[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49807-49810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19980]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0048]


Information Collection: Geological and Geophysical Explorations 
of the Outer Continental Shelf; Proposed Collection for OMB Review; 
Comment Request; MMAA104000

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) 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 the paperwork requirements in the 
regulations under 30 CFR 551, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) 
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.

DATES: Submit written comments by October 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comments on this ICR to the BOEM 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Arlene Bajusz, Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, 381 Elden Street, HM-3127, Herndon, Virginia 
20170 (mail); or [email protected] (email); or 703-787-1209 (fax). 
Please reference ICR 1010-0048 in your comment and include your name 
and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlene Bajusz, Office of Policy, 
Regulations, and Analysis at (703) 787-1025 to request a copy of the 
ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
    Title: 30 CFR 551, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of 
the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Form: BOEM-0327, Requirements for G&G Explorations or Scientific 
Research on the OCS.
    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. The OCS Lands Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1340) states that ``any person authorized by the Secretary 
may conduct geological and geophysical explorations in the [O]uter 
Continental Shelf, which do not interfere with or endanger actual 
operations under any lease maintained or granted pursuant to this 
subchapter, and which are not unduly harmful to aquatic life in such 
area.'' The section further requires that permits to conduct such 
activities may only be issued if it is determined that the applicant is 
qualified; the activities do not result in pollution or create 
hazardous or unsafe conditions; the activities do not unreasonably 
interfere with other uses of the area or disturb any site, structure, 
or object of historical or archaeological significance. Applicants for 
permits are required to submit form BOEM-0327 to provide the 
information necessary to evaluate their qualifications, and upon 
approval, respondents are issued a permit.
    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. All G&G permits 
are subject to cost recovery, and BOEM regulations specify service fees 
for these requests.
    Regulations to carry out these responsibilities are contained in 30 
CFR 551 and are the subject of this information collection renewal. 
BOEM uses the information to ensure there is no environmental 
degradation, personal harm or unsafe operations and conditions, damage 
to historical or archaeological sites, or interference with other uses; 
to analyze and evaluate preliminary or planned drilling activities; to 
monitor progress and activities in the OCS; to acquire G&G data and 
information collected under a Federal permit offshore; and to determine 
eligibility for reimbursement from the government for certain costs. 
Information on the G&G characteristics of oil- and gas-bearing 
physiographic regions aids the Secretary in obtaining a proper balance 
among the potentials for environmental damage, the discovery of oil and 
gas, and associated impacts on affected coastal States.
    In this renewal, BOEM is updating form BOEM-0327 to clarify the 
types of copies being requested, delete incorrect language, make 
recommendations for faster processing, and update addresses. To respond 
to the number of questions BOEM receives from permittees on the form, 
BOEM is also clarifying wording, providing examples/tables to reduce 
confusion, and separating requirements by OCS Region to further assist

[[Page 49808]]

permittees. BOEM is not asking for more information, just outlining 
current requirements in more detail. We do not expect these 
improvements to change the 3-hour burden for the majority of permit 
applications, which are associated with G&G exploration in the Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region.
    However, for applications in the Alaska OCS Region and Atlantic 
OCS, BOEM is adjusting the burden to be significantly higher (300 
hours), not because of the form improvements, but because of the 
requirements to submit environmental information sufficient for the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review about the effects of 
sound on marine mammals and other protected species. To acquire G&G 
data, companies need to (1) obtain a BOEM permit, (2) obtain an 
Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) from the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, and (3) coordinate their activities with the 
Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA). Much of this work has already been done for the 
Gulf of Mexico OCS, where G&G activity has been ongoing for years. 
While prospective permittees must obtain the IHA and coordinate with 
DOD and NASA before BOEM issues a permit, the time or burden to fill 
out form BOEM-0327 and acquire the information for the form remains the 
same. However, in areas outside of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, BOEM 
is accounting for the total time companies will expend to compile and 
submit the necessary information to obtain the required authorizations 
to acquire a BOEM permit in these areas as well as coordinate with DOD/
NASA. Therefore, the burden for applicants in the Alaska and Atlantic 
OCS areas to describe the environmental effects and proposed 
mitigations is estimated much higher.
    To complement the changes made in form BOEM-0327, BOEM is also 
separating the requirements in the BOEM-issued permits by OCS Region to 
further assist permittees. The actual permits are filled in by BOEM and 
do not incur a respondent hour burden.
    We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 
part 2), and under regulations at 30 CFR 551. No items of a sensitive 
nature are collected. Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion, annual, or as specified in permits.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulphur permittees or notice filers.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: We estimate the 
burden for this collection to be about 9,876 hours. The following table 
details the individual components and respective hour burden estimates 
of this ICR.

