[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 195 (Thursday, October 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60928-60930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25707]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2015-0006; OMB Control Number 1014-0023; 15XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Pollution Prevention and 
Control; 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 Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control. This 
notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the 
revised paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATED:  You must submit comments by November 9, 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 (1014-0023). 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-2015-0006 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 1014-0023 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 250, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0023.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act at 43 U.S.C. 
1334

[[Page 60929]]

authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prescribe rules 
and regulations necessary for the administration of the leasing 
provisions of that Act related to mineral resources on the OCS. Such 
rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a 
lease, right-of-way, or a right-of-use and easement. Operations on the 
OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources 
in a manner that is consistent with the need to make such resources 
available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; to 
balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, 
marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and 
equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and 
maintain free enterprise competition.
    Section 1332(6) states that ``operations in the [O]uter Continental 
Shelf should be conducted in a safe manner by well-trained personnel 
using technology, precautions, and techniques sufficient to prevent or 
minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, 
spillages, physical obstruction to other users of the waters or subsoil 
and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the 
environment or to property, or endanger life or health.'' Section 
1843(b) calls for ``regulations requiring all materials, equipment, 
tools, containers, and all other items used on the Outer Continental 
Shelf to be properly color coded, stamped, or labeled, wherever 
practicable, with the owner's identification prior to actual use.''
    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.
    This authority and responsibility are among those delegated to the 
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). These regulatory 
requirements concern pollution prevention and control and are the 
subject of this information collection request (ICR). 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 of our regulations.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those 
delegated to BSEE.
    Responses are mandatory and are submitted on occasion. 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 
DOIs 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.
    The information collected under Subpart C is used to ensure that:
     The lessee or operator records the location of items lost 
overboard to aid in recovery during site clearance activities on the 
lease;
     operations are conducted according to all applicable 
regulations, requirements, and in a safe and workmanlike manner;
     discharge or disposal of drill cuttings, sand, and other 
well solids, including those containing naturally occurring radioactive 
materials (NORM), are properly handled for the protection of OCS 
workers and the environment; and
     facilities are inspected daily for the prevention of 
pollution, and problems observed are corrected.
    Frequency: On occasion or 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 
137,955 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.

                                                                      Burden Table
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                                    Reporting and
 Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart C      recordkeeping           Hour burden             Average number of annual responses            Annual burden hours
      and related NTL(s)            requirement *
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                                                                  Pollution Prevention
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300(b)(1), (2)................  Obtain approval to           Burden covered under APDs or APMs 1014-0025 or 1014-0026.        0.
                                 add petroleum-based
                                 substance to
                                 drilling mud system
                                 or approval for
                                 method of disposal
                                 of drill cuttings,
                                 sand, & other well
                                 solids, including
                                 those containing
                                 NORM.
                                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
300(c)........................  Mark items that could  1 hour...............  133 markings..................................  133.
                                 snag or damage
                                 fishing devices.
300(d)........................  Report and record      1 hour ea x 2 = 2      116 reports/records...........................  232.
                                 items lost overboard.  hours.
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..................  .....................  .....................  249 responses.................................  365 hours.
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                                                    Marine Trash and Debris Awareness/Elimination NTL
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300(a), (b)(6), (c), (d); NTL.  Submit request for     1 hour...............  106 requests..................................  106.
                                 training video.       1.5 hours............  212 records...................................  318.
                                Submit annual report
                                 to BSEE on training
                                 process and
                                 certification.

[[Page 60930]]

 
                                Training               3 hours..............  212 records...................................  636.
                                 recordkeeping; make
                                 available upon
                                 request.
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                                 Post placards on vessels and structures (exempt from information collection burden because   0.
                                 BSEE is providing exact language for the trash and debris warning, similar to the ``Surgeon
                                                               General's Warning'' exemption).
                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..................  .....................  .....................  530 responses.................................  1,060 hours.
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                                                                Inspection of Facilities
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301; NTL......................  Inspect drilling/      22 min ea inspection   898 manned facilities.........................  120,332.
                                 production             x 365 days p/yr/60
                                 facilities for         mins p/hr = 134
                                 pollution; maintain    hours.
                                 inspection/repair
                                 records 2 years.
                                                       5 mins every 3rd day   1,596 unmanned facilities.....................  16,183.
                                                        (365 days p/yr/3 =
                                                        121.6 days x 5 mins
                                                        p/day/60 mins p/hr)
                                                        = 10.14 hours.
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..................  .....................  .....................  2,494 responses...............................  136,515 hours.
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300-301.......................  General departure and  2.5 hours............  6 requests....................................  15.
                                 alternative
                                 compliance requests
                                 not specifically
                                 covered elsewhere in
                                 subpart C
                                 regulations.
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..................  .....................  .....................  6 responses...................................  15 hours.
                                                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden..............  .....................  .....................  3,279 responses...............................  137,955 hours.
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* In the future, BSEE may require electronic filing of some submissions.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
not identified any 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 May 22, 2015, we 
published a Federal Register notice (80 FR 29738) 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 C 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 three comments in response to the Federal 
Register notice or unsolicited comments from respondents covered under 
these regulations. Two comments, from the same private citizen, were 
not germane to the paperwork burden. The third comment, from a private 
citizen, ``According to CFR 250.300 (C), marking media must be durable 
enough to withstand environmental conditions. Please let me know if 
paint sticks and aerosol paint is considered durable once it dries. 
This marking media has been used for decades in the offshore 
environment and is being questioned now.'' Our response to the 
individual was, ``For past 15 years or so, defined items not considered 
durable for marking are as follows: chalk, grease pencil or crayon, 
marking pens, non-waterproof decals, and water-based paints. Therefore, 
a paint stick that uses a water-based paint would not be allowed and 
paint from a spray can that is water-based would not be allowed. ''
    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: September 21, 2015.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-25707 Filed 10-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P