[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29740-29743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12304]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)

[Docket ID BSEE-2015-0008; OMB Control Number 1014-0005; 15XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Relief or Reduction in Royalty 
Rates; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Relief or Reduction in 
Royalty Rates.

DATES: You must submit comments by July 21, 2015.

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-2015-0008 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: Cheryl Blundon; 
45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference ICR 1014-0005 
in your comment and include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch at (703) 787-1607 to request additional information 
about this ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR part 203, Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0005.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 
1337, as amended by the OCS Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (DWRRA), 
Public Law 104-58 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-
058, gives the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) the authority to 
reduce or eliminate royalty or any net profit share specified in OCS 
oil and gas leases to promote increased production. The DWRRA also 
authorized the Secretary to suspend royalties when necessary to promote 
development or recovery of marginal resources on producing or non-
producing leases in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) west of 87 degrees, 30 
minutes West longitude.
    Section 302 of the DWRRA provides that new production from a lease 
in existence on November 28, 1995, in a water depth of at least 200 
meters, and in the GOM west of 87 degrees, 30 minutes West longitude 
qualifies for royalty suspension in certain situations. To grant a 
royalty suspension, the Secretary must determine that the new 
production or development would not be economic in the absence of 
royalty relief. The Secretary must then determine the volume of 
production on which no royalty would be due in order to make the new 
production from the lease economically viable. This determination is 
done on a case-by-case basis. Production from leases in the same water 
depth and area issued after November 28, 2000, also can qualify for 
royalty suspension in addition to any that may be included in their 
lease terms.
    In addition, Federal policy and statute require us to recover the 
cost of services that confer special benefits to identifiable non-
Federal recipients. The Independent Offices Appropriation Act (31 
U.S.C. 9701), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25, and 
the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321, April 
26, 1996) authorize the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
(BSEE) to collect these fees to reimburse us for the cost to process 
applications or assessments.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 203 implement these statutes and policy 
and require respondents to pay a fee to request royalty relief. The OMB 
approved the information collection burden under this collection 1014-
0005. Section 203.3(a) states that, ``We will specify the necessary 
fees for each of the types of royalty-relief applications and possible 
BSEE audits in a Notice to Lessees. We will periodically update the 
fees to reflect changes in costs, as well as provide other information 
necessary to administer royalty relief.''
    This authority and responsibility are among those delegated BSEE. 
The regulations at 30 CFR part 203, 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
    We use the information to make decisions on the economic viability 
of leases requesting a suspension or elimination of royalty or net 
profit share. These decisions have enormous monetary impact on both the 
lessee and the Federal Government. Royalty relief can lead to increased 
production of natural gas and oil, creating profits for lessees, and 
royalty and tax revenues for the Federal Government that they might not 
otherwise receive. We could not make an informed decision without the 
collection of information required by 30 CFR part 203.
    No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. BSEE will protect 
information from respondents considered proprietary under the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and DOI's implementing regulations 
(43 CFR 2) and under regulations at 30 CFR 203.61, How do I assess my 
chances for getting relief? and 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to 
be made available to the public or for limited inspection. Responses 
are mandatory or are required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency: On occasion or 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.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 23,329 hours 
and $117,441 non-hour cost burdens. In this submission, we are 
requesting a total of 724 burden hours and $27,950 non-hour cost 
burdens. 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.

