[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 115 (Tuesday, June 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34455-34458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14696]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2015-0001; OMB Control Number 1014-0021; 15XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Operations in the Outer 
Continental Shelf for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur; 
Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB an information collection request 
(ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the 
regulations under Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for 
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur. This notice also provides 
the public a second opportunity to comment on the revised paperwork 
burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATE:  You must submit comments by July 16, 2015.

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 (1014-0021). 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-2015-0001 then click

[[Page 34456]]

search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view all 
related materials. We will post all comments.
     Email [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: Cheryl Blundon; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please 
reference ICR 1014-0021 in your comment and include your name and 
return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607, 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 282, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for 
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0021.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to implement regulations to grant leases of any mineral other 
than oil, gas, and sulphur to qualified parties. This regulation 
governs mining operations within the OCS and establishes a 
comprehensive leasing and regulatory program for such minerals. This 
regulation has been designed to: (1) Recognize the differences between 
the OCS activities associated with oil, gas, and sulphur discovery and 
development and those associated with the discovery and development of 
other minerals; (2) facilitate participation by States directly 
affected by OCS mining activities; (3) provide opportunities for 
consultation and coordination with other OCS users and uses; (4) 
balance development with environmental protection; (5) insure a fair 
return to the public; (6) preserve and maintain free enterprise 
competition; and (7) encourage the development of new technology.
    The authorities and responsibilities described above are among 
those delegated to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
(BSEE). Therefore, this ICR addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 282, 
Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, 
Gas, and Sulphur. It should be noted that there has been no activity in 
the OCS for minerals other than oil, gas and sulphur for many years and 
no information collected. However, because these are regulatory 
requirements, the potential exists for information to be collected; 
therefore, we are renewing this collection of information.
    Responses are mandatory or 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 DOIs implementing regulations (43 
CFR 2), and under the regulations at and Sec. Sec.  282.5, 282.6, and 
282.7.
    BSEE will use the information required by 30 CFR 282 to determine 
if lessees are complying with the regulations that implement the mining 
operations program for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulphur. 
Specifically, BSEE will use the information:
     To ensure that operations for the production of minerals 
other than oil, gas, and sulphur in the OCS are conducted in a manner 
that will result in orderly resource recovery, development, and the 
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments.
     To ensure that adequate measures will be taken during 
operations to prevent waste, conserve the natural resources of the OCS, 
and to protect the environment, human life, and correlative rights.
     To determine if suspensions of activities are in the 
national interest, to facilitate proper development of a lease 
including reasonable time to develop a mine and construct its 
supporting facilities, and to allow for the construction or negotiation 
for use of transportation facilities.
     To identify and evaluate the cause(s) of a hazard(s) 
generating a suspension, the potential damage from a hazard(s) and the 
measures available to mitigate the potential for damage.
     For technical evaluations that provide a basis for BSEE to 
make informed decisions to approve, disapprove, or require modification 
of the proposed activities.
    Frequency: On occasion and as required by regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise OCS 
Federal 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 56 
hours and $100,000 non-hour cost burdens. 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.

                                                  Burden Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Non-hour cost burden
                                         Reporting or       ----------------------------------------------------
       Citation 30 CFR 282               recordkeeping                        Average number of    Annual burden
                                         requirement *         Hour burden     annual responses        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart A--General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5................................  Request non-disclosure                10  1 request..........              10
                                    of data and information.
6................................  Governor(s) of adjacent                1  1 submission.......               1
                                    State(s) request for
                                    proprietary data,
                                    information, samples,
                                    etc., and disclosure
                                    agreement with BSEE.
7................................  Governor of affected                   1  1 request..........               1
                                    State requests
                                    negotiation to settle
                                    jurisdictional
                                    controversy, etc.;
                                    enters into an
                                    agreement with BSEE.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  3 Responses........        12 Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Subpart B--Jurisdiction and Responsibilities of Director
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(d)(1);........................  Request consolidation/                 1  1 request..........               1
                                    unitization of two or
                                    more leases or lease
                                    portions into a single
                                    mining unit.

[[Page 34457]]

 
11(d)(4).........................  State requests different               1  1 request..........               1
                                    method of allocating
                                    production.
12(f); 13(d); 28(c)..............  Request approval(s) of                20  1 request..........              20
                                    applicable applications
                                    and/or plans; including
                                    environmental
                                    information, monitoring
                                    program, and various
                                    requests for approval;
                                    submit modifications as
                                    appropriate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12(h)............................  Request departures from     Burden covered under 30 CFR 250,                0
                                    the operating                   Subpart A, 1014-0022.
                                    requirements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13(b), (f)(2); 31................  Request suspension or                  2  1 request..........               2
                                    temporary prohibition
                                    or production or
                                    operations; include all
                                    documentation--or any
                                    other information BSEE
                                    may require.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13(d); 13(e)(2)..................  Submit a Delineation,      BOEM requirement covered under 30   ..............
                                    Testing, or Mining Plan          CFR 582, 1010-0081.
                                    or revised Plan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13(e)............................  Submit site-specific                   8  1 study............               8
                                    study plan and results.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                        1 study x $100,000 = $100,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14...............................  Submit response copy of                2  1 response.........               2
                                    Form BSEE-1832
                                    indicating date
                                    violations (INCs)
                                    corrected, etc..
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  6 Responses........        34 Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        $100,000 Non-Hour Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Subpart C--Obligations and Responsibilities of Lessees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(b)............................  Request use of new or                  1  1 request..........               1
                                    alternative
                                    technologies,
                                    techniques, etc.
27(c)............................  Notify BSEE of death or                1  1 notification.....               1
                                    serious injury; fire,
                                    exploration, or other
                                    hazardous event,
                                    pollution etc.; submit
                                    report.
27(d)(2).........................  Request reimbursement                  2  1 request..........               2
                                    for furnishing food,
                                    quarters, and
                                    transportation for BSEE
                                    representatives (no
                                    requests received in
                                    many years; minimal
                                    burden).
27(e)............................  Identify vessels,                      1  1 sign.............               1
                                    platforms, structures,
                                    etc. with signs.
27(f)(2).........................  Log all drill holes                    3  1 log..............               3
                                    susceptible to logging;
                                    submit copies of logs
                                    to BSEE.
27(h)(3-4).......................  Mark equipment; record                 1  1 notification.....               1
                                    items lost overboard;
                                    notify BSEE.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
27(k)............................  Enter weight or quantity   BOEM requirement covered under 30                0
                                    and quality of each              CFR 582, 1010-0081.
                                    mineral produced.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
28(d)............................  Demonstrate                            1  1 demonstration....               1
                                    effectiveness
                                    procedure(s) for
                                    mitigating
                                    environmental impacts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................                            ..............  7 Responses........        10 Hours
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart E--Appeals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50...............................  File an appeal..........       Burden exempt under 5 CFR                    0
                                                                      1320.4(a)(2), (c).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Burden.............  ........................  ..............  16 Responses.......        56 Hours
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                   ........................  ..............     $100,000 Non-Hour Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In the future, BSEE may require some requirements to be submitted electronically.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one non-hour cost burden associated with the collection of 
information for a total of $100,000. There is a cost to industry to 
submit site-specific study plan and the results. 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: 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

[[Page 34458]]

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 March 26, 2015, 
we published a Federal Register notice (80 FR 16019) announcing that we 
would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the 
required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  282.0 provides the 
OMB Control Number for the information collection requirements imposed 
by the 30 CFR 282, 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 
four comments in response to the Federal Register. None of the comments 
received were germane to the paperwork burden of this information 
collection renewal.
    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: May 27, 2015.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-14696 Filed 6-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P