[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48757-48761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19537]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

[Docket ID BSEE-2014-0007; OMB Control Number 1014-0003; 14XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas Production Safety 
Systems; 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 revision to the 
paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart H, Oil and Gas 
Production Safety Systems.

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

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods 
listed below.
     Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2014-0007 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 1014-0003 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 H, Oil and Gas Production Safety 
Systems.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0003.
    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, 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.''
    In addition to the general authority of OCS Lands Act, 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. 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, the Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement (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. Facility Production

[[Page 48758]]

Safety System Applications are subject to cost recovery and BSEE 
regulations specify filing fees for these applications.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those 
delegated to the BSEE. The regulations at 30 CFR part 250, Subpart H, 
pertain to governing oil and gas production safety systems, and any 
related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to 
clarify and provide additional guidance on some aspects of the 
regulations.
    We use the information 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. The 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. The 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.
    We will protect personally identifiable information about 
individuals according to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and DOI's 
implementing regulations (43 CFR 2). No questions of a sensitive nature 
are asked. We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and DOI's implementing regulations 
(43 CFR 2); 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available 
to the public or for limited inspection; and 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil 
and Gas Information Program. Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion, or as a result of situations encountered 
depending upon the regulatory requirement.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 62,963 hours 
and $343,704 non-hour cost burdens. In this submission, we are 
requesting a total of 92,341 burden hours and $323,481 non-hour cost 
burdens. The following chart details the individual components and 
respective 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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BILLING CODE 4310-VH-C
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified ten non-hour cost burdens for this collection, 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 $323,481 and are as follows:
     Submit application for a production safety system with > 
125 components--$5,426 per submission; $14,280 per offshore visit; and 
$7,426 per shipyard visit.
     Submit application for a production safety system with 25-
125 components--$1,314 per submission; $8,967 per offshore visit; and 
$5,141 per shipyard visit.
     Submit application for a production safety system with < 
25 components--$652 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with > 125 components--$605 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with 25-125 components--$217 per submission.
     Submit modification to application for production safety 
system with <25 components--$92 per submission.
    We have not identified any other non-hour cost burdens associated 
with this collection of information.
    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: August 7, 2014.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-19537 Filed 8-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P