[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35670-35674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15242]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2015-0003; OMB Control Number 1014-0016; 15XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-
of-Way (ROW); Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Review; Comment Request

ACTION: 30-day notice.

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

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 Subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way 
(ROW). This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to 
comment on the revised paperwork burden of these regulatory 
requirements.

DATES: You must submit comments by July 22, 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 (1014-0016). 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-2015-0003 then click 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 1014-0016 in your

[[Page 35671]]

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 250, Subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way 
(ROW).
    Form: BSEE-0149.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0016.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act at (43 U.S.C. 
1334), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and 
regulations necessary for the administration of the leasing provisions 
of the Act related to mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and 
regulations apply to all operations conducted under a lease, pipeline 
right-of-way (ROW), or a right-of-use and easement. Section 1334(e) 
authorizes the Secretary to grant ROWs through the submerged lands of 
the OCS for pipelines ``. . . for the transportation of oil, natural 
gas, sulphur, or other minerals, or under such regulations and upon 
such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary, . . . including 
(as provided in Section 1347(b) of this title) assuring maximum 
environmental protection by utilization of the best available and 
safest technologies, including the safest practices for pipeline 
burial. . . .''
    In addition to the general authority of OCSLA, section 301(a) of 
the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 
1751(a), grants authority to the Secretary to prescribe such rules and 
regulations as are reasonably necessary to carry out FOGRMA's 
provisions. While the majority of FOGRMA is directed to royalty 
collection and enforcement, some provisions apply to offshore 
operations. For example, section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 U.S.C. 
1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose substantial civil penalties for failure 
to permit lawful inspections and for knowing or willful preparation or 
submission of false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or 
other information. The Secretary has delegated some of the authority 
under FOGRMA to BSEE.
    The Independent Offices Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701), the 
Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26, 
1996), and OMB Circular A-25, authorize Federal agencies to recover the 
full cost of services that confer special benefits. Under the 
Department of the Interior's implementing policy, BSEE is required to 
charge the full cost for services that provide special benefits or 
privileges to an identifiable non-Federal recipient above and beyond 
those that accrue to the public at large. Several requests for approval 
required in Subpart K are subject to cost recovery and BSEE regulations 
specify service fees for these requests.
    This authority and responsibility are among those delegated to 
BSEE. The regulations at 30 CFR 250, Subpart J, pertain to the 
regulatory requirements relating to pipelines and pipeline ROWs on the 
OCS and are the subject of this collection. This collection also covers 
the related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to 
clarify and provide additional guidance on some aspects of the 
regulations.
    The current Subpart J regulations specify the use of form BSEE-
0149, Assignment of Federal OCS Pipeline Right-of-Way Grant. BSEE uses 
the information on the information submitted via the form to track the 
holdership of pipeline ROWs; as well as use this information to update 
the corporate database that is used to determine what leases are 
available for a Lease Sale and the ownership of all OCS leases. In this 
collection, we made a minor revision to the form. Under Part A--
Assignment--we added in the under legal description, ``and any 
accessory information.'' Under Sec.  250.1012, pipeline ROW grants can 
include accessories. Therefore, when transferring a Pipeline ROW grant, 
the description of the pipeline ROW grant should identify everything. 
This will help facilitate BSEE's review when an application has been 
submitted.
    Responses are mandatory or are required to obtain or retain a 
benefit. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. BSEE protects 
information 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 part 250.197, Data and information to be made 
available to the public or for limited inspection, 30 CFR part 252, OCS 
Oil and Gas Information Program.
    Lessees and pipeline ROW holders design the pipelines that they 
install, maintain, and operate. To ensure those activities are 
performed in a safe manner, BSEE needs information concerning the 
proposed pipeline and safety equipment, inspections and tests, and 
natural and manmade hazards near the proposed pipeline route. BSEE uses 
the information to review pipeline designs prior to approving an 
application for an ROW or lease term pipeline to ensure that the 
pipeline, as constructed, will provide for safe transportation of 
minerals through the submerged lands of the OCS. BSEE reviews proposed 
pipeline routes to ensure that the pipelines would not conflict with 
any State requirements or unduly interfere with other OCS activities. 
BSEE reviews proposals for taking pipeline safety equipment out of 
service to ensure alternate measures are used that will properly 
provide for the safety of the pipeline and associated facilities 
(platform, etc.). BSEE reviews notifications of relinquishment of ROW 
grants and requests to decommission pipelines for regulatory compliance 
and to ensure that all legal obligations are met. BSEE monitors the 
records concerning pipeline inspections and tests to ensure safety of 
operations and protection of the environment and to schedule witnessing 
trips and inspections. Information is also necessary to determine the 
point at which DOI or Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulatory 
responsibility for a pipeline and to be informed of the identified 
operator if not the same as the pipeline ROW holder.
    Frequency: On occasion and as required by regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents include Federal 
OCS lessees, lease operators, and holders of pipeline ROWs.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 36,564 
hours. 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.

