[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8310-8313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02647]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2023-0002; EEEE500000 234E1700D2 ET1SF0000.EAQ000: OMB 
Control Number 1014-0010]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Decommissioning 
Activities

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 
April 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by either of the following methods listed below:

[[Page 8311]]

     Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2023-0002 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 1014-0010 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. Individuals in the United States who 
are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may 
dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States. 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), 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 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. 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.
    BSEE proposes to renew this information collection, without change, 
in order to extend the expiration date for the collection (currently 
April 30, 2023) while we continue to finalize our rulemaking under RIN 
1082-AA02, Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention--
Decommissioning Activities and Obligations. On October 16, 2020, we 
published the proposed rule (85 FR 65904) to revise the regulations 
related to decommissioning responsibilities of Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and grant holders to ensure 
compliance with lease, grant, and regulatory obligations. The comment 
period for the proposed rule ended on December 13, 2020.
    The final rule will require all recipients of a predecessor 
decommissioning order to submit a work plan and schedule as directed 
under Sec. Sec.  250.1704(b) and 250.1708(a). BSEE considers this 
necessary to protect the public from incurring future decommissioning 
costs and to prevent safety and environmental risks posed by delayed 
performance of decommissioning. Within 150 days of receiving an order 
to perform decommissioning under Sec.  250.1708, the recipient(s) will 
be required to submit a work plan and projected decommissioning 
schedule that addresses all wells, platforms and other facilities, 
pipelines, and site clearance. This requirement will add an estimated 
4,320 annual burden hours to the existing collection. We anticipate 
publication of the final rule under RIN 1082-AA02 in 2023.
    Abstract: BSEE uses the information collected under Subpart Q 
primarily for the following reasons:
     To determine the necessity for allowing a well to be 
temporarily abandoned, the lessee/operator must demonstrate that there 
is a reason for not permanently plugging the well, and the temporary 
abandonment will not interfere with fishing, navigation, or other uses 
of the OCS. We use the information and documentation to verify that the 
lessee/operator is diligently pursuing the final disposition of the 
well and has performed the temporary plugging of the wellbore.
     To ensure the information submitted in initial 
decommissioning plans in the Alaska and Pacific OCS Regions will permit 
BSEE to become involved on the ground floor planning of platform 
removals anticipated to occur in these OCS regions.
     To ensure that all objects (wellheads, platforms, etc.) 
installed on the OCS are properly removed using procedures that will 
protect marine life and the environment during removal operations, and 
the site cleared so as not to conflict with or harm other uses of the 
OCS in coordination with other Federal, State, and local government 
agencies.
     To ensure that information regarding decommissioning a 
pipeline in place will not constitute a hazard to navigation and 
commercial fishing operations, unduly interfere with other uses of the 
OCS, such as sand resource areas for coastal restoration projects, or 
have adverse environmental effects.
     To verify that decommissioning activities comply with 
approved applications and procedures and are satisfactorily completed.
     To evaluate and approve the adequacy of the equipment, 
materials, and/or procedures that the lessee or operator plans to use 
during well modifications and changes in equipment, etc.
     To help BSEE better estimate future decommissioning costs 
for OCS leases, rights-of-way, and rights of use and easements. BSEE's 
future decommissioning cost estimates may then be used by BOEM to set 
necessary financial assurance levels to minimize or eliminate the 
possibility that the government will incur abandonment liability. The 
information will assist BSEE and BOEM in meeting their stewardship 
responsibilities and in their roles as regulators.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR 250, Subpart Q, Decommissioning 
Activities.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0010.

[[Page 8312]]

    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 555 Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and holders 
of pipeline rights-of-way. Not all the potential respondents will 
submit information in any given year, and some may submit multiple 
times.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 3,245.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 15 minutes to 
28 hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 11,677.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: Submissions are generally on occasion, 
varies by section, and annual.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,143,556.

