[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30724-30726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13003]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2015-0009; OMB Control Number 1014-0007; 15XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Oil-Spill Response 
Requirements for Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line; 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 Oil-Spill Response 
Requirements for Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line.

DATES: You must submit comments by July 28, 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-2015-0009 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 1014-0007 
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 254, Oil-Spill Response Requirements for 
Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0007.
    Abstract: Section 2(b)(3) of E.O. 12777 delegated to the Secretary 
of the Interior (Secretary) those responsibilities under section 
311(j)(1)(C) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) 
(October 18, 1991; 56 FR 54757), requiring the Secretary to establish 
procedures, methods, and requirements for equipment to prevent and 
contain discharges of oil and hazardous substances from offshore 
facilities, including associated pipelines. Under section 2(d)(3) of 
E.O. 12777, section 311(j)(5) of FWPCA, and section 4202(b)(4) of OPA, 
the Secretary is required to issue regulations requiring the owners or 
operators of offshore facilities, including associated pipelines, to 
prepare and submit response plans that ensure the availability of 
private spill-response personnel and equipment and to permit the 
operation of offshore facilities, including associated pipelines, 
without approved response plans if certain conditions are met. Under 
section 2(e)(3) of E.O. 12777 and section 311(j)(6)(A) of FWPCA, the 
Secretary must require periodic inspections of containment booms and 
equipment used to remove discharges at offshore facilities, including 
associated pipelines. The Secretary has redelegated these 
responsibilities to the Director, BSEE.
    The FWPCA, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 
requires that a spill-response plan be submitted for offshore 
facilities prior to February 18, 1993. The OPA specifies that after 
that date, an offshore facility may not handle, store, or transport oil 
unless a plan has been submitted. Regulations at 30 CFR 254 establish 
requirements for spill-response plans for oil-handling facilities 
seaward of the coast line, including associated pipelines.
    To provide supplementary guidance and procedures, BSEE issues 
Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) on a regional or National 
basis. Regulation 30 CFR 250.103 allows BSEE to issue NTLs to clarify, 
supplement, or provide more detail about certain requirements. 
Additional guidance pertaining to Oil-Spill Response Requirements is 
provided by NTLs when needed.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those 
delegated to BSEE. The regulations under 30 CFR 254 pertain to 
preparation and submittal of response plans that ensure the 
availability of private-spill response personnel and equipment.
    We use the information collected under 30 CFR 254 to determine 
compliance with OPA by lessees/operators. Specifically, BSEE needs the 
information to:
     Determine that lessees/operators have an adequate plan and 
are sufficiently prepared to implement a quick and effective response 
to a discharge of oil from their facilities or operations.
     Review plans prepared under the regulations of a State and 
submitted to BSEE to satisfy the requirements in 30 CFR 254 to ensure 
that they meet minimum requirements of OPA.
     Verify that personnel involved in oil-spill response are 
properly trained and familiar with the requirements of the spill-
response plans and to lead and witness spill-response exercises.
     Assess the sufficiency and availability of contractor 
equipment and materials.
     Verify that sufficient quantities of equipment are 
available and in working order.
     Oversee spill-response efforts and maintain official 
records of pollution events.
     Assess the efforts of lessees/operators to prevent oil 
spills or prevent substantial threats of such discharges.
    No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. Generally, no 
proprietary information is collected under 30 CFR 254. However, if 
respondents did submit proprietary information, we protect such 
information under 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

[[Page 30725]]

