[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13459-13464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04402]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0151; Docket ID: BOEM-2023-0004]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Plans and Information

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 with revisions the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1010-0151.

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 1010-0151 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 this proposed ICR. BOEM is 
especially

[[Page 13460]]

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, and comments will 
be posted on www.reginfo.gov. 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 (DOI) 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), DOI's implementing 
regulations, and 30 CFR parts 550 and 552 promulgated pursuant to the 
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1352(c)).
    Title of Collection: ``30 CFR 550, Subpart B, Plans and 
Information.''
    Abstract: This ICR concerns the paperwork requirements in the 
regulations under 30 CFR part 550, subpart B, ``Plans and 
Information.''
    The OCS Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., as amended), 
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe regulations to 
administer leasing of mineral resources on the OCS. Such regulations 
apply to all operations conducted under a lease. The OCS Lands Act 
requires lessees to submit exploration plans (EPs), development and 
production plans (DPPs), and development operations coordination 
documents (DOCDs) to the Secretary for approval prior to commencing 
these activities. See 43 U.S.C. 1340 and 1351. On the Arctic OCS, 
lessees and operators are required to develop an integrated operations 
plan (IOP) for each exploratory program and to submit additional 
planning information with their EPs.
    The Secretary delegated that regulatory authority to BOEM. The BOEM 
regulations at 30 CFR part 550, subpart B, require lessees to submit 
plans and information before conducting OCS activities under a lease. 
Those information collections are the subject of this ICR. This ICR 
also covers the related notices to lessees and operators (NTLs) that 
BOEM issues to provide additional guidance on its regulations.
    BOEM geologists, geophysicists, and environmental scientists and 
other Federal agencies (e.g., USFWS, NMFS) analyze and evaluate the 
information collected under subpart B. Their analyses ensure that 
planned operations are safe, conserve OCS resources, and avoid undue 
effects on the marine, coastal, or human environment. BOEM uses the 
information to make an informed decision on whether to approve the 
proposed EP, DDP, or DOCD as submitted or require modifications. Also, 
the affected States may review the information collected to ensure 
consistency with their coastal zone management plans.
    BOEM also provides reports (typically annually) to NMFS and USFWS 
to document compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and any 
issued biological opinions. These reports may include information on 
mitigation effectiveness, adverse impacts of activities, and any 
incidental takes, in accordance with 50 CFR 402.14(i)(3). For example, 
NMFS' recent biological opinion ``Biological Opinion on the Federally 
Regulated Oil and Gas Program Activities in the Gulf of Mexico,'' 
(Consultation Number FPR-2017-92341) dated March 13, 2020, and amended 
in 2021 (GOM BiOp), covers all activities associated with the OCS oil 
and gas program in the Gulf of Mexico through approximately March 2030. 
The GOM BiOp addresses the impacts to and incidental take of ESA-listed 
species as a result of BOEM-authorized activities. Compliance with the 
GOM BiOp's relevant terms, conditions, mitigation measures, and 
protocols necessitates updates to the information that lessees and 
operators must submit in the appendices to their plan. Certain post-
lease approvals (e.g., for activities involving new and unusual 
technologies, equipment involving entanglement risks, and all ancillary 
geological and geophysical (G&G) surveys) require step-down review with 
NMFS and may require additional information to fully assess the 
potential for impacts to protected species. BOEM uses the information 
submitted by the lessees and operators (e.g., BOEM-0137, OCS Plan 
Information Form) to determine which mitigations are necessary. The GOM 
BiOp modified reporting requirements compared to the prior BiOp issued 
by NMFS; therefore, BOEM is revising the estimated burdens identified 
in this ICR.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0151.
    Form Number:

 BOEM-0137--OCS Plan Information Form
 BOEM-0138--Exploration Plan (EP) Air Quality Screening 
Checklist
 BOEM-0139--Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) 
Air Quality Screening Checklist
 BOEM-0141--ROV Survey Report
 BOEM-0142--Environmental Impact Analysis Worksheet

    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents compromise 
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and operators.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,291 responses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 286,144 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, semi-monthly, and varies by 
section.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: $3,688,524.
    BOEM identified three non-hour costs associated with this 
information collection. Those costs are fees that BOEM charges lessees 
to review their planning documents, such as EPs ($4,348 fee for 95 EPs; 
total $413,600 annually), DPPs or DOCDs ($5,017 fee for 180 DPPs and 
DOCDs; total $903,060 annually), and conservation information documents 
(CIDs) ($32,372 fee for 17 CIDs; total $550,324 annually).