                                                  Burden Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Non-Hour Cost Burden\*\
                                         Reporting and      ----------------------------------------------------
       Citation  30 CFR 551              recordkeeping                         Average No.  of     Annual burden
                                          requirement          Hour burden    annual  responses        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             CFR 551.1 through 551.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.4(a), (b); 551.5(a), (b),      Apply for permits (form      ** 300 AK &  13 Applications....           3,900
 (d); 551.6; 551.7.                 BOEM-0327) to conduct               ATL
                                    G&G exploration,
                                    including deep
                                    stratigraphic tests/
                                    revisions when
                                    necessary. Submit
                                    required information.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                      3 GOM  74 Applications....             222
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                             87 applications x $2,012 = $175,044
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.4(b); 551.5(c), (d); 551.6...  File notices to conduct                1  1 Notice...........               1
                                    scientific research
                                    activities, including
                                    notice to BOEM prior to
                                    beginning and after
                                    concluding activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.6(b) 551.7(b)(5).............  Notify BOEM if specific                1  1 Notice...........               1
                                    actions should occur;
                                    report archaeological
                                    resources (no instances
                                    reported since 1982).
                                    Consult with other
                                    users.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  89 responses.......     4,124 hours
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                                             ..............  $175,044 non-hour cost burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           30 CFR 551.7 through 551.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.7; 551.8.....................  Submit APD and            Burden included under BSEE                        0
                                    Supplemental APD to      regulations at 30 CFR 250, Subpart
                                    BSEE.                    D (1014-0018).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.7; 551.8(b)..................  Submit information on                  1  1..................               1
                                    test drilling
                                    activities under a
                                    permit, including
                                    required information
                                    and plan revisions
                                    (e.g., drilling plan
                                    and environmental
                                    report).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.7(c).........................  Enter into agreement for               1  1 Agreement........               1
                                    group participation in
                                    test drilling,
                                    including publishing
                                    summary statement;
                                    provide BOEM copy of
                                    notice/list of
                                    participants (no
                                    agreements submitted
                                    since 1989).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 49809]]

 
551.7(d).........................  Submit bond(s) on deep    Burden included under 30 CFR Part                 0
                                    stratigraphic test and   556 (1010-0006).
                                    required securities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.8(a).........................  Request reimbursement                  1  1 Request..........               1
                                    for certain costs
                                    associated with BOEM
                                    inspections (no
                                    requests in many years).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.8(b), (c)....................  Submit modifications to,  ** 38 AK & ATL  13 Respondents x 10           4,940
                                    and status/final                          Reports = 130.
                                    reports on, activities
                                    conducted under a
                                    permit.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                      2 GOM  55 Respondents x 3              330
                                                                              Reports = 165.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.9(c).........................  Notify BOEM to                       1/2  2 Notices..........               1
                                    relinquish a permit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  300 responses......     5,274 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          30 CFR 551.10 through 551.13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.10(c)........................  File appeals............  Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2),                  0
                                                             (c).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.11; 551.12...................  Notify BOEM and submit                 4  40 Submissions.....             160
                                    G&G data and/or
                                    information collected
                                    and/or processed by
                                    permittees, bidders, or
                                    3rd parties, etc.,
                                    including reports, logs
                                    or charts, results,
                                    analyses, descriptions,
                                    information as
                                    required, and
                                    agreements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.13...........................  Request reimbursement                  2  40 Submissions.....              80
                                    for certain costs
                                    associated with
                                    reproducing data/
                                    information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  80 responses.......       240 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  30 CFR 551.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.14(a), (b)...................  Submit comments on BOEM                1  2 Comments.........               2
                                    intent to disclose data
                                    and/or information to
                                    the public.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.14(c)(2).....................  Submit comments on BOEM                1  2 Comments.........               2
                                    intent to disclose data
                                    and/or information to
                                    an independent
                                    contractor/agent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.14(c)(4).....................  Contractor/agent submits               1  2 Commitments......               2
                                    written commitment not
                                    to sell, trade,
                                    license, or disclose
                                    data and/or information
                                    without BOEM consent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.1-551.14.....................  General departure and                  1  2 Requests.........               2
                                    alternative compliance
                                    requests not
                                    specifically covered
                                    elsewhere in part 551
                                    regulations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  8 responses........         8 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Extension for Permit Form & Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
551.14(b) (BOEM-0327)............  Request extension of                   1  100 Extensions.....             100
                                    permit time period;
                                    enter agreements.
                                   Retain G&G data/                       1  130 Recordkeepers..             130
                                    information for 10
                                    years and make
                                    available to BOEM upon
                                    request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  230 responses......       230 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Burden...............  ........................  ..............  707 Responses......     9,876 Hours
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                                                             $175,044 Non-Hour Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Fees are subject to modification per inflation annually.
** Burden hours for Alaska Region and Atlantic OCS significantly higher because of NEPA and mitigation
  requirements. There are currently no such activities ongoing in the Pacific Region.


[[Page 49810]]

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one non-hour cost burden for this collection of information. 
Under Sec.  551.5(a) there is an application fee of $2,012 when 
respondents submit a permit application (refer to the table above).
    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: We invite comments concerning this information collection 
on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of our burden estimates;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden on respondents.
    If you have costs to generate, maintain, and disclose this 
information, you should comment and provide your total capital and 
startup costs or annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of service 
costs. You should describe the methods you use to estimate major cost 
factors, including system and technology acquisition, expected useful 
life of capital equipment, discount rate(s), and the period over which 
you incur costs. Capital and startup costs include, among other items, 
computers and software you purchase to prepare for collecting 
information, monitoring, and record storage facilities. You should not 
include estimates for equipment or services purchased: (a) Before 
October 1, 1995; (b) to comply with requirements not associated with 
the information collection; (c) for reasons other than to provide 
information or keep records for the Government; or (d) as part of 
customary and usual business or private practices.
    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 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: August 13, 2014.
Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulations, and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2014-19980 Filed 8-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P