[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 71 (Friday, April 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18008-18010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07586]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0082]


Information Collection: Leasing of Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, 
and Sulphur in the Outer Continental Shelf; Proposed Collection for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; MMAA104000

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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

SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) 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 the paperwork requirements in the 
regulations under Leasing of Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur 
in the Outer Continental Shelf.

DATES: Submit written comments by June 13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comments on this ICR to the BOEM 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Anna Atkinson, Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166 
(mail); or [email protected] (email); or 703-787-1209 (fax). 
Please reference ICR 1010-0082 in your comment and include your name 
and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Atkinson, Office of Policy, 
Regulations, and Analysis at (703) 787-1025 to request a copy of the 
ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0082.
    Title: 30 CFR part 581, Leasing of Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, 
and Sulphur in the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (Act), as 
amended (43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to administer the provisions 
relating to the leasing of the OCS, and to prescribe such rules and 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out such provisions. 
Additionally, the Act authorizes the Secretary to implement regulations 
to grant to qualified persons, offering the highest cash bonuses on the 
basis of competitive bidding, leases of any mineral other than oil, 
gas, and sulphur. This applies to any area of the OCS not then under 
lease for such mineral upon royalty, rental, and other terms and 
conditions that the Secretary may prescribe at the time of the lease 
offer. The Secretary is to administer the leasing provisions of the Act 
and prescribe the rules and regulations necessary to carry out those 
provisions.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 581 implement these statutory 
requirements. There has been no leasing activity in the OCS for 
minerals other than oil, gas, or sulphur under these regulations for 
many years, and so BOEM has not generally collected information under 
this Part of its regulations; however, because these are regulatory 
requirements, the potential exists for information to be collected. 
Therefore, we are renewing OMB approval for this information 
collection.
    BOEM will use the information required by 30 CFR part 581 to 
determine if statutory requirements are met prior to the issuance of a 
lease. Specifically, BOEM will use the information to:
     Evaluate the area and minerals requested by the lessee to 
assess the viability of offering leases for sale;
     Request the state(s) to initiate the establishment of a 
joint group to assess the proposed action;
     Ensure excessive overriding royalty interests are not 
created that would put economic constraints on all parties involved;
     Document that a leasehold or geographical subdivision has 
been surrendered by the record title holder; and
     Determine if activities on the proposed lease area(s) will 
have a significant impact on the environment.
    We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Department of the Interior's 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and 30 CFR 581.7. No items of 
a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: As there are no active respondents, we 
estimate the potential annual number of respondents to be one. 
Potential respondents are OCS lease requestors, state governments, and 
OCS lessees.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: We expect the 
annual reporting burden for this renewal to be 984 hours, which 
reflects a decrease of 280 hour burdens.
    The following table details the individual components and 
respective hour burden estimates of this ICR. 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.
    In calculating burdens, responses to requests for information and 
interest or proposed notices of sale pursuant to 30 CFR 581.12 and 
581.16 do not constitute information collection under 5 CFR 
1320.3(h)(4). These inquiries are general solicitations of public 
comment, so BOEM has removed the burden hours associated with them 
reflecting a decrease of 280 hour burdens.

                                                Burden Breakdown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Reporting and/or
   Citation 30  CFR part 581          recordkeeping           Hour burden      Average number of   Annual burden
                                      requirements *                            annual reponses        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Non-hour cost burden(s) *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart A--General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6..............................  Appeal decisions.......   Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c).               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 18009]]