[[Page 13461]]

    Also, lessees incur a non-hour cost associated with the Protected 
Species Observer Program. This cost totals $1,822,080 and covers 
observation activities that are usually subcontracted to companies with 
expertise in these areas.
    The current OMB Control Number 1010-0151 accounts for 436,438 
annual burden hours, 4,266 responses, and $3,939,435 non-hour cost 
burdens. Based on several revisions, BOEM estimates the burden for the 
renewal will be 286,144 annual burden hours with 1,291 responses, and 
$3,688,524 non-hour cost burdens.
    In calculating the information collection burdens, BOEM accounted 
for decreases in the number of plans submitted annually and for the 
changes resulting from the GOM BiOp. Per the GOM BiOp, BOEM currently 
requires monthly marine mammal observation and monitoring reports and a 
final report within 90 days of the completion of an OCS survey. Because 
the GOM BiOp replaced BOEM's NTL 2016-G02, which had required two 
reports each month, BOEM estimates an overall decrease in the burden 
related to these monitoring reports.
    The GOM BiOp requires additional reporting if one or more 
individuals from a protected species are observed within an enclosed 
moon pool, which is an opening in the bottom of a marine platform, 
drill ship or vessel, through which deepwater drilling is done. The 
operator must report the observation within 24 hours and daily 
thereafter as long as any individuals from a protected species remain 
within the moon pool. With this new requirement, BOEM estimates a 
slight increase in annual reporting.
    While the GOM BiOp increased certain reporting burdens for lessees 
and operators in the Gulf of Mexico, the overall non-hour costs are 
estimated to decrease slightly due to the anticipated reduction in the 
number of plans submitted to BOEM.
    The following table estimates the information collection burden 
contained in 30 CFR 550, subpart B.

                                                                      Burden Table
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    Non-Hour costs
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
 Citation 30 CFR 550 Subpart B and NTLs         Reporting & recordkeeping requirement                          Average number of annual
                                                                                                Hour burden            responses           Burden hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
200 thru 206...........................  General requirements for plans and information;      Burden included with specific requirements               0
                                          fees/refunds, etc.                                  below.
                                                                                             --------------------------------------------
201 thru 206; 211 thru 228; 241 thru     BOEM posts EPs/DPPs/DOCDs on FDMS, and receives      Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR                    0
 262.                                     public comments in preparation of EAs.              1320.3(h)(4).
                                                                                             --------------------------------------------
204....................................  For Arctic OCS Exploration activities: submit IOP,            2,880  1 response................           2,880
                                          including all required information.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  1 response................           2,880
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ancillary Activities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
208; NTL 2009-G34 *....................  Notify BOEM in writing, and if required by the                   11  40 notices................             440
                                          Regional Supervisor notify other users of the OCS
                                          before conducting ancillary activities.
208; 210(a)............................  Submit report summarizing & analyzing data/                       2  40 reports................              80
                                          information obtained or derived from ancillary
                                          activities.
208; 210(b)............................  Retain ancillary activities data/information; upon                2  40 records................              80
                                          request, submit to BOEM.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  120 responses.............             600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Contents of Exploration Plans (EP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
209; 231(b); 232(d); 234; 235; 281;      Submit new, amended, modified, revised, or                      150  205 changed plans.........          30,750
 283; 284; 285; NTL 2015-N01 *.           supplemental EP, or resubmit disapproved EP,
                                          including required information; withdraw an EP.
209; 211 thru 228; NTL 2015-N01 *......  Submit EP and all required information (including,              600  95........................          57,000
                                          but not limited to, submissions required by BOEM
                                          Forms 0137, 0138, 0142; lease stipulations;
                                          reports, including shallow hazards surveys, H2S,
                                          G&G, archaeological surveys & reports (550.194)
                                          **), in specified formats. Provide notifications.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      $4,348 x 95 EP surface locations = $413,060
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
220 **.................................  For Arctic OCS exploration activities: submit                   350  1.........................             350
                                          required Arctic-specific information with EP.
220 **.................................  For existing Arctic OCS exploration activities:                 700  1.........................             700
                                          revise and resubmit Arctic-specific information,
                                          as required.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  302 responses.............          88,800
                                                                                                             -------------------------------------------
                                         ...................................................  ..............            $413,060 non-hour costs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 13462]]