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                                                                            Non-hour cost burdens
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
  Citation 30 CFR 250  subpart Q    Reporting requirement *                                        Annual burden
                                                               Hour burden    Average  number of       hours
                                                                              annual  responses      (rounded)
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                                                     General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1704(g); 1706(a), (f); 1712;       These sections contain    APM burden covered under 1014-0026
 1715; 1716; 1721(a), (d), (f)-     references to
 (g); 1722(a), (b), (d); 1723(b);   information, approvals,
 1743(a); Sub G.                    requests, payments,
                                    etc., which are
                                    submitted with an APM,
                                    the burdens for which
                                    are covered under its
                                    own information
                                    collection.
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1700 thru 1754...................  General departure and     Burden covered under Subpart A 1014-              0
                                    alternative compliance   0022
                                    requests not
                                    specifically covered
                                    elsewhere in Subpart Q
                                    regulations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1703; 1704.......................  Request approval for      Burden included below                             0
                                    decommissioning.
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1704(i), (j).....................  Submit to BSEE, within                 1  1,320 summaries               1,320
                                    120 days after                            (including
                                    completion of each                        pipelines)/
                                    decommissioning                           additional
                                    activity, a summary of                    information.
                                    expenditures incurred;
                                    any additional
                                    information that will
                                    support and/or verify
                                    the summary.
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1704(i); NTL.....................  Request and obtain               15 min.  75 requests........              19
                                    approval for extension
                                    of 120-day reporting
                                    period; including
                                    justification.
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1704(i)..........................  Submit certified          Exempt from the PRA under 5 CFR                   0
                                    statement attesting to   1320.3(i)(1).
                                    accuracy of the summary
                                    for expenditures
                                    incurred.
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1712.............................  Required data if          Requirement not considered                        0
                                    permanently plugging a   Information Collection under 5 CFR
                                    well.                    1320.3(h)(9)
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1713.............................  Notify BSEE 48 hours                 0.5  725 notices........             363
                                    before beginning
                                    operations to
                                    permanently plug a well.
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1721(f)..........................  Install a protector       Burden covered under Subpart I 1014-              0
                                    structure designed       0011
                                    according to 30 CFR
                                    250, Subpart I, and
                                    equipped with aids to
                                    navigation. (These
                                    requests are processed
                                    via the appropriate
                                    Platform Application,
                                    30 CFR 250 Subpart I by
                                    the OSTS.).
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1721(e); 1722(e), (h)(1); 1741(c)  Identify and report       U.S. Coast Guard requirements                     0
                                    subsea wellheads,
                                    casing stubs, or other
                                    obstructions; mark
                                    wells protected by a
                                    dome; mark location to
                                    be cleared as
                                    navigation hazard.
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1722(c), (g)(2); 1704(h).........  Notify BSEE within 5                   1  11 notices.........              11
                                    days if trawl does not
                                    pass over protective
                                    device or causes
                                    damages to it; or if
                                    inspection reveals
                                    casing stub or mud line
                                    suspension is no longer
                                    protected.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1722(f), (g)(3)..................  Submit annual report on              2.5  98 reports.........             245
                                    plans for re-entry to
                                    complete or permanently
                                    abandon the well and
                                    inspection report.
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1722(h)..........................  Request waiver of                    1.5  4 requests.........               6
                                    trawling test.
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[[Page 8313]]

 
1725(a)..........................  Requests to maintain the  Burden covered under Subpart I 1014-              0
                                    structure to conduct     0011
                                    other activities are
                                    processed, evaluated,
                                    and permitted by the
                                    OSTS via the
                                    appropriate Platform
                                    Application process, 30
                                    CFR 250 Subpart I.
                                    (Other activities
                                    include but are not
                                    limited to activities
                                    conducted under the
                                    grants of right-of-ways
                                    (ROWs), rights-of-use
                                    and easement (RUEs),
                                    and alternate rights-of-
                                    use and easement
                                    authority issued under
                                    30 CFR 250 Subpart J,
                                    30 CFR 550.160, and/or
                                    30 CFR 585, etc.).
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1725(e)..........................  Notify BSEE 48 hours                 0.5  133 notices........              67
                                    before beginning
                                    removal of platform and
                                    other facilities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1726; 1704(a)....................  Submit initial                        20  2 applications.....              40
                                    decommissioning
                                    application in the
                                    Pacific and Alaska OCS
                                    Regions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1727; 1728; 1730; 1703; 1704(b);   Submit final application              28  153 applications...           4,284
 1725(b).                           and appropriate data to
                                    remove platform or
                                    other subsea facility
                                    structures (This
                                    included alternate
                                    depth departures and/or
                                    approvals of partial
                                    removal or toppling for
                                    conversion to an
                                    artificial reef.).
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                    $4,684 fee x 153 = $716,652
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1729; 1704(c)....................  Submit post platform or              9.5  133 reports........           1,264
                                    other facility removal
                                    report; supporting
                                    documentation; signed
                                    statements, etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1740; 1741(g)....................  Request approval to use            12.75  30 requests/                    383
                                    alternative methods of                    contacts.
                                    well site, platform, or
                                    other facility
                                    clearance; contact
                                    pipeline owner/operator
                                    before trawling to
                                    determine its condition.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1743(b); 1704(f), (h)............  Verify permanently                     5  117 certifications.             585
                                    plugged well, platform,
                                    or other facility
                                    removal site cleared of
                                    obstructions;
                                    supporting
                                    documentation; and
                                    submit certification
                                    letter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1750; 1751; 1752; 1754; 1704(d)..  Submit application to                 10  142 L/T                       1,420
                                    decommission pipeline                     applications.
                                    in place or remove
                                    pipeline (L/T or ROW).
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                 $1,142 L/T decommission fee x 142 = $162,164
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                         10  122 ROW                       1,220
                                                                              applications.
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                               $2,170 ROW decommissioning fees x 122 = $264,740
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1753; 1704(e)....................  Submit post pipeline                 2.5  180 reports........             450
                                    decommissioning report.
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Total Burden                       ........................  ..............  3,245 responses....          11,677
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                               $1,143,556 Non-Hour Cost Burdens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
L/T = Lease Term.
Burden Breakdown.
ROW = Right of Way.

    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. 2023-02647 Filed 2-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P