available to the public,'' and 30 CFR 252, ``Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) Oil and Gas Information Program.'' Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: The frequencies of responses are on occasion, monthly, 
annually, and biennially 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.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 60,198 hours. 
In this submission, we are requested a total of 74,461 burden 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Annual burden
  CITATION 30 CFR 254 and NTLs    Reporting requirement       Hour burden      Average number of       hours
                                                                               annual  responses     (rounded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart A--General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1(a) thru (d); 2(a); 3 thru 5;   Submit spill response    192.8.............  18 new plans......           3,470
 7; 20 thru 29; 44(b);            plan for OCS
 47(a)(3); 51.                    facilities and related
                                  documents/copies of
                                  referenced documents;
                                  any additional
                                  information necessary
                                  for compliance
                                  purposes.
1(e)...........................  Request BSEE             0.4...............  2 requests........               1
                                  jurisdiction over
                                  facility landward of
                                  coast line (no recent
                                  request received).
2(b)...........................  Submit certification of  15.8..............  18 certification..             284
                                  capability to respond
                                  to worst case
                                  discharge or
                                  substantial threat of
                                  such.
2(c)...........................  Request deadline         2.................  8 extensions......              16
                                  extension for
                                  submission of revised
                                  plan.
                                                         ----------------------------------------
8..............................  Appeal BSEE orders or     Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c).               0
                                  decisions per 30 CFR
                                  Part 290.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  46 responses......     3,771 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Subpart B--Oil-Spill Response Plans for Outer Continental Shelf Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subpart B 52...................  Requirements for your         Burden included with specific                   0
                                  oil-spill response        requirements under subparts A and D.
                                  plans.
                                                         ----------------------------------------
30.............................  Submit and/or resubmit   62................  159 revised plans.           9,858
                                  revised spill response
                                  plan for OCS
                                  facilities at least
                                  every 2 years or
                                  within 15 days
                                  whenever certain
                                  changes occur (see
                                  (b)(1-4) or (see (e)(1-
                                  3)).
30.............................  Notify BSEE of no        1.................  1 plan............               1
                                  change to your plan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  160 responses.....           9,859
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Subpart C--Related Requirements for OCS Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40.............................  Make records of all      7.................  40 records........             280
                                  OSRO-provided
                                  services, equipment,
                                  personnel available to
                                  BSEE.
41.............................  Conduct annual           149...............  138 plans holders/          20,562
                                  training; retain                             operators.
                                  training records for 2
                                  years.
42(a) thru (e).................  Conduct triennial        215...............  138 exercises.....          29,670
                                  response plan
                                  exercise; retain
                                  exercise records for 3
                                  years.
42(f)..........................  Inform BSEE 30 days      1.3...............  138 notifications.             179
                                  before the date of any
                                  exercise (triennial).
43.............................  Inspect response         10.5..............  780 (65 sites x 12           8,190
                                  equipment monthly;                           months).
                                  retain inspection &
                                  maintenance records
                                  for 2 years.
44(b)..........................  Request approval to use  1.5...............  1 request.........               2
                                  a different efficiency
                                  factor for specific
                                  oil recovery devices;
                                  submit evidence to
                                  demonstrate the
                                  request.
                                                         ----------------------------------------
46(a) NTL......................  Notify NRC of all oil      Burden would be included in the NRC                0
                                  spills from owner/                     inventory.
                                  operator facility..
                                                         ----------------------------------------
46(b) NTL(s)...................  Notify BSEE of oil       2.................  6 notifications &               12
                                  spills of one barrel                         reports.
                                  or more from owner/
                                  operator facility;
                                  submit follow-up
                                  report; after
                                  catastrophic event may
                                  be requested to meet w/
                                  BSEE to discuss storm
                                  recovery strategies/
                                  pollution.
46(c)..........................  Notify BSEE &            1.8...............  24 notifications..              43
                                  responsible party of
                                  oil spills from
                                  operations at another
                                  facility.
47(d)..........................  Request instructions on  0.9...............  1 request.........               1
                                  how to calculate
                                  volume of WDC scenario
                                  if not listed in Sec.
                                   203. 47(a-c).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  1,266 responses...    58,939 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 30726]]

 
   Subpart D--Oil Spill Response Requirements for Facilities Located in State Waters Seaward of the Coast Line
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50; 52.........................  Submit response plan     46.3..............  13 plans..........             602
                                  for facility in State
                                  waters following
                                  format for OCS plan.
50; 51; 52.....................  Submit response plan     14.3..............  50 plans..........             715
                                  for facility in State
                                  waters by modifying
                                  existing OCS plan.
50; 53;........................  Submit response plan     40................  8 plans...........             320
                                  for facility in State
                                  waters developed under
                                  State requirements
                                  including all
                                  information as
                                  required in these
                                  sections.
54.............................  Submit description of    3.8...............  67 submissions....             255
                                  oil-spill prevention
                                  procedures and
                                  demonstrate
                                  compliance; include
                                  any industry safety
                                  and pollution
                                  prevention standards
                                  your facility meets.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................................................  138 responses.....     1,892 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Hour Burden...................................................  1,610 Responses...    74,461 Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified no non-hour cost burdens for this collection.
    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 20, 2015.
Robert Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-13003 Filed 5-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P