[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 164 (Monday, August 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52148-52149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18455]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2020-0011; EEEE500000 20XE1700DX EX1SF0000.EAQ000; OMB 
Control Number 1014-0005]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Relief or Reduction in 
Royalty Rates

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to 
renew an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 23, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by either of the following methods listed below:
     Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2020-0011 then click search. Follow the 
instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. 
We will post all comments.
     Email [email protected], fax (703) 787-1546, or mail or 
hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: 
Nicole Mason; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1014-0005 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Nicole Mason by email at [email protected] or 
by telephone at (703) 787-1607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval under the 
PRA. We may not conduct, or sponsor and you are not required to respond 
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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 especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including using appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of response.
    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: This authority and responsibility are among those 
delegated BSEE. The regulations at 30 CFR part 203, are the subject of 
this collection. This request also covers the related Notices to 
Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to clarify, supplement, 
or provide additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations. The 
information collected under 30 CFR part 203, Relief or Reduction in 
Royalty Rates is used in our efforts to make decisions on the economic 
viability of leases requesting a suspension or elimination of royalty 
or net profit share. These decisions have enormous monetary impact on 
both the lessee and the Federal government. Royalty relief can lead to 
increased production of natural gas and oil, creating profits for 
lessees, and royalty and tax revenues for the Federal government that 
they might not otherwise receive. We could not make an informed 
decision without the collection of information required by 30 CFR part 
203.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 203, Relief or Reduction in 
Royalty Rates.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0005.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents include Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and/or operators and holders of 
pipeline rights-of-way.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Currently there are 
approximately 60 Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Operators in the 
OCS. Not all the potential respondents will submit information in any 
given year, and some may submit multiple times.

[[Page 52149]]

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 28.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1 hour to 2,000 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 724.
    Respondent's Obligation: Some responses are mandatory; while others 
are required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Submissions are generally on occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $27,950.
    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.).

Amy White,
Acting Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch.
[FR Doc. 2020-18455 Filed 8-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P