[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57472-57473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23247]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0048; Docket ID: BOEM-2017-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activities; 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.

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

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

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 24, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this ICR by mail to the BOEM 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Anna Atkinson, Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166; 
or by email to [email protected]. Please reference 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, BOEM provides the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps BOEM 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.
    BOEM is soliciting comments on the proposed ICR 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) what can BOEM do to ensure that this information be processed 
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the burden estimate 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 minimizing the burden 
through the use of information technology?
    Comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. BOEM will include or summarize each comment in our 
request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of 
this ICR. You should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. In order for 
BOEM to withhold from disclosure your personally identifiable 
information, you must identify any information contained in the 
submittal of your comments that, if released, would constitute a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal privacy. You must also 
briefly describe any possible harmful consequences of the disclosure of 
information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. While you 
can ask us in your comment to withhold your personally identifiable 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    BOEM protects proprietary information in accordance with the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Department of the 
Interior's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under 
applicable sections of 30 CFR part 551 promulgated pursuant to Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) at 43 U.S.C. 1352(c).
    Abstract: Section 11(g) of the OCSLA, as amended (43 U.S.C. 
1340(g)), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules 
and regulations to govern the issuance of permits for geological 
exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The OSCLA at 43 
U.S.C. 1340 states that ``any person authorized by the Secretary may 
conduct geological and geophysical explorations in the [O]uter 
Continental Shelf, 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

[[Page 57473]]

area.'' The section further provides that permits to conduct such 
activities may be issued only 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. Once an application is 
reviewed and approved, a permit (Form BOEM-0328 and Form BOEM-0329) is 
signed by BOEM and the permittee.
    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 geological and 
geophysical 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 geological and geophysical 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 
geological and geophysical 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.
    Upon BOEM approval of the application, respondents are issued a 
permit using Form BOEM-0328, Permit for 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 for 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. However, BOEM plans to 
revise these permits to include additional language. The modifications 
to the permits will allow BOEM to request the geological and 
geophysical data prior to the permittee deleting or removing the data 
from records, but still provides the option for the permittee to no 
longer maintain the data after ten years. The following describes the 
proposed changes:
     Form BOEM-0328 would include additional language in 
Section IV Paragraph (A) stating:
    ``After a period of 10 years from the issuance of the permit, the 
permittee must notify the Supervisor in writing if their intention is 
to no longer maintain all or part of the geophysical data, processed 
geophysical information, and interpreted geophysical information, and 
provide the Supervisor 30 days to request that the permittee submit for 
inspection and possible retention all or part of the geophysical data, 
processed geophysical information, and interpreted geophysical 
information.''
     Form BOEM-0329 would include additional language in 
Section VI Paragraph (A) stating:
    ``After a period of 10 years from the issuance of the permit, the 
permittee must notify the Supervisor in writing if their intention is 
to no longer maintain all or part of the geological data, analyzed 
geological information, processed geological information, and 
interpreted geological information, and provide the Supervisor 30 days 
to request that the permittee submit for inspection and possible 
retention all or part of the geological data, analyzed geological 
information, processed geological information, and interpreted 
geological information.''
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR 551, Geological and Geophysical 
Explorations of the OCS.
    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 sulfur 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 
permit.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: $136,816.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved OMB paperwork burden is 35,254 annual burden hours, and will 
remain the same.
    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: October 21, 2019.
Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulation, and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2019-23247 Filed 10-24-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P