains to 
the Pacific Region's Emergency Action Plans that are submitted to local 
air quality agencies, which is included in the IC for 30 CFR 550, 
subpart C (Sec.  550.304).
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR 
250, subpart H. Responses are mandatory. No questions of a sensitive 
nature are asked. BSEE protects information considered proprietary 
according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR 2), 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas 
Information Program, and 30 CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be 
made available to the public or for limited inspection.''
    BSEE uses the information collected under subpart H to evaluate 
equipment and/or procedures that lessees and operators propose to use 
during production operations, including evaluation of requests for 
departures or use of alternate procedures or equipment. Information is 
also used to verify that production operations are safe and protect the 
human, marine, and coastal environment. BSEE inspectors review the 
records required by this subpart 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. BSEE 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.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees, operators, 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 62,963 
hours. The following chart 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.

 
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                                                                                                        Non-hour cost burdens*
 Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart H and                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
               NTL(s)                Reporting and recordkeeping requirement                               Average No. of annual
                                                                                      Hour burden                responses         Annual  burden Hours
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                                                                       Submittals
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800; 801; 802; 803.................  Submit application, and all required/    16........................  1.....................  16
                                      supporting information, for a
                                      production safety system with > 125
                                      components.
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   5,030 per submission x 1 = $5,030
                                                                                               $13,238 per offshore visit x 1 = $13,238
                                                                                                $6,884 per shipyard visit x 1 = $6,884
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     25-125 components......................  13........................  10....................  130
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 $1,218 per submission x 10 = $12,180
                                                                                                $8,313 per offshore visit x 1 = $8,313
                                                                                                $4,766 per shipyard visit x 1 = $4,766
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     < 25 components........................  8.........................  20....................  160
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  $604 per submission x 20 = $12,080
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 67203]]

 
                                     Submit modification to application for   9.........................  180...................  1,620
                                      production safety system with >125
                                      components.
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 $561 per submission x 180 = $100,980
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     25-125 components......................  7.........................  758...................  5,306
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 $201 per submission x 758 = $152,358
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     < 25 components........................  5.........................  329...................  1,645
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  $85 per submission x 329 = $27,965
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
801(a).............................  Submit application for a determination   6.........................  41....................  246
                                      that a well is incapable of natural
                                      flow.
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803(b)(2)..........................  Submit required documentation for             Burden is submitted with application Sec.      0
                                      unbonded flexible pipe.                                      250.802(e)
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803(b)(8); related NTLs............  Request approval to use chemical only    22........................  31....................  682
                                      fire prevention and control system in
                                      lieu of a water system.
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807................................  Submit detailed info regarding                   Burden is covered under 1010-0141.          0
                                      installing SSVs in an HPHT environment
                                      with your APD, APM, DWOP etc..
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    Subtotal.......................                                                                       1,370                   9,805 hours
                                                                                                          responses.............
                                                                                                         -----------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                      $343,794 non-hour costs
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                                                                         General
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801(h)(2); 803(c)..................  Identify well with sign on wellhead       >Usual/customary safety procedure for removing or  0
                                      that subsurface safety device is             identifying out-of-service safety devices
                                      removed; flag safety devices that are
                                      out of service.
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802(e), (f), (h)(3); 803(b)(2);....  Specific alternate approval requests               Burden covered under 1010-0114.           ......................
                                      requiring District Manager approval..
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803(b)(8)(iv); (v).................  Post diagram of firefighting system;     5.........................  38....................  190
                                      furnish evidence firefighting system
                                      suitable for operations in subfreezing
                                      climates..
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804(a)(12); 800....................  Notify BSEE prior to production when     1.........................  76....................  76
                                      ready to conduct pre-production test
                                      and inspection; upon commencement of
                                      production for a complete inspection.
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[[Page 67204]]

 
806(c).............................  Request evaluation and approval of       2.........................  1.....................  2
                                      other quality assurance programs
                                      covering manufacture of SPPE.
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    Subtotal.......................  .......................................  ..........................  115 responses.........  268 hours
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                                                                      Recordkeeping
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801(h)(2); 802(e); 804(b)..........  Maintain records for 2 years on          36........................  615...................  22,140
                                      subsurface and surface safety devices
                                      to include approved design &
                                      installation features, testing,
                                      repair, removal, etc; make records
                                      available to BSEE.
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803(b)(1)(iii), (b)(2)(i)..........  Maintain pressure-recorder charts......  23........................  615...................  14,145
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803(b)(4)(iii).....................  Maintain schematic of the emergency      15........................  615...................  9,225
                                      shutdown (ESD) which indicates the
                                      control functions of all safety
                                      devices.
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803(b)(11).........................  Maintain records of wells that have      12........................  615...................  7,380
                                      erosion-control programs and results
                                      for 2 years; make available to BSEE
                                      upon request..
                                                                                                         -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.......................  .......................................  ..........................  2,460 responses.......  52,890 hours
========================================================================================================================================================
        Total Burden Hours.........  .......................................  ..........................  3,945 responses.......  62,963 hours
                                                                                                         -----------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    $343,794 Non-hour cost burdens
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified 10 non-hour cost burdens, all of which are cost recovery 
fees required under Sec.  250.802(e). However, the actual fee amounts 
are specified in 30 CFR 250.125, which provides a consolidated table of 
all of the fees required under the 30 CFR 250 regulations. The total 
non-hour cost burdens (cost recovery fees) in this IC request are 
$343,794.
    The non-hour cost burdens required in 30 CFR 250, subpart H (and 
respective cost-recovery fee amount per transaction) are required as 
follows:
     Submit application for a production safety system with > 
125 components--$5,030 per submission; $13,238 per offshore visit; and 
$6,884 per shipyard visit.
     Submit application for a production safety system with 
25--125 components--$1,218 per submission; $8,313 per offshore visit; 
and $4,766 per shipyard visit.
     Submit application for a production safety system with < 
25 components--$604 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with > 125 components--$561 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with 25-125 components--$201 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with < 25 components--$85 per submission.
    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 
collection is necessary or useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy 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 
technology.

[[Page 67205]]

    To comply with the public consultation process, on August 16, 2011, 
we published a Federal Register notice (76 FR 50748) 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. 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 have 
received one comment in support of this collection; it did not pertain 
to the paperwork burden.
    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.

    Dated: October 19, 2011.
Sharon Buffington,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-28041 Filed 10-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P