[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9962-9964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3853]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Number 1010-0072]


Information Collection; Prospecting for Minerals Other Than Oil, 
Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf; Submitted for 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 Prospecting for Minerals Other 
than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf, and, in 
particular, that we are revising form BOEM-0134 to clarify requirements 
for environmental compliance.

DATES: Submit written comments by March 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or email 
([email protected]) directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: 
Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1010-0072). Please 
also submit a copy of your comments by either email to 
[email protected] or mail to Arlene Bajusz, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, MS HM-3127, 381 
Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference ICR 1010-
0072 in your comment and include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlene Bajusz, Office of Policy, 
Regulations, and Analysis at [email protected] or (703) 787-1025. 
You may review the ICR online at http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the 
instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under 
review by OMB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0072.
    Title: 30 CFR Part 580, Prospecting for Minerals Other than Oil, 
Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Form: BOEM-0134.
    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 
specified types of public uses. Such specified uses will support 
construction of governmental projects for beach nourishment, shore 
protection, and wetlands enhancement or constitute a 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. 
Regulations implementing these responsibilities are in 30 CFR Part 580 
and are the responsibility of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 
(BOEM).
    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 BOEM regulations specify service fees for 
these requests.
    We use the information collected under these regulations to: (1) 
Ensure there is no environmental degradation, personal harm or unsafe 
operations and conditions; (2) ensure activities do not damage 
historical or archaeological sites or interfere with other uses; (3) 
analyze and evaluate preliminary or planned drilling activities; (4) 
monitor progress and activities in the OCS; (5) acquire G&G data and 
information collected under a Federal permit offshore; (6) determine 
eligibility for reimbursement from the Government for certain costs; 
and (7) determine the qualifications of applicants. BOEM 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 580.70, ``What data and information will be protected from public 
disclosure?'' 30 CFR 550.197, ``Data and information to be made 
available to the public or for limited inspection,'' 30 CFR part 552, 
``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 estimated 
annual hour burden for this collection is 128 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.

[[Page 9963]]



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                                                                            Non-hour cost burden
                                        Reporting and     ------------------------------------------------------
     Citation 30 CFR part 580           recordkeeping                        Average Number of     Annual burden
                                         requirements        Hour burden      annual responses         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Subpart B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10; 11(a); 12; 13; Permit Form....  Apply for permit                   10  3 permits............              30
                                     (Form BOEM-0134) to
                                     conduct prospecting
                                     or G&G scientific
                                     research activities,
                                     including
                                     prospecting/
                                     scientific research
                                     plan and
                                     environmental
                                     assessment or
                                     required drilling
                                     plan.
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
                                                             $2,012 permit application fee x 3 permits = $6,036
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
11(b); 12(c)......................  File notice to                      8  3 notices............              24
                                     conduct scientific
                                     research activities
                                     related to hard
                                     minerals, including
                                     notice to BOEM prior
                                     to beginning and
                                     after concluding
                                     activities.
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal......................  .....................  ..............  6 responses..........              54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Subpart C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21(a).............................  Report to BOEM if                   1  1 report.............               1
                                     hydrocarbon/other
                                     mineral occurrences
                                     or environmental
                                     hazards are detected
                                     or adverse effects
                                     occur.
22................................  Request approval to                 1  1 request............               1
                                     modify operations.
23(b).............................  Request reimbursement               1  3 requests...........               3
                                     for expenses for
                                     BOEM inspection.
24................................  Submit status and                   8  4 reports............              32
                                     final reports on
                                     specified schedule.
28................................  Request                             1  *1 Relinquishment....              *1
                                     relinquishment of
                                     permit..
31(b); 73.........................  Governor(s) of                      1  3 submissions........               3
                                     adjacent State(s)
                                     submissions to BOEM:
                                     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                0
                                                        CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c)
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal......................  .....................  ..............  13 responses.........              41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Subpart D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40; 41; 50; 51; Permit Form.......  Notify BOEM and                     6  3 submissions........              18
                                     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\  3 notices............               1
                                     recipient of
                                     obligations. Part of
                                     licensing agreement
                                     between parties; no
                                     submission to BOEM.
42(c), 42(d); 52(c), 52(d)........  Notify BOEM of 3rd                  1  1 notice.............               1
                                     party transactions.
60; 61(a).........................  Request reimbursement               1  1 request *..........              *1
                                     for costs of
                                     reproducing data/
                                     information &
                                     certain processing
                                     costs.
72(b).............................  Submit in not less                  1  3 responses..........               3
                                     than 5 days comments
                                     on BOEM's intent to
                                     disclose data/
                                     information.
72(d).............................  Contractor submits                  1  3 submissions........               3
                                     written commitment
                                     not to sell, trade,
                                     license, or disclose
                                     data/information.
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal......................  .....................  ..............  14 responses.........              27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 580..........................  General departure and               2  1 request............               2
                                     alternative
                                     compliance requests
                                     not specifically
                                     covered elsewhere in
                                     part 580 regulations.
Permits **........................  Request extension of                1  1 extension..........               1
                                     permit time period.
Permits **........................  Retain G&G data/                    1  3 respondents........               3
                                     information for 10
                                     years and make
                                     available to BOEM
                                     upon request.
    Subtotal......................  .....................  ..............  5 responses..........               6
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
        Total Burden..............  .....................  ..............  38 responses.........             128
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                $6,036 Non-Hour Cost Burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Note: No requests received for many years. Minimal burden for regulatory (PRA) purposes only.

[[Page 9964]]

 
** These permits are prepared by BOEM and sent to respondents; therefore, the forms themselves do not incur
  burden hours.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one non-hour paperwork cost burden for this collection: A 
$2,012 permit application fee.
    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 obliged to 
respond.
    Comments: On August 24, 2011, we published a Federal Register 
notice (76 FR 52963) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB 
for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. 
We received two comments in response. One did not pertain to the 
information collection, and the other expressed support for competitive 
bidding processes.
    In addition, Sec.  580.80 provides the OMB control number for the 
information collection requirements imposed by the 30 CFR 580 
regulation, 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 again request comments on this information collection on: (1) 
Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including 
whether or not the information is useful; (2) the accuracy of our 
estimate of the burden for this collection of information; (3) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden on the respondents.
    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: February 13, 2012.
Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulations, and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2012-3853 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P