[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15628-15629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07521]



[[Page 15628]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-NWRS-2018-N164; FXRS12610900000-189-FF09R24000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0162]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Non-Federal Oil and Gas 
Operations on National Wildlife Refuge System Lands

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) are proposing to renew an 
information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 17, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request by 
mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803 (mail); or by email to [email protected]. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1018-0162 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 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.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed information collection 
request (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 the Service; (2) will this 
information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the 
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Service enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(5) how might the Service 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 authority of the Service to regulate non-Federal oil 
and gas operations on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands is 
broadly derived from the Property Clause of the United States 
Constitution (Art. VI, Sec. 3), in carrying out the statutory mandates 
of the Secretary of the Interior, as delegated to the Service, to 
manage Federal lands and resources under the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act (NWRSAA), as amended by the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act (NWRSIA; 16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), and to 
specifically manage species within the NWRS under the provisions of 
numerous statutes, the most notable of which are the Migratory Bird 
Treaty Act (MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 
(FWA; 15 U.S.C. 742f).
    The Service's rule at 50 CFR, part 29, subpart D provides for the 
continued exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights while avoiding or 
minimizing unnecessary impacts to refuge resources and uses. Other land 
management agencies have regulations that address oil and gas 
development, including the Department of the Interior's National Park 
Service (NPS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. These agencies all require 
the submission of information similar to the information requested by 
the Service.
    The collection of information is necessary for the Service to 
properly balance the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights within 
refuge boundaries with the Service's responsibility to protect wildlife 
and habitat, water quality and quantity, wildlife-dependent 
recreational opportunities, and the health and safety of employees and 
visitors on NWRS lands.
    The information collected under 50 CFR, part 29, subpart D 
identifies the owner and operator (the owner and operator can be the 
same) and details how the operator may access and develop oil and gas 
resources. It also identifies the steps the operator intends to take to 
minimize any adverse impacts of operations on refuge resource and uses. 
No information is submitted unless the operator wishes to conduct oil 
and gas operations.
    We use the information collected to: (1) Evaluate proposed 
operations, (2) ensure that all necessary mitigation measures are 
employed to protect refuge resources and values, and (3) ensure 
compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including the 
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the NWRSAA, as amended by the 
NWRSIA, and to specifically manage species within the NWRS under the 
provisions of numerous statutes, the most notable of which are the 
MBTA, the ESA, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et 
seq.), and the FWA.
    Title of Collection: Non-Federal Oil and Gas Operations on National 
Wildlife Refuge System Lands, 50 CFR 29, Subpart D.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0162.
    Form Number: FWS Form 3-2469.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses that conduct oil and gas 
exploration on national wildlife refuges.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                                                     Estimated      Completion
                                                                     number of       time per        Estimated
                      Activity/requirement                            annual         response      total annual
                                                                     responses        (hours)      burden hours
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Preexisting Operations (Sec.   29.61)...........................              40              50           2,000
Temporary Access Permit Application (Sec.   29.71)..............              35              17             595

[[Page 15629]]

 
Accessing Oil and Gas Rights from Non-Federal Surface Location                 5               1               5
 (Sec.   29.80).................................................
Pre-application Meeting for Operations Permit (Sec.   29.91)....              45               2              90
Operations Permit Application (Sec.  Sec.   29.94-29.97)........              45             140           6,300
Financial Assurance (Sec.  Sec.   29.103(b), 29.150)............              45               1              45
Identification of Wells and Related Facilities (Sec.                          45               2              90
 29.119(b)).....................................................
Reporting (Sec.   29.121):
    Third-Party Monitor Report (Sec.   29.121(b))...............             300              17           5,100
    Notification--Injuries/Mortality to Fish and Wildlife and                 20               1              20
     Threatened/Endangered Plants (Sec.   29.121(c))............
    Notification--Accidents involving Serious Injuries/Death and              20               1              20
     Fires/Spills (Sec.   29.121(d))............................
    Written Report--Accidents Involving Serious Injuries/Deaths               20              16             320
     and Fires/Spills (Sec.   29.121(d))........................
    Report--Verify Compliance with Permits (Sec.   29.121(e))...             240               4             960
    Notification--Chemical Disclosure of Hydraulic Fracturing                  5               1               5
     Fluids uploaded to FracFocus (Sec.   29.121(f))............
    Permit Modifications (Sec.   29.160(a)).....................              10              16             160
Change of Operator:
    Transferring Operator Notification (Sec.   29.170)..........              20               8             160
    Acquiring Operator's Requirements for Wells Not Under a                   19              40             760
     Service Permit (Sec.   29.171(a))..........................
    Acquiring Operator's Acceptance of an Existing Permit (Sec.                1               8               8
      29.171(b))................................................
    Extension to Well Plugging (Sec.   29.181(a))...............
    Application for Permit......................................              10             140           1,400
    Modification................................................               5              16              80
Public Information (Sec.   29.210):
    Affidavit in Support of Claim of Confidentiality (Sec.                     1               1               1
     29.210(c) and (d)).........................................
    Confidential Information (Sec.   29.210(e) and (f)).........               1               1               1
    Maintenance of Confidential Information (Sec.   29.210(h))..               1               1               1
    Generic Chemical Name Disclosure (Sec.   29.210(i)).........               1               1               1
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Totals..................................................             934  ..............          18,122
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    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: April 11, 2019.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07521 Filed 4-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P