[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50167-50168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19345]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2020-0011; EEEE500000 21XE1700DX EX1SF0000.EAQ000; OMB 
Control Number 1014-0005]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Relief or 
Reduction in Royalty Rates

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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

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 7, 2021.

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. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Please 
provide a copy of your comments to Kye Mason, BSEE ICCO, 45600 Woodland 
Road, Sterling, VA 20166; or by email to [email protected]. 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 Kye Mason by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 787-1607. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), 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.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
August 24, 2020 [85 FR 52148]. No comments were received.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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 or not 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 through the use of 
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. 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

[[Page 50168]]

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.
    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.).

Kirk Malstrom,
Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch.
[FR Doc. 2021-19345 Filed 9-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P