[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19112-19117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07677]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2013-0013; OMB Control Number 1014-0011; 14XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Platforms and Structures; 
Submitted for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request

ACTION: 30-day Notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is notifying the 
public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the 
paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart I, Platforms 
and Structures. 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 May 7, 2014.

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 (1014-0011). Please provide a copy of your comments to 
BSEE by any of the means below.
     Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, 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]:[email protected], 
fax (703) 787-1546, or 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, (703) 787-1605, 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 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 that Act related to 
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. Section 43 U.S.C. 
1356 requires the issuance of ``. . . regulations which require that 
any vessel, rig, platform, or other vehicle or structure . . . (2) 
which is used for activities pursuant to this subchapter, comply . . . 
with such minimum standards of design, construction, alteration, and 
repair as the Secretary . . . establishes. . . .'' Section 43 U.S.C. 
1332(6) also states ``operations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf 
should be conducted in a safe manner . . . to prevent or minimize the 
likelihood of . . . physical obstruction to other users of the water or 
subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the 
environment or to property, or endanger life or health.''
    In addition to the general authority of OCSLA, 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 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. The Secretary has delegated some of the authority 
under FOGRMA to BSEE.
    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 fees 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. Various applications and reports for 
Platform Verification Program, fixed structure, Caisson/Well Protector, 
and modification repairs are subject to cost recovery, and BSEE 
regulations specify service fees for these requests.
    These authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to 
BSEE. The regulations at 30 CFR part 250, Subpart I, pertain to 
Platforms and Structures and are the subject of this collection. This 
request also covers the related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) 
that BSEE issues to clarify, supplement, or provide additional guidance 
on some aspects of our regulations.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those 
delegated to BSEE. While most responses are mandatory, some are 
required to obtain or retain a benefit. No questions of a sensitive 
nature are asked. The BSEE protects information considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and DOI's 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under regulations at 30 
CFR Part 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.
    The BSEE uses the information submitted under Subpart I 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

[[Page 19113]]

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.
    Frequency: On occasion, as a result of situations encountered; and 
annually.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents include Federal 
OCS oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 
261,313 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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BILLING CODE 4310-VH-C

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified four non-hour cost burdens, which are service fees required 
to recover the Federal Government's processing costs of certain 
submissions, 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 $392,874.
    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.
    To comply with the public consultation process, on January 16, 
2014, we published a Federal Register notice (79 FR 2859) 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, Subpart I 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 received one comment in response to the Federal Register 
notice; however, it was not germane to the paperwork burden of this 
information collection.
    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

[[Page 19117]]

to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Information Collection Clearance Officer: Cheryl Blundon, 703-787-
1607.

    Dated: March 25, 2014.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-07677 Filed 4-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P