[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8703-8707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04170]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[MMAA104000; OMB Control Number 1010-0048; Docket ID: BOEM-2018-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 30 CFR 551, 
Geological and Geophysical Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing to renew an 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to 202-395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to the BOEM Information Collection Clearance

[[Page 8704]]

Officer, Anna Atkinson, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 
Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia, 20166; or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Control Number 1010-0048 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Anna Atkinson by email, or by telephone at 703-
787-1025. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), we provide the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    Comments: A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment 
period soliciting comments on this collection of information was 
published on August 31, 2017 (82 FR 41424). BOEM received two comment 
letters during the 60-day comment period. One comment from a private 
citizen was not germane to the PRA. The other comments were received 
from the American Petroleum Institute and the International Association 
of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) on October 30, 2017. Their comments 
include:
    Comment 1: Rather than identifying the specific vessel, may the 
applicant provide information on the type of vessel that will be used 
to conduct the survey? BOEM can then proceed with its review of the 
application. The vessel name can be provided at a later date, and 
assuming it has similar specifications, further analysis by BOEM would 
not be necessary. On occasion application submissions are delayed until 
the contractor/vessel is known, and at other times companies must 
request a modification to the permit as contractors/vessels change.
    BOEM Response: We have added the change to Form BOEM-0327 at A.6 to 
allow details of the vessel (other than ``type'') to be provided at a 
later date. If the vessel information has not been provided when the 
permit is ready to be issued, BOEM will notify the permittee that the 
permit is ready and they will have 30 days to provide the vessel 
information or their permit will be canceled.
    Comment 2: Similarly, may third party notification letters be 
submitted at a later stage in the process after the application is 
submitted? At times the application is held up until these letters are 
completed and distributed.
    BOEM Response: Yes, they may be submitted separately from the 
application, but must be received before the permit will be issued. 
BOEM is open to discussions with IAGC on this topic.
    Comment 3: Can BOEM routinely notify all applicants of form 
updates? Out of date templates have been used in the past, which 
ultimately causes delay.
    BOEM Response: Current fillable forms are available on BOEM's 
website at https://www.boem.gov/BOEM-OCS-Operation-Forms/ and forms 
specific to Geological & Geophysical (G&G) exploration and permitting 
are posted at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Resource-Evaluation/Regulation-of-Pre-lease-Exploration/GG-Permit-Applications.aspx. All forms, including both the application and 
permit, are clearly marked with an OMB approval date in the lower left 
hand corner and state that previous editions are obsolete.
    Comment 4: BOEM has requested comments on whether the information 
collected was ``processed and used in a timely manner.'' Currently, 
industry finds the permitting process to be open-ended and uncertain. 
The Associations recommend that BOEM establish a timeline for permit 
review and approval, similar to how drilling permits are approved.
    BOEM Response: There is no regulatory time frame for processing G&G 
permits. Internally, for GOM applications BOEM attempts to issue non-
airgun high resolution permits, on average, within 40 days and for 
bottom disturbing and airgun permits, on average, in 70 days. This may 
vary as a result of work load at the permit processing level and/or at 
the environmental review level. In addition, the time frames above do 
not include any additional time required to obtain additional or 
corrected information from the applicant.
    However, for G&G permits in the Atlantic, the applicant must apply 
and receive an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) from NMFS 
before the permit will be issued. Because NMFS is an independent 
agency, with its own regulatory timelines, BOEM has no control over 
their processes and timelines.
    Comment 5: BOEM acknowledges that an application process for a 
single permit in Alaska or the Atlantic takes 1,000 hours to complete, 
while the same permit application in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) may take 
300 hours. This is a conservative estimate and the time required may be 
even greater. BOEM explains that this extraordinary burden is related 
to NEPA and the associated mitigation requirements. However, such a 
burden is unjustified, especially considering that surveys are 
routinely conducted without impact in similar environments worldwide. 
Rather than simply requesting approval for these unjustified burdens, 
BOEM should instead assess its permitting process and determine how the 
burdens will be reduced. Such a reduction would be consistent with the 
purpose of the PRA. The high permitting costs are entirely inconsistent 
with the low and effectively managed safety and environmental risks 
from G&G activities.
    BOEM Response: BOEM recognizes the commenter's concern regarding 
the burden hours associated with processing a permit application but 
the commenters did not provide specific estimates or information to 
justify modification of the burden hour estimates. BOEM is interested 
in specific estimates and recommendations to consider modification of 
the burden hours. Comments can be submitted to OMB within 30 days of 
the notice's publication.
    Additionally, in accordance with the Trump Administration's 
executive and secretarial orders, most specifically Executive Order 
13783 and Secretary's Order 3350, BOEM has been working with National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to streamline processes and improve 
efficiencies.
    Comment 6: BOEM also should take steps to reduce the estimated 300-
hour burden to apply for G&G permits in the GoM. Thousands of such 
permits have been issued and the environmental effects have been fully 
assessed. Mitigating measures have proved effective and should not be 
changed after a permit is issued. Applying for a GoM permit should be a 
simple matter of identifying the timing, location, vessel and 
equipment, and mitigation. Absent special circumstances, the burden 
could be reduced by 90% without increasing environmental risks.
    BOEM Response: The burden hours are used by the applicants to 
provide BOEM with the appropriate documentation to clearly and 
completely describe their proposed activity. This information is used 
by BOEM to ensure a proper understanding of the currently proposed 
activity and the equipment to be used. This ensures that an appropriate 
site/activity specific environmental analysis is conducted. Without the 
descriptive information