[[Page 29741]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Application/audit fees (rounded)
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
   Citation 30 CFR 203 and         Reporting or                                                         Annual
       related NTL(s)              recordkeeping                           Average number of annual     burden
                                   requirement +         Hour burden              responses              hours
                                                                                                       (rounded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2; 3; 4; 70.................     These sections contain general references to submitting reports,              0
                                 applications, requests, copies, demonstrating qualifications, for
                                    BSEE approval--burdens covered under specific requirements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Royalty Relief for Ultra-Deep Gas Wells and Deep Gas Wells on Shallow Water Leases
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31(c).......................  Request a refund of or  1................  1 request..................           1
                               recoup royalties from
                               qualified ultra-deep
                               wells.
35(a); 44(a); 47............  Notify BSEE of intent   1................  2 notifications............           2
                               to begin drilling and
                               depth of target.
35(c), (d); 44(b), (d), (e).  Notify BSEE that        2................  2 notifications............           4
                               production has begun,
                               request confirmation
                               of the size of RSV--
                               provide any/all
                               supporting
                               documentation.
35(d); 44(e)................  Request to extend the   4................  1 request..................           4
                               deadline for
                               beginning production
                               with required
                               supporting
                               documentation.
41(d).......................  Request a refund of or  1................  1 request..................           1
                               recoup royalties from
                               qualified wells >200
                               meters but <400
                               meters.
35(a); 44(a); 47(a).........  Notify BSEE of intent   1................  2 notifications............           2
                               to begin drilling.
35(c), (d); 44(b), (d), (e).  Notify BSEE that        2................  2 notifications............           4
                               production has begun,
                               request confirmation
                               of the size of RSV,
                               provide any/all
                               supporting
                               documentation (i.e.,
                               request to extend
                               deadline, credible
                               activity schedule,
                               etc).
46..........................  Provide data from well  8................  1 response.................           8
                               to confirm and attest
                               well drilled was an
                               unsuccessful
                               certified well with
                               supporting
                               documentation and
                               request supplement
                               (RSS).
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
49(b).......................  Notify BSEE or             BSEE SOL requires that this reg text stay for legacy
                               decision to exercise      purposes only. Last time any respondent could use was
                               option to replace one                    2004; hence, no burden.
                               set of deep gas
                               royalty suspension
                               terms for another set
                               of such terms.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................  ......................  .................  8 responses................          20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    End of Life and Special Royalty Relief *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51; 83; 84; NTL.............  Application--leases     100..............  1 application every 10               10
                               that generate                              years.
                               earnings that cannot
                               sustain continued
                               production (end-of-
                               life lease); required
                               supporting
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  application 1/10 x $8,000 = $800 *
                                                                    audit 1/10 x $12,500 = $1,250.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
52..........................  Demonstrate ability to  1................  1 response.................           1
                               qualify/requalify for
                               royalty relief or to
                               re-qualify.
55..........................  Renounce relief         1................  1 letter every 10 years....           1
                               arrangement (end-of-
                               life) (seldom, if
                               ever will be used;
                               minimal burden to
                               prepare letter).
80; NTL.....................  Application--apart      250..............  1 application every 10               25
                               from formal programs                       years.
                               for royalty relief
                               for marginal
                               producing lease
                               (Special Case
                               Relief); required
                               supporting
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 application 1/10 x $8,000 ** = $ 800.
                                                                    audit 1/10 x $12,500 = $1,250.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
80; NTL.....................  Application--apart      1,000............  1 application every 10              100
                               from formal programs                       years.
                               for royalty relief
                               for marginal
                               expansion project or
                               marginal non-
                               producing lease
                               (Special Case
                               Relief); required
                               supporting
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                               application 1/10 x $19,500 ** = $ 1,950.
                                                                    audit 1/10 x $18,750 = $1,875.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................  ......................  .................  2 responses (rounded)......         137
                                                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                                                       $7,925 fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 29742]]