 
                                                         Review and Decision Process for the EP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
235(b); 272(b); 281(d)(3)(ii)..........  Appeal State's objection...........................  Burden exempt as defined in 5 CFR                        0
                                                                                              1320.4(a)(2), (c).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Contents of Development and Production Plans (DPP) and Development Operations Coordination Documents (DOCD)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
209; 266(b); 267(d); 272(a); 273; 281;   Submit amended, modified, revised, or supplemental              235  275 changed plans.........          64,625
 283; 284; 285; NTL 2015-N01 *.           DPP or DOCD, including required information, or
                                          resubmit disapproved DPP or DOCD.
241 thru 262; 209; NTL 2015-N01 *......  Submit DPP/DOCD and required/supporting information             700  180.......................         126,000
                                          (including, but not limited to, submissions
                                          required by BOEM Forms 0137, 0139, 0142; lease
                                          stipulations; reports, including shallow hazards
                                          surveys, archaeological surveys & reports (CFR
                                          550.194)), in specified formats. Provide
                                          notification.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        $5,017 x 180 DPP/DOCD wells = $903,060.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  455 responses.............         190,625
                                                                                                             -------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       $903,060 non-hour costs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Review and Decision Process for the DPP or DOCD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
267(a).................................  Once BOEM deemed DPP/DOCD submitted; Governor of     Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR                    0
                                          each affected State, local government official;     1320.3(h)(4)
                                          etc., submit comments/recommendations.
                                                                                             --------------------------------------------
267(b).................................  General public comments/recommendations submitted    Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR                    0
                                          to BOEM regarding DPPs or DOCDs.                    1320.3(h)(4).
                                                                                             --------------------------------------------
269(b).................................  For leases or units in vicinity of proposed                       3  1 response................               3
                                          development and production activities RD may
                                          require those lessees and operators to submit
                                          information on preliminary plans for their leases
                                          and units.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...............................  ...................................................  ..............  1 response................               3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Post-Approval Requirements for the EP, DPP, and DOCD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
280(b).................................  In an emergency, request departure from your         Burden included under 1010-0114.                         0
                                          approved EP, DPP, or DOCD.
                                                                                             --------------------------------------------
281(a).................................  Submit various BSEE applications for approval and    Burdens included under appropriate subpart               0
                                          submit permits.                                     or form (1014-0003; 1014-0011; 1014-0016;
                                                                                              1014-0018).
                                                                                             --------------------------------------------
282....................................  Retain monitoring data/information; upon request,                 4  150 records...............             600
                                          make available to BOEM.
 
                                         Prepare and submit monitoring plan for approval....               2  6 plans...................              12
282(b).................................  Prepare and submit monitoring reports and data                    3  12 reports................              36
                                          (including BOEM Form 0141 used in GOMR).
284(a).................................  Submit updated info on activities conducted under                 4  56 updates................             224
                                          approved EP/DPP/DOCD.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  224 responses.............             872
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Submit CIDs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
296(a); 297............................  Submit CID and required/supporting information;                 100  17 documents..............           1,700
                                          submit CID for supplemental DOCD or DPP.
                                                                                                             -------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        $32,372 x 17 = $550,324
                                                                                                             -------------------------------------------
296(b); 297............................  Submit a revised CID for approval..................              50  8 revisions...............             400
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 13463]]

 
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  25 responses..............           2,100
                                                                                                             -------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        $550,324 non-hour costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Seismic Survey Mitigation Measures and Protected Species Observer Requirements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
211 thru 228; 241 thru 262.............  Submit to BOEM observer training requirement                    1.5  2 sets of material........               3
                                          materials and information.
                                         Training certification and recordkeeping...........               1  1 new trainee.............               1
                                         During seismic acquisition operations, submit                   1.5  100 reports...............             150
                                          monthly observer reports.
                                         Submit final PSO report upon completion of seismic                2  25 reports................              50
                                          survey effort.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
                                         Observation Duty (3 observers fulfilling an 8-hour   3 observers x 8 hours x 365 days = 8,760 hours x 4 vessels
                                          shift each for 365 calendar days x 4 vessels =      observing = 35,040 man-hours x $52/hr = $1,822,080.
                                          35,040 man-hours). This requirement is contracted
                                          out; hence the non-hour cost burden.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  128 responses.............             204
                                                                                                             -------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       $1,822,080 non-hour costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Vessel Strike Avoidance and Injured/Protected Species Reporting
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
211 thru 228; 241 thru 262.............  Notify BOEM within 24 hours (and daily thereafter)                1  5 notices.................               5
                                          if a protected species is observed within an
                                          enclosed moon pool for as long as the individual
                                          remains within the moon pool.
211 thru 228; 241 thru 262.............  Immediately report:                                               1  5 notices.................               5
                                          Sightings of any injured or dead protected
                                          species.
                                          Unapproved transits through the Rice's
                                          whale area.
                                          If vessel speeds exceeded 10 knots,
                                          minimum separation distances were not maintained,
                                          or transits were made during periods of low
                                          visibility in the Rice's whale area.
                                          Entanglement or entrapment of a protected
                                          species.
                                          Interaction, or contact with equipment by
                                          a protected species.
                                          Any observation of a leatherback sea
                                          turtle within a moon pool.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  10 responses..............              10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    General Departure
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
200 thru 299...........................  General departure and alternative compliance                      2  25 requests...............              50
                                          requests not specifically covered elsewhere in
                                          Subpart B regulations.
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...........................  ...................................................  ..............  25 responses..............              50
                                                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------
        Total Burden...................  ...................................................  ..............  1,291 responses...........         286,144
                                                                                                             -------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       $3,688,524 non-hour costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The identification number of NTLs may change when NTLs are reissued periodically to update information.
** Archaeological surveys and reports required under 30 CFR 550, subpart A in 550.194(a) are generally part of the geohazard survey report required
  under 30 CFR 550, subpart B. On average it takes an archaeologist 35 hours to prepare the archaeological survey and report. This hour burden is
  included in the overall hour burden estimate for submission of EPs and all required information.


[[Page 13464]]

    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. 2023-04402 Filed 3-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P