[[Page 8705]]

being provided for each proposed activity (thus the burden hours) BOEM 
cannot ensure it is fulfilling its statutory obligations under OCSLA 
and NEPA.
    Comment 7: We encourage BOEM to explore the creation of an 
electronic permit application process. Efficiencies for permit 
processing and man-hours may be realized through electronic permit 
applications.
    BOEM Response: A web-based process for the electronic submission/
issuance of BOEM G&G permitting is being considered for the future.
    Comment 8: Finally, while this ICR addresses BOEM G&G permitting 
activities, it fails to capture the entire burden needed to conduct G&G 
activities, which in some cases requires (or may require in the future) 
authorizations from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for 
incidental take pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) 
and/or the Endangered Species Act (ESA). For example, for G&G 
permitting in the Atlantic this is a required part of the process, and 
the associated burdens should be acknowledged in the ICR. Industry's 
G&G permitting experience in the Atlantic has shown extreme delays on 
the part of NMFS. Often applicants are told that a BOEM G&G permit is 
``ready to be issued'' (or has been issued) long before the applicant 
receives MMPA or ESA authorizations from NMFS upon which the G&G permit 
is contingent.
    BOEM Response: NMFS, not BOEM, has the authority for incidental 
take authorizations under the MMPA and ESA. Accordingly, the associated 
ICR burden hours for these authorizations are under the purview of 
NMFS. As mentioned earlier, BOEM, NMFS, and other Federal agencies are 
working together to determine how the permitting process might be 
expedited and streamlined. However, in the final analysis NMFS is an 
independent agency with its own regulatory timelines and processes.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of BOEM? (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner? (3) is the estimate of burden accurate? (4) 
how might BOEM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected? and (5) how might BOEM minimize the burden 
of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of 
information technology?
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. 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.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations to 
administer leasing of mineral resources on the OCS. The OCS Lands Act 
at 43 U.S.C. 1340 states that ``any person authorized by the Secretary 
may conduct geological and geophysical explorations in the OCS, which 
do not interfere with or endanger actual operations under any lease 
maintained or granted pursuant to this subchapter, and which are not 
unduly harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' The section further 
provides that permits to conduct such activities may only be issued if 
it is determined that the applicant is qualified; the activities will 
not interfere with or endanger operations under any lease issued or 
maintained pursuant to OCSLA; and the activities will not be unduly 
harmful to aquatic life, result in pollution, create hazardous or 
unsafe conditions, unreasonably interfere with other uses of the area, 
or disturb any site, structure, or object of historical or 
archaeological significance.
    Applicants for permits are required to submit Form BOEM-0327 to 
provide the information necessary to evaluate their qualifications, and 
upon approval, respondents are issued a permit.
    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. All G&G permits are 
subject to cost recovery, and BOEM regulations specify service fees for 
these requests.
    Regulations to carry out these responsibilities are contained in 30 
CFR part 551 and are the subject of this information collection 
renewal. BOEM uses the information to:
     Identify oil, gas, sulfur, and mineral resources in the 
OCS;
     Ensure the receipt of fair value for mineral resources;
     Ensure that the exploration activities do not cause harm 
to the environment or persons, or create unsafe operations and 
conditions, damage historical or archaeological sites, or interfere 
with other uses;
     Analyze and evaluate preliminary or planned drilling 
activities;
     Monitor progress and activities in the OCS;
     Acquire G&G data and information collected under a Federal 
permit offshore; and
     Determine eligibility for reimbursement from the 
government for certain costs.
    In this renewal, BOEM is renewing Form BOEM-0327--Requirements for 
Geological or Geophysical Explorations or Scientific Research on the 
Outer Continental Shelf. This form consists of the requirements for G&G 
activities requiring Permits and Notices, along with the application 
that the respondent submits to BOEM for approval, as well as a 
nonexclusive use agreement for scientific research, if applicable. The 
requirements portion of the form lets the respondents know the 
authority and requirements, along with other relevant information for 
the permit. BOEM is making modifications to this form by adding OCS 
boundary/3-mile limit to plat information requirements.
    To Attachment 1, Section A, BOEM modified item 6 to allow for the 
identification of vessel type in the event that the vessel name is 
unknown. To Attachment 1, Section C, item 2, BOEM added ``e. Submit 
relevant shapefiles needed to recreate the map as part of the required 
digital copy.'' On page 11, Section D, Proprietary Information 
Attachment Required for an Application for Geophysical Permit, item 3, 
BOEM added ``ping duration/cycle''' and ``ping rate'' to the table and 
narrative.
    Upon BOEM approval of the application, respondents are issued a 
permit using Form BOEM-0328, Permit to Conduct Geophysical Exploration 
for Mineral Resources or Scientific Research on the Outer Continental 
Shelf, for conducting geophysical exploration for mineral resources or 
scientific research, or Form BOEM-0329, Permit to Conduct Geological 
Exploration for Mineral Resources or Scientific Research on the Outer 
Continental Shelf, for conducting geological exploration for mineral 
resources or scientific research. These permits are filled in by BOEM 
and do not incur a respondent hour burden.
    The currently approved OMB paperwork burden is 40,954 annual burden 
hours. Due to a reduction of G&G permit applications annually in the 
Gulf of Mexico, BOEM is decreasing the