[[Page 35672]]



                                                  Burden Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Reporting &                                              Annual burden
Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart J and        recordkeeping         Hour burden    Average number of        hours
          related NTL(s)                 requirement *                         annual responses      (rounded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Lease Term (L/T) Pipeline (P/L) Applications
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(b)(1); 1004(b)(5); 1007(a)..  Submit application and                92  61--new L/T P/L               5,612
                                    all required                              applications.
                                    information and notices
                                    to install new L/T P/L.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                 $3,541 x 61 L/T P/L applications = $216,001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(b)(1); 1007(b)..............  Submit application and                30  102 modifications..           3,060
                                    all required
                                    information and notices
                                    to modify a L/T P/L
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 $2,056 x 102 L/T P/L applications = $209,712
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(b)(1);......................  Submit an application to   Burden covered under 1014-0010, 30               0
                                    decommission a lease-            CFR 250, Subpart Q.
                                    term pipeline
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................                                            163 responses......     8,672 hours
                                                                                $425,713 non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Right of Way (ROW) P/L Applications and Grants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(b)(2), (d); 1004(b)(5);       Submit application and               107  62--new ROW grant             6,634
 1007(a); 1009(a); 1015; 1016.      all required                              and P/L
                                    information and notices                   applications.
                                    for new P/L ROW grant
                                    and to install a new
                                    ROW P/L.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                     $2,771 x 62 applications = $171,802
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(b)(2), (3);1007(b); 1017....  Submit application and                45  190 modifications..           8,550
                                    all required
                                    information and notices
                                    to modify a P/L ROW
                                    grant and to modify an
                                    ROW P/L (includes route
                                    modifications,
                                    cessation of
                                    operations, partial
                                    relinquishments, hot
                                    taps, and new and
                                    modified accessory
                                    platforms).
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                     $4,169 x 190 applications = $792,110
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(b)(3); 1010(h);               Submit application and    Burden covered under 1014-0010, 30 CFR 250, Subpart
 1017(b)(2)(ii); 1019.              all required                                      Q.
                                    information and notices
                                    to relinquish P/L ROW
                                    grant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1015.............................  Submit application and                15  15 conversions.....             225
                                    all required
                                    information and notices
                                    for a P/L ROW grant to
                                    convert a lease-term P/
                                    L to an ROW P/L.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                       $236 x 15 applications = $3,540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1016.............................  Request opportunity to                 5  1 request..........               5
                                    eliminate conflict when
                                    an application has been
                                    rejected.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1018.............................  Submit application and                13  275 assignments....           3,575
                                    all required
                                    information and notices
                                    for assignment of a
                                    pipeline ROW grant
                                    using Form BSEE-0149
                                    (burden includes
                                    approximately 30
                                    minutes to fill out
                                    form).
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    $201 x 275 P/L ROW requests = $55,275
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................                                            543 responses......    18,989 hours
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                                                               $1,022,727 non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Notifications and Reports
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1004(b)(5).......................  In lieu of a continuous               35  1 submittal........              35
                                    volumetric comparison
                                    system, request
                                    substitution; submit
                                    any supporting
                                    documentation if
                                    requested/required.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1007(a)(4)(i)(A); (B); (C).......  Provide specified                      4  20 submittals......              80
                                    information in your
                                    pipeline application if
                                    using unbonded flexible
                                    pipe.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 35673]]

