[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13464-13466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04400]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0081; Docket ID: BOEM-2023-0004]


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.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes this information 
collection request (ICR) to renew Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Control Number 1010-0081.

DATES: Comments must be received by BOEM no later than May 2, 2023.

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 1010-0081 in the subject line of your comments. You may also 
view the ICR and its related documents by searching the docket number 
BOEM-2023-0004 at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Atkinson by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at 703-787-1025. 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 of 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.

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 its 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.
    BOEM is soliciting comments on the proposed ICR described below. 
BOEM is especially interested in public comments 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 
is 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 its ICR 
to OMB for approval of this information collection. You should be aware 
that your entire comment--including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personally identifiable information included in your 
comment--may be made publicly available at any time.
    Even if BOEM withholds your personally identifiable information in 
the context of this ICR, your comment is subject to the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552). If your comment is requested 
under FOIA, your information will only be withheld if a determination 
is made that one of the FOIA exemptions to disclosure applies. Such a 
determination will be made in accordance with the Department of the 
Interior's FOIA regulations (43 CFR part 2) and applicable law.
    For BOEM to consider withholding from disclosure your personally 
identifiable information, you must identify, in a cover letter, any 
information contained in your comment that, if released, would 
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your privacy. You must 
also briefly describe any possible harmful consequences of the 
disclosure of information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other 
harm.
    BOEM will make available for public inspection all comments in 
their entirety (except propriety information) submitted by 
organizations and businesses, or by individuals identifying themselves 
as representatives of organizations or businesses. BOEM protects 
proprietary information in accordance with FOIA and the Department's 
implementing regulations, 30 CFR 582.5 and 582.6, and applicable 
sections of 30 CFR parts 580 and 581. Items of a sensitive nature are 
not intended to be collected.
    Title of Collection: ``Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf 
for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur.''
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1334 and 
1337(k)(1)) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue leases on 
available areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to the 
highest qualified bidder to develop any mineral resources other than 
oil, gas, and sulfur. The Secretary may prescribe the royalty, rental, 
and other terms and conditions at the time the lease is offered. The 
act also authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations governing such 
leasing.
    The Secretary delegated rulemaking authority to BOEM. BOEM's 
regulations at 30 CFR part 582 carry out the statutory requirements by 
governing such OCS leasing and mining.
    Competitive leasing has not occurred for OCS minerals other than 
oil, gas, and sulfur in many years. Accordingly, BOEM has not generally 
collected information under this part of its regulations. However, 
given the regulatory requirements, the potential exists that BOEM may 
require information under this part. Therefore, BOEM seeks OMB renewal 
of 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, and sulfur. BOEM will also use the 
information to ensure orderly resource development; to protect the 
human, marine, and coastal environments; and to conduct the requisite 
technical and environmental evaluations that inform BOEM's decision to 
approve, disapprove, or require modification of the proposed 
activities.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0081.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved information 
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.

[[Page 13465]]

    Frequency of Collection: Monthly, quarterly, or on occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: None.
    BOEM estimates this ICR's the annual hour burden at 212 hours. The 
following table details the regulatory sections containing information 
collections and their respective hour burden estimates. 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.

                                                                      Burden Table
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                                                                                                                       Average number of   Annual burden
             Citation 30 CFR 582                       Reporting or recordkeeping requirement            Hour burden    annual responses       hours
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                                                                   Subpart A--General
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4; 21(b)....................................  Governors, other Federal/State agencies, lessees,                    10                  1              10
                                               interested parties, and others review and provide
                                               comments/recommendations on all plans and
                                               environmental information.
4(b); 12(b)(2); 21; 22; 25; 26; 28..........  Submit delineation plan, including environmental                     40                  1              40
                                               information, contingency plan, monitoring program, and
                                               various requests for approval referred to throughout;
                                               submit modifications and required information.
4(c); 12(c)(2); 21; 23; 25; 26; 28..........  Submit testing plan, including environmental                         40                  1              40
                                               information, contingency plan, monitoring program, and
                                               various requests for approval referred to throughout;
                                               submit modifications and required information.
4(d); 12(d)(2); 21; 24; 25; 26; 28..........  Submit mining plan, including environmental                          40                  1              40
                                               information, contingency plan, monitoring program, and
                                               various requests for approval referred to throughout;
                                               submit modifications and required information.
5...........................................  Request non-disclosure of G&G info; provide consent;                 10                  1              10
                                               demonstrate loss of competitive position.
6...........................................  Governors of adjacent States request proprietary data,               10                  1              10
                                               samples, etc., and disclosure agreement with BOEM.
7...........................................  Governor of affected State initiates negotiations on                 10                  1              10
                                               jurisdictional controversy, etc., and enters agreement
                                               with BOEM.
                                                                                                      --------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................  .......................................................  ..............                  7             160
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                                                Subpart B--Jurisdiction and Responsibilities of Director
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11(c); 20(h); 30............................  Apply for right-of-use and easement; submit                          30                  1              30
                                               confirmations, demonstrations, and notifications.
11(d);......................................  Request consolidation/splitting of two or more OCS                    1                  1               1
                                               mineral leases or portions.
                                                                                                      -----------------------------------
20(h).......................................  Request approval of operations or departure from         Burden included with applicable                 0
                                               operating requirements.                                 plans
                                                                                                      -----------------------------------
14..........................................  Submit response copy of form BOEM-1832 indicating date                2                  1               2
                                               violations (INCs) corrected.
                                                                                                      --------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................  .......................................................  ..............                  3              33
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                                                 Subpart C--Obligations and Responsibilities of Lessees
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20(a), (g); 29(i)...........................  Make available all mineral resource or environmental     Burden included with individual                 0
                                               data and information; submit reports and maintain       reporting requirements below
                                               records, as specified.
                                                                                                      -----------------------------------
20(b) thru (e)..............................  Submit designation of payor, operator, or local                       1                  1               1
                                               representative; submit changes, terminations,
                                               notifications.
21(d).......................................  Notify BOEM of preliminary activities..................               1                  1               1
29(a).......................................  Submit monthly report of minerals produced; request                   1                  1               1
                                               extension.
29(b), (c)..................................  Submit quarterly status and final report on exploration               5                  1               5
                                               and/or testing activities.
29(d).......................................  Submit results of environmental monitoring activities..               5                  1               5
29(e).......................................  Submit marked and certified maps annually or as                       1                  1               1
                                               required.
29(f).......................................  Maintain rock, minerals, and core samples for 5 years                 1                  1               1
                                               and make available upon request.
29(g).......................................  Maintain original data and information and navigation                 1                  1               1
                                               tapes as long as lease is in effect and make available
                                               upon request.

[[Page 13466]]

 
29(h).......................................  Maintain hard mineral records and make available upon                 1                  1               1
                                               request.
                                                                                                      --------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal................................  .......................................................  ..............                  9              17
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                                                                   Subpart D--Payments
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40..........................................  Submit surety, personal bond, or approved alternative..               2                  1               2
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                                                                   Subpart E--Appeals
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50; 15......................................  File an appeal.........................................  Burden exempt under 5 CFR                       0
                                                                                                       1320.4(a)(2), (c)
                                                                                                      --------------------------------------------------
        Total Burden........................  .......................................................  ..............                 20             212
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    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Karen Thundiyil,
Chief, Office of Regulations, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2023-04400 Filed 3-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P