[[Page 8706]]

number of responses to 688 responses and annual burden hours to 35,254 
burden hours.
    We protect proprietary information in accordance with the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 522) and the Department of the Interior's 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under regulation at 30 
CFR part 551.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR 551, Geological and Geophysical 
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
    Form Number: BOEM-0327, Requirements for Geological or Geophysical 
Explorations or Scientific Research on the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulphur permittees or notice filers.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 688 responses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 35,254 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, annual, or as specified in 
permits.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $136,816.

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                                           Reporting and                                                  Average  number of annual       Annual  burden
        Citation 30 CFR 551          recordkeeping requirement              Hour burden                           responses                    hours
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                                                                            Non-hour cost burden *
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                                                               30 CFR 551.1 Through 551.6
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551.4(a), (b); 551.5(a), (b), (d);   Apply for permits (Form    1,000 AK **........................  4 Applications.....................           4,000
 551.6; 551.7.                        BOEM-0327) to conduct     1,000 ATL & Pacific **.............  9 Applications.....................           9,000
                                      G&G exploration,          300 GOM............................  55 Applications....................          16,500
                                      including deep
                                      stratigraphic tests/
                                      revisions when
                                      necessary. Submit
                                      required information in
                                      manner specified.
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           68 applications x $2,012 = $136,816
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551.4(b); 551.5(c), (d); 551.6.....  File notices to conduct    1..................................  1 Notice...........................               1
                                      scientific research
                                      activities, including
                                      notice to BOEM prior to
                                      beginning and after
                                      concluding activities.
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551.6(b) 551.7(b)(5)...............  Notify BOEM if specific    1..................................  1 Notice...........................               1
                                      actions occur; report
                                      archaeological resources
                                      (no instances reported
                                      since 1982). Consult
                                      with other users.
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    Subtotal.......................................................................................  70 responses.......................          29,502
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                                                      $136,816 non-hour cost burden
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                                                               30 CFR 551.7 Through 551.9
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551.7; 551.8.......................  Submit APD and              Burden included under BSEE regulations at 30 CFR 250, Subpart D (1014-                0
                                      Supplemental APD to BSEE.                                   0018).
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551.7; 551.8(b)....................  Submit information on      1..................................  1 Submission.......................               1
                                      test drilling activities
                                      under a permit,
                                      including required
                                      information and plan
                                      revisions (e.g.,
                                      drilling plan and
                                      environmental report).
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551.7(c)...........................  Enter into agreement for   1..................................  1 Agreement........................               1
                                      group participation in
                                      test drilling, including
                                      publishing summary
                                      statement; provide BOEM
                                      copy of notice/list of
                                      participants (no
                                      agreements submitted
                                      since 1989).
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551.7(d)...........................  Submit bond(s) on deep                       Burden included under 30 CFR Part 556                                0
                                      stratigraphic test.
                                      and required securities.                                (1010-0006).                                ..............
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551.8(a)...........................  Request reimbursement for  1..................................  1 Request..........................               1
                                      certain costs associated
                                      with BOEM inspections
                                      (no requests in many
                                      years).
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551.8(b), (c)......................  Submit modifications to    38 AK **...........................  4 Respondents x10 Reports = 40.....           1,520
                                      permits, and status/      ...................................  9 Respondents x 10 Reports = 90....  ..............