 
1007(a)(4)(i)(D).................  Provide results of third    For risers, this verification is                0
                                    party IVA review in       included in the IVA analysis. For
                                    your pipeline                jumpers, it is not required.
                                    application if using
                                    unbonded flexible pipe.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1007(a)(4)(ii)...................  Provide specified                     25  40 applications....           1,000
                                    information in your
                                    pipeline application.
1008(a)..........................  Notify BSEE before                 \1/2\  62 notices.........              31
                                    constructing or
                                    relocating a pipeline.
1008(a)..........................  Notify BSEE before                 \1/2\  87 notices.........              44
                                    conducting a pressure
                                    test.
1008(b)..........................  Submit L/T P/L                        18  28 reports.........             504
                                    construction report.
1008(b)..........................  Submit ROW P/L                        19  17 reports.........             323
                                    construction report.
1008(c)..........................  Notify BSEE of any                 \1/2\  415 notices........             208
                                    pipeline taken out of
                                    service.
1008(d)..........................  Notify BSEE of any                 \1/2\  2 notices..........               1
                                    pipeline safety
                                    equipment taken out of
                                    service more than 12
                                    hours.
1008(e)..........................  Notify BSEE of any                     3  156 notices........             468
                                    repair and include
                                    procedures.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                         $388 x 156 notices = $60,528
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
1008(e)..........................  Submit repair report.                  4  132 reports........             528
1008(f)..........................  Submit report of                   \1/2\  4 reports..........               2
                                    pipeline failure
                                    analysis.
1008(g)..........................  Submit plan of                        13  19 plans/reports...             247
                                    corrective action and
                                    report of any remedial
                                    action.
1008(h)..........................  Submit the results and                 1  794 results........             794
                                    conclusions of pipe-to-
                                    electrolyte potential
                                    measurements.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
1010(c)..........................  Notify BSEE of any                     5  1 notices..........               5
                                    archaeological resource
                                    discovery.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
1010(d)..........................  Notify BSEE of P/L ROW       Not considered IC under 5 CFR                  0
                                    holder's name and                     1320.3(h).
                                    address changes.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................                                                1,778 responses 4,270 hours
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                                                                $60,528 non-hour cost burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(c)(2).......................  Identify in writing P/L     Cover by applicable applications                0
                                    operator on ROW if
                                    different from ROW
                                    grant holder.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(c)(3).......................    Mark specific point on P/L where operating responsibility                 0
                                     transfers to transporting operator or depict transfer point
                                    on a schematic located on the facility. One-time requirement
                                       after final rule published; now part of application or
                                        construction process involving no additional burdens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(c)(4).......................  Petition BSEE for                      5  1 petition.........               5
                                    exceptions to general
                                    operations transfer
                                    point description.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(c)(8).......................  Request BSEE recognize                 1  1 request..........               1
                                    valves landward of last
                                    production facility but
                                    still located on OCS as
                                    point where BSEE
                                    regulatory authority
                                    begins (none received
                                    to date).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(c)(12)......................  Petition BSEE to                      40  1 petition.........              40
                                    continue to operate
                                    under DOT regulations
                                    upstream of last valve
                                    on last production
                                    facility (one received
                                    to date).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000(c)(13)......................  Transporting P/L                      40  1 petition.........              40
                                    operator petition to
                                    DOT and BSEE to
                                    continue to operate
                                    under BSEE regulations
                                    (none received to date)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1004(c)..........................  Place sign on safety                See footnote \1\                        0
                                    equipment identified as
                                    ineffective and removed
                                    from service.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000-1019........................  General departure and                  2  200 requests.......             400
                                    alternative compliance
                                    requests not
                                    specifically covered
                                    elsewhere in subpart J
                                    regulations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  204 responses......       486 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 35674]]

 
                                                  Recordkeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1000-1008........................  Make available to BSEE                 5  128 lease-term P/L              640
                                    design, construction,                     operators.
                                    operation, maintenance,
                                    testing, and repair
                                    records on lease-term P/
                                    Ls \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1005(a)..........................  Inspect P/L routes for     2 per month =  128 lease-term P/L            3,072
                                    indication of leakage                24   operators.
                                    \1\, record results,
                                    maintain records 2
                                    years \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1010(g)..........................  Make available to BSEE                 5  87 P/L ROW holders.             435
                                    design, construction,
                                    operation, maintenance,
                                    testing, and repair
                                    records on P/L ROW area
                                    and improvements \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal.....................  ........................  ..............  343 responses......     4,147 hours
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Hour Burdens.......  ........................  ..............  3,031 responses....    36,564 hours
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Non-Hour Cost        ........................  ..............    $1,508,968 non-hour cost burdens
         Burdens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These activities are usual and customary practices for prudent operators.
\2\ Retaining these records is usual and customary business practice; required burden is minimal to make
  available to BSEE.
* In the future, BSEE will be allowing the option of electronic reporting for certain requirements.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified seven non-hour cost burdens, all of which are the cost 
recovery fees required under 30 CFR 250, subpart J. However, note that 
the actual fee amounts are specified in 30 CFR 250.125, which provides 
a consolidated table of all of the fees required under the 30 CFR 250 
regulations. The total of the non-hour cost burden (cost recovery fees) 
in this IC request is an estimated $1,508,968.
    The non-hour cost burdens required in 30 CFR 250, subpart J (and 
respective cost-recovery fee amount per transaction) are required 
under:

Sec.  250.1000(b)--New Pipeline Application (lease term)--$3,541.
Sec.  250.1000(b)--Pipeline Application Modification (lease term)--
$2,056.
Sec.  250.1000(b)--Pipeline Application Modification (ROW)--$4,169.
Sec.  250.1008(e)--Pipeline Repair Notification--$388.
Sec.  250.1015(a)--Pipeline ROW Grant Application--$2,771.
Sec.  250.1015(a)--Pipeline Conversion from Lease Term to ROW--$236.
Sec.  250.1018(b)--Pipeline ROW Assignment--$201.

    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 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 April 10, 2015, 
we published a Federal Register notice (69 FR 19348) announcing that we 
would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the 
required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  250.199 provides the 
OMB Control Number for the information collection requirements imposed 
by the 30 CFR 250, subpart J regulations and the form. 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 one comment in response to the 
Federal Register notice or unsolicited comments from respondents 
covered under these regulations. The comment was from a private citizen 
and it was not germane to the paperwork burden of this ICR.
    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: June 11, 2015.
Keith Good,
Acting Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-15242 Filed 6-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P