 
9..............................  Governor of affected     16................  1 request.........              16
                                  States initiates
                                  negotiations on
                                  jurisdictional
                                  controversy, etc., and
                                  enters agreement with
                                  BOEM.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...................  .......................  ..................  1 Response........              16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Subpart B--Leasing Procedures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(a), (c).....................  Submit request for       60................  1 request.........              60
                                  approval for mineral
                                  lease with required
                                  information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12; all sections...............  Submit response to Call   Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR               0
                                  for Information and                  1320.3(h)(4).
                                  Interest on areas for
                                  leasing of minerals
                                  (other than oil, gas,
                                  sulphur) in accordance
                                  with approved lease
                                  program, including
                                  information from
                                  States/local
                                  governments, industry,
                                  Federal agencies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13; 16.........................  States or local          200...............  1 comment.........             200
                                  governments establish
                                  task force; submit
                                  comments/
                                  recommendations on
                                  planning,
                                  coordination,
                                  consultation, and
                                  other issues that may
                                  contribute to the
                                  leasing process.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16; all sections...............  Submit suggestions and    Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR               0
                                  relevant information                 1320.3(h)(4).
                                  in response to request
                                  for comments on the
                                  proposed leasing
                                  notice, including
                                  information from
                                  States/local
                                  governments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18; 20(e), (f); 26(a), (b).....  Submit bids (oral or     250...............  1 response........             250
                                  sealed) and required
                                  information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18(b)(3), (c); 20(e), (f)......  Tie bids--submit oral    20................  1 response........              20
                                  bids for highest
                                  bidder.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20(a), (b), (c); 41(a).........  Establish a company      58................  1 response........              58
                                  file for
                                  qualification, submit
                                  updated information,
                                  submit qualifications
                                  for lessee/bidder and
                                  required information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21(a); 47(c)...................  Request for                    Not considered IC per 5 CFR                    0
                                  reconsideration of bid               1320.3(h)(9).
                                  rejection/cancellation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21(b), (e); 23; 26(e), (i);      Execute lease (includes  100...............  1 lease...........             100
 40(b).                           submission of evidence
                                  of authorized agent
                                  and request for dating
                                  of leases); maintain
                                  auditable records re
                                  30 CFR Chapter XII,
                                  Subchapter A--[burden
                                  under ONRR
                                  requirements].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...................  .......................  ..................  8 Responses.......             688
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Subpart C--Financial Considerations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31(b); 41......................  File application and     160...............  1 application.....             160
                                  required information
                                  for assignment or
                                  transfer for approval.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32(b), (c).....................  File application for     80................  1 application.....              80
                                  waiver, suspension, or
                                  reduction and required
                                  documentation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33; 41(c)......................  Submit surety or             Burden covered under 1010-0081.                  0
                                  personal bond.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...................  .......................  ..................  2 Responses.......             240
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Subpart D--Assignments and Lease Extensions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41.............................  Transfer application     $50 required or non-required filing document fee x 1 =
                                  filing fee.                                       $50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subpart E--Termination of Leases
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46.............................  File written request     40................  1 Response........              40
                                  for relinquishment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 18010]]

 
    Total Burden...............  .......................  ..................  12 Responses......             984
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                                                   $50 Non-Hour Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In the future, BOEM may require electronic filing of certain submissions.

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have identified one non-hour cost burden for this collection, a $50 
required or non-required filing document fee under 30 CFR 581.41.
    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.
    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 on: (a) Whether or not the 
collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the burden 
estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden on 
respondents.
    Agencies must also estimate the non-hour cost burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you have costs to generate, maintain, and 
disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total 
capital and startup costs or annual operation, maintenance, and 
purchase of service costs. You should describe the methods you use to 
estimate major cost factors, including system and technology 
acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount 
rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup 
costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase 
to prepare for collecting information, monitoring, and record storage 
facilities. You should not include estimates for equipment or services 
purchased: (a) Before October 1, 1995; (b) to comply with requirements 
not associated with the information collection; (c) for reasons other 
than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (d) 
as part of customary and usual business or private practices.
    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 Availability of Comments: Our practice is to make comments, 
including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses of 
respondents, available for public review. Individual respondents may 
request that we withhold such information, which we will honor to the 
extent allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold this information, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. 
However, we will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, 
and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or 
officials of organizations or businesses, available for public 
inspection in their entirety.
    The authorities for this action are the OCS Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), and the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: April 10, 2017.
Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulations, and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2017-07586 Filed 4-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P