                                      final reports on,         38 ATL **..........................                                                3,420
                                      activities conducted
                                      under a permit.
                                                                2 GOM..............................  55 Respondents x 3 Reports = 165...             330
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551.9(c)...........................  Notify BOEM to relinquish  \1/2\..............................  2 Notices..........................               1
                                      a permit.
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    Subtotal.......................................................................................  300 responses......................           5,274
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[[Page 8707]]

 
                                                              30 CFR 551.10 Through 551.13
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551.10(c)..........................  File appeals.............                    Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c).                                0
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551.11; 551.12.....................  Notify BOEM and submit     4..................................  40 Submissions.....................             160
                                      G&G data and/or
                                      information collected
                                      and/or processed by
                                      permittees, bidders, or
                                      3rd parties, etc.,
                                      including reports, logs
                                      or charts, results,
                                      analyses, descriptions,
                                      information as required,
                                      and agreements, in
                                      manner specified.
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551.13.............................  Request reimbursement for  2..................................  40 Submissions.....................              80
                                      certain costs associated
                                      with reproducing data/
                                      information.
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    Subtotal.......................................................................................  80 responses.......................             240
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                                                                      30 CFR 551.14
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551.14(a), (b).....................  Submit comments on BOEM    1..................................  2 Comments.........................               2
                                      intent to disclose data
                                      and/or information to
                                      the public.
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551.14(c)(2).......................  Submit comments on BOEM    1..................................  2 Comments.........................               2
                                      intent to disclose data
                                      and/or information to an
                                      independent contractor/
                                      agent.
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551.14(c)(4).......................  Contractor/agent submits   1..................................  2 Commitments......................               2
                                      written commitment not
                                      to sell, trade, license,
                                      or disclose data and/or
                                      information without BOEM
                                      consent.
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551.1-551.14.......................  General departure and      1..................................  2 Requests.........................               2
                                      alternative compliance
                                      requests not
                                      specifically covered
                                      elsewhere in part 551
                                      regulations.
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    Subtotal.......................................................................................  8 responses........................               8
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                                                        Extension for Permit Form & Recordkeeping
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551.14(b) (BOEM-0327)..............  Request extension of       1..................................  100 Extensions.....................             100
                                      permit time period;
                                      enter agreements.
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                                     Retain G&G data/           1..................................  130 Recordkeepers..................             130
                                      information for 10 years
                                      and make available to
                                      BOEM upon request.
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    Subtotal.......................................................................................  230 responses......................             230
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        Total Burden...............................................................................  688 Responses......................          35,254
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                                                      $136,816 Non-Hour Cost Burden
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* Fees are subject to modification per inflation annually.
** Burden hours for the frontier areas of the Alaska Region and Atlantic OCS are significantly higher because of NEPA and mitigation requirements. BOEM
  is accounting for the total time to compile/submit the necessary information to obtain the required authorizations to acquire a BOEM permit.

    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: February 26, 2018.
Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulation and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2018-04170 Filed 2-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P