[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39580-39581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14164]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0081; Docket ID: BOEM-2017-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Operations in the Outer 
Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas and Sulfur

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).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. You may find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Please provide a copy of your comments to Anna Atkinson, Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166; 
or by email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control 
Number 1010-0081 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, 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 the information collection requirements and minimize the 
public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand BOEM's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this proposed information collection request was 
published on January 29, 2020 (85 FR 5234). One comment was received, 
which focused

[[Page 39581]]

on banning lithium collection in the OCS. Such a ban is outside the 
scope of this ICR. Nonetheless, BOEM notes that there has been no 
competitive leasing in the OCS for minerals other than oil, gas, and 
sulfur; therefore, collection of lithium is not occurring in the OCS.
    BOEM is again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. BOEM is 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 this 
information will 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 minimizing the burden through the use of information 
technology?
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. You should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying 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 clearly constitute 
an unwarranted invasion of your personal privacy. You must also briefly 
describe any possible harmful consequences of the disclosure of your 
information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. While you 
can ask BOEM in your comment to withhold your personally identifiable 
information from public review, BOEM cannot guarantee that it 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 parts 550 and 552 promulgated pursuant to 
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) at 43 U.S.C. 1352(c).
    Abstract: The OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)(1)) 
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations to grant 
to qualified persons who offer the highest cash bonus on a basis of 
competitive bidding, leases for any mineral other than oil, gas, and 
sulfur in any area of the OCS not then under lease for such mineral 
upon such royalty, rental, and other terms and conditions as the 
Secretary may prescribe at the time of offering the area for lease.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 582 carry out these statutory 
requirements by regulating mining operations within the OCS for 
minerals other than oil, gas, and sulfur and establishing a 
comprehensive regulatory program for such minerals.
    There has been no competitive leasing activity in the OCS for 
minerals other than oil, gas, and sulfur for many years. Accordingly, 
BOEM has not generally collected information under this Part of its 
regulations. However, since 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 582 to 
determine if lessees are complying with the regulations for mining 
minerals other than oil, gas, sulfur. BOEM will also use the 
information to ensure that such operations are conducted in a manner 
that will result in orderly resource recovery and development; the 
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments; and for 
technical and environmental evaluations which provide a basis for BOEM 
to make informed decisions to approve, disapprove, or require 
modification of the proposed activities.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR 582, Operations in the Outer 
Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0081.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents are OCS lessees.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 20 responses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 212 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory or voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Monthly; quarterly; on occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: None.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: We expect the 
burden estimate for the renewal will be 212 hours. 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.
    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.).

Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulations, and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2020-14164 Filed 6-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P