[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80760-80761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25588]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0048; Docket ID: BOEM-2023-0004]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Geological and 
Geophysical Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf

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 1010-0048.

DATES: Comments must be received by the OMB desk officer no later than 
December 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your written comments on this ICR to the OMB's desk 
officer for the Department of the Interior at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. From the www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain landing page, 
find this information collection by selecting ``Currently under 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Please provide a copy of your comments by parcel delivery service or 
U.S. 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 1010-0048 in the subject line of your 
comments. You may also comment by searching the docket number ``BOEM-
2023-0004'' at 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.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 551, ``Geological and Geophysical 
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.''
    Abstract: This ICR concerns the paperwork requirement in the 
regulations at 30 CFR part 551. This request also covers Form BOEM-
0327, ``Requirements for Geological and Geophysical Explorations or 
Scientific Research on the Outer Continental Shelf.''
    Section 11(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as 
amended (43 U.S.C. 1340(g)), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
to prescribe regulations to govern the issuance of permits for 
geological and geophysical (G&G) exploration on the Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS). The OCSLA states that ``any person authorized by the 
Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical explorations in the 
[OCS], which do not interfere with or endanger actual operations under 
any lease maintained or granted pursuant to this subchapter, and which 
are not unduly harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' 43 U.S.C. 
1340(a)(1). It further provides that permits to conduct such activities 
may only be issued if BOEM determines that the applicant is qualified; 
the activities will not interfere with or endanger operations under any 
lease issued or maintained pursuant to OCSLA; and the activities will 
not be unduly harmful to aquatic life, result in pollution, create 
hazardous or unsafe conditions, unreasonably interfere with other uses 
of the area, or disturb any site, structure, or object of historical or 
archaeological significance. 43 U.S.C. 1340(g)(1)-(3).
    BOEM requires applicants for G&G permits to submit Form BOEM-0327 
to provide the information necessary to evaluate their qualifications. 
Upon BOEM approval of the application, BOEM issues to the applicant the 
appropriate permit: Form BOEM-0328, ``Permit for Geophysical 
Exploration for Mineral Resources or Scientific Research on the Outer 
Continental Shelf,'' for geophysical exploration or Form BOEM-0329, 
``Permit for Geological Exploration for Mineral Resources or Scientific 
Research on the Outer Continental Shelf,'' for geological exploration. 
BOEM completes these permit forms; applicants do not incur any 
paperwork burden related to Forms BOEM-0328 and -0329.
    Requirements for G&G exploration or scientific research on the OCS 
are contained in 30 CFR part 551 and are the subject of this ICR. BOEM 
is also renewing Form BOEM-0327. This form outlines the requirements 
for G&G activities requiring permits and notices. This form also 
contains the application that applicants submit to BOEM and a 
nonexclusive use agreement for scientific research, if applicable.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
    Form Number: BOEM-0327, ``Requirements for Geological and 
Geophysical Explorations or Scientific

[[Page 80761]]

Research on the Outer Continental Shelf.''
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur permittees or notice filers.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 578 responses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 21,454 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to retain or obtain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: $116,696.
    The currently approved OMB paperwork burden is 35,254 annual burden 
hours, 688 annual responses, and $136,816 in non-hour costs. Due to a 
reduction in the number of annual responses to 578, the annual burden 
for this renewal is adjusted to 21,454 hours, and the non-hour cost 
burden is adjusted to $116,696.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period on 
the proposed ICR was published on July 17, 2023 (88 FR 45444). BOEM did 
not receive any comments.
    BOEM is again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR. 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 and will be available for public review on 
www.reginfo.gov. 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 information in the context of this ICR, your comment is 
subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If your submission 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'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 personal privacy. You 
must also briefly describe any possible harmful consequences of the 
disclosure of information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other 
harm. Note that BOEM will make available for public inspection all 
comments in their entirety (except for proprietary 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 (5 
U.S.C. 552) and DOI's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2).
    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.).

Karen Thundiyil,
Chief, Office of Regulations, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2023-25588 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P