[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2859-2862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00712]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

[Docket ID BSEE-2013-0013; OMB Control Number 1014-0011; 134E1700D2 
EEEE500000 ET1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Platforms and Structures; 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), BSEE 
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 a renewal to the 
paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart I, Platforms 
and Structures.

DATES: You must submit comments by March 17, 2014.

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 BSEE-2013-0013 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 the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: Nicole Mason; 381 
Elden Street, HE3313; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference 
ICR 1014-0011 in your comment and include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Mason, Regulations and 
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1605 to request additional information 
about this ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR part 250, Subpart I, Platforms and Structures.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0011.
    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 necessary 
for the administration of the leasing provisions of the Act related to 
the mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply 
to all operations conducted under a lease, right-of-way, or a right-of-
use and easement. 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.
    In addition to the general rulemaking authority of the OCSLA at 43 
U.S.C. 1334, section 301(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty 
Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1751(a), grants authority to the 
Secretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as are reasonably 
necessary to carry out FOGRMA's provisions. While the majority of 
FOGRMA is directed to royalty collection and enforcement, some 
provisions apply to offshore operations. For example, section 108 of 
FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 1718, grants the Secretary broad authority to inspect 
lease sites for the purpose of determining whether there is compliance 
with the mineral leasing laws. Section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 U.S.C. 
1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose substantial civil penalties for failure 
to permit lawful inspections and for knowing or willful preparation or 
submission of false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or 
other information. Because the Secretary has delegated some of the 
authority under FOGRMA to BSEE, 30 U.S.C. 1751 is included as 
additional authority for these requirements.
    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 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 implementing policy, BSEE 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 that accrue to the public at large. Several requests for approval 
required in Subpart I are subject to cost recovery, and BSEE 
regulations specify service fees for these requests.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those 
delegated to BSEE to ensure that operations in the OCS will meet 
statutory requirements; provide for safety and protection of the 
environment; and result in diligent exploration, development, and 
production of OCS leases. This ICR addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 
part 250, Subpart I, and the associated supplementary notices to 
lessees and operators (NTLs) intended to provide clarification, 
description, or explanation of these regulations.
    We use the information to determine the structural integrity of all 
OCS platforms and floating production facilities and to ensure that 
such integrity will be maintained throughout the useful life of these 
structures. We use the information to ascertain, on a case-by-case 
basis, that the fixed and floating platforms and structures are 
structurally sound and safe for their intended use to ensure safety of 
personnel and prevent pollution. More specifically, we use the 
information to:
     Review data concerning damage to a platform to assess the 
adequacy of proposed repairs.
     Review applications for platform construction 
(construction is divided into three phases--design, fabrication, and 
installation) to ensure the structural integrity of the platform.
     Review verification plans and third-party reports for 
unique platforms to ensure that all nonstandard situations are given 
proper consideration during the platform design, fabrication, and 
installation.
     Review platform design, fabrication, and installation 
records to ensure that the platform is constructed according to 
approved applications.
     Review inspection reports to ensure that platform 
integrity is maintained for the life of the platform.
    We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
2), and under regulations at 30 CFR 250.197 and 30 CFR 252, which 
addresses disclosure of data and information to be made available to 
the public. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are 
mandatory or are required to obtain a benefit.
    Frequency: On occasion, weekly, monthly, semi-annually, annually, 
and as a result of situations encountered depending upon the 
requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.

[[Page 2860]]

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 116,341 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.
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified four non-hour cost burdens for various platform 
applications/installations. The platform fees are as follows: $22,734 
for installation under the Platform Verification Program; $3,256 for 
installation of fixed structures under the Platform Approval Program; 
$1,657 for installation of Caisson/Well Protectors; and $3,884 for 
modifications and/or repairs (see Sec.  250.125). We have not 
identified any other non-hour cost burdens associated with this 
collection of information, and we estimate a total reporting non-hour 
cost burden of $316,967.
    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 
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.
    Agencies must also estimate the non-hour paperwork cost burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you have other than hour burden 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. For further 
information on this burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(1) and (2), or 
contact the Bureau representative listed previously in this notice.
    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.
    BSEE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Cheryl Blundon (703) 
787-1607.

    Dated: January 9, 2014.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-00712 Filed 1-15-14; 8:45 am]
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