 
                                                   CPA Report
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
81; 83-90; 63...............  Required reports;             Burden included with applications.                 0
                               extension
                               justification.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                            1 CPA report x $45,000/10 each report = $4,500.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................  ......................  .................  1 response.................      $4,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (DWRAA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85-   Application--preview    900..............  1 application every 10               90
 89;.                          assessment (seldom if                      years.
NTL.........................   ever will be used as
                               applicants generally
                               opt for binding
                               determination by BSEE
                               instead) and required
                               supporting
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 application 1/10 x $28,500 = $2,850.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85-89;    Application--leases in  2,000............  1 application every 10              200
 NTL.                          designated areas of                        years.
                               GOM deep water
                               acquired in lease
                               sale before 11/28/95
                               or after 11/28/00 and
                               are producing (deep
                               water expansion
                               project); required
                               supporting
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 application 1/10 x $19,500 = $1,950.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
62; 64; 65; 203.71; 81; 83;   Application--leases in  2,000............  1 application every 10              200
 85-89; NTL.                   designated areas of                        years.
                               deep water GOM,
                               acquired in lease
                               sale before 11/28/95
                               or after 11/28/00
                               that have not
                               produced (pre-act or
                               post-2000 deep water
                               leases); required
                               supporting
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 application 1/10 x $34,000 = $3,400 *
                                                                    audit 1/10 x $37,500 = $3,750.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
69; NTL.....................  Application--short      40...............  1 application every 10                4
                               form to add or assign                      years.
                               pre-Act lease and
                               required supporting
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   application 1/10 x $1,000 = $100.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
70; 81; 90; 76(c), (e); NTL.  Submit post-production  50...............  1 report * every 10 years..           5
                               development report;
                               extension
                               justification. #
                               Reserve right to
                               audit (1 audit every
                               6 years) after
                               production starts to
                               confirm cost
                               estimates of the
                               application; include
                               payment confirmation
                               receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   #1 audit 1/10 x $18,750 = $1,875.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
74; 75; 76(d); NTL..........  Redetermination and     500..............  1 redetermination every 10           50
                               required supporting                        years.
                               documentation;
                               include payment
                               confirmation receipt.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 application 1/10 x $16,000 = $1,600 *
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
77..........................  Renounce relief         1................  1 letter every 10 years....           1
                               arrangement (deep
                               water) (seldom, if
                               ever will be used;
                               minimal burden to
                               prepare letter).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
79..........................  Request                  This was a regulatory requirement for leases            0
                               reconsideration of                  issued prior to 1995.
                               BSEE field
                               designation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
79(c); 76(b)................  Request extension of    2................  1 request every 10 years...           1
                               deadline to start
                               construction.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
81; 83-90...................  Required reports;             Burden included with applications.                 0
                               extension
                               justification.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................  ......................  .................  3 responses................         551
                                                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                                                       $15,525 fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 29743]]

 
                                                  Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
81(d).......................  Retain supporting cost  8................  2 recordkeepers............          16
                               records for post-
                               production
                               development/
                               fabrication reports
                               (records retained as
                               usual/customary
                               business practice;
                               minimal burden to
                               make available at
                               BSEE request).
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................  ......................  .................  2 recordkeepers............          16
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Total Annual Burden.....  ......................  .................  16 Responses...............         724
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       $27,950 Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ In the future, BSEE may require electronic filing of some submissions.
* CPA certification expense burden also imposed on applicant.
** These applications currently do not have a set fee since they are done on a case-by-case basis.
Note: Applications include numerous items such as: transmittal letters, letters of request, modifications to
  applications, reapplications, etc.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified several non-hour cost burdens for this collection. Under 
Sec.  203.3, we charge lessees (respondents) applying for royalty 
relief an amount that covers the cost of processing their applications 
and auditing financial data when necessary to determine the proposed 
development's economic situation. As discussed in section A.1, these 
fees may be revised as necessary to recover our costs in processing 
royalty relief applications.
    This submission includes these audits and their associated fees. 
Since there have been no applications approved in the last 14 years 
under our formal programs for deepwater royalty relief or end of life, 
so their estimated number of submittals is one every 10 years; but we 
include the audit and their respective fees due to the potential 
situation arising.
    We estimate this cost burden to be approximately $23,450 annually. 
Refer to the chart in Section A.12 of this supporting statement for a 
breakdown.
    Under Sec.  203.81, a report prepared by an independent certified 
public accountant (CPA) must accompany the application and post-
production report (expansion project, short form, and preview 
assessment applications are excluded). The OCS Lands Act applications 
will require this report only once; the DWRRA applications will require 
this report at two stages--with the application and post-production 
development report for successful applicants. We estimate an average 
cost for a report is $45,000 and that one CPA certification, during the 
information collection extension period, will be necessary if the 
applications are approved. This annual cost burden is $45,000/10 years 
= $4,500.
    Therefore, the total of the two burdens under Section A.13 (a) and 
(b) is estimated at $27,950. 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.

    Dated: May 14, 2015.
Douglas W. Morris,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-12304 Filed 5-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P