[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17876-17878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05212]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Natural Resources Revenue

[Docket No. ONRR-2011-0009; DS63644000 DRT000000.CH7000 234D1113RT; OMB 
Control Number 1012-0008]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Collection of Monies 
Due to the Federal Government; and Processing Refund Requests Related 
to Overpayments Made to ONRR

AGENCY: Office of Natural Resources Revenue (``ONRR''), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(``PRA''), ONRR is proposing to revise an information collection. 
Through this Information Collection Request (``ICR''), ONRR seeks to 
revise this collection and receive renewed authority to collect 
information necessary to cover cross-lease netting in the calculation 
of late-payment interest; a lessee's designation of designee for 
payment obligations; tribal permission for recoupment on Indian oil and 
gas leases; and refund requests for overpayments made to ONRR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: All comment submissions must (1) reference ``OMB Control 
Number 1012-0008'' in the subject line; (2) be sent to ONRR before the 
close of the comment period listed under DATES; and (3) be sent using 
the following method:
    Electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Please visit 
https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search Box, enter the Docket ID 
Number for this ICR renewal (``ONRR-2011-0009'') and click ``search'' 
to view the publications associated with the docket folder. Locate the 
document with an open comment period and click the ``Comment Now!'' 
button. Follow the prompts to submit your comment prior to the close of 
the comment period.
    Docket: To access the docket folder to view the ICR Federal 
Register publications, go to https://www.regulations.gov and search 
``ONRR-2011-0009'' to view renewal notices recently published in the 
Federal Register, publications associated with prior renewals, and 
applicable public comments received for this ICR. ONRR will make the 
comments submitted in response to this notice available for public 
viewing at https://www.regulations.gov.
    OMB ICR Data: OMB also maintains information on ICR renewals and 
approvals. You may access this information at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch. Please use the following instructions: Under the 
``OMB Control Number'' heading enter ``1012-0008'' and click the 
``Search'' button located at the bottom of the page. To view the ICR 
renewal or OMB approval status, click on the latest entry (based on the 
most recent date). On the ``View ICR--OIRA Conclusion'' page, check the 
box next to ``All'' to display all available ICR information provided 
by OMB.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Mr. Christopher Davis, Financial Management, 
ONRR by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (303) 
231-3977. To inquire about form ONRR-4425, please contact Aaron 
Lindquist, Data Solutioning and Technical Support, ONRR by email at 
[email protected] or by telephone at (303) 231-3020. To inquire 
about refund requests, please contact Thomas Anthony, Revenue, 
Reporting, and Compliance Management, ONRR by email at 
[email protected] or by telephone at (303) 231-3708.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et 
seq., and 5 CFR 1320.5, all information collections, as defined in 5 
CFR 1320.3, require approval by OMB. ONRR 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 ONRR's continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burdens, ONRR is inviting the public and other Federal 
agencies to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1). This helps ONRR to assess the impact of its information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It 
also helps the public understand ONRR's information collection 
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
    ONRR is especially interested in public comments addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of ONRR's 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.
    ONRR published a notice, with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information, in the Federal 
Register on December 1, 2023 (88 FR 83962).
    ONRR reached out to members of industry soliciting comments for our 
information collection request renewal and received seven comments. Six 
members of industry provided comments agreeing with the content of this 
information collection, while one member of industry disagreed with the 
burden hour estimate. ONRR provided responses to each commenter 
accordingly.
    Comments that you submit in response to this 30-day notice are a 
matter of public record. ONRR will include or summarize each comment in 
its request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, 
phone

[[Page 17877]]

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 ONRR in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, ONRR cannot 
guarantee that it will be able to do so.
    Abstract: (a) General Information: The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty 
Management Act of 1982 (``FOGRMA'') directs the Secretary of the 
Interior (``Secretary'') to ``establish a comprehensive inspection, 
collection and fiscal and production accounting and auditing system to 
provide the capability to accurately determine oil and gas royalties, 
interest, fines, penalties, fees, deposits, and other payments owed, 
and to collect and account for such amounts in a timely manner.'' 30 
U.S.C. 1711. ONRR performs these and other mineral revenue management 
responsibilities for the Secretary. See U.S. Department of the Interior 
Departmental Manual, 112 DM 34.1 (Dec. 9, 2020). This ICR covers the 
burden hours associated with performing these responsibilities.
    (b) Information Collections: This ICR concerns the following 
information.
    (1) Cross-Lease Netting in Calculation of Late-Payment Interest: In 
calculating late-payment interest, ONRR allows a lessee to offset an 
overpayment made on a lease against an underpayment made on another 
lease if certain conditions are met. See 30 CFR 1218.42(a). ONRR refers 
to this offset as ``cross-lease netting.'' If a lessee asserts that 
interest is not owed due to cross-lease netting, it must provide 
information to ONRR showing that the conditions are met.
    (2) Designation of Designee for Federal Oil and Gas Leases: FOGRMA 
allows a lessee to notify the Secretary in writing of its designation 
of ``a person to make all or part of the payments due under a lease on 
the lessee's behalf . . . in which event said designated person may, in 
its own name, pay, offset or credit monies, make adjustments, request 
and receive refunds and submit reports with respect to payments 
required by the lessee.'' See 30 U.S.C. 1712(a). ONRR specifies the 
information that a lessee must provide to designate a designee in 30 
CFR 1218.52(a). A lessee must use form ONRR-4425, Designation Form for 
Payment Responsibility, to provide that information.
    As discussed below, ONRR is modifying the form ONRR-4425 as part of 
this ICR renewal to be more consistent with FOGRMA and to better 
capture the information that a lessee is required to provide under 30 
CFR 1218.52. The modifications do not expand the information collected 
or change the burden hours necessary to complete the form.
    ONRR is modifying the title of the form from ``Designation Form for 
Royalty Payment Responsibility'' to ``Designation Form for Payment 
Responsibility'' because the form may be used for certain payment types 
other than royalty payments. See 30 U.S.C. 1712(a) and 30 CFR 
1218.52(a)(3).
    The current form ONRR-4425 has fields for specifying effective and 
termination dates for the designation. However, FOGRMA provides that a 
notice of designation, modification of designation, or termination of 
designation is effective upon receipt by the Secretary. See 30 U.S.C. 
1702 (definition of ``designee''). ONRR therefore is removing the 
fields for a lessee to specify effective and termination dates and 
adding an instruction stating that a designation, modification of 
designation, or termination of designation is effective upon receipt by 
ONRR. ONRR is also adding a ``filing type'' field for the lessee to 
specify whether the form is being filed as an initial designation, a 
modification of a designation, or a termination of a designation.
    The current form ONRR-4425 contains fields for a lessee to provide 
both the ONRR lease number and the leasing agency (Bureau of Land 
Management or Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement) lease 
number for the designation. ONRR is modifying the form to require only 
the leasing agency number since ONRR's data systems can convert the 
leasing agency number to the ONRR lease number.
    Section 1218.52(a)(6) requires the lessee to provide the name, 
address, and phone number of the individual to contact for the 
designee. However, the current form ONRR-4425 does not have a field for 
the lessee to supply this information. ONRR therefore is adding a field 
to the form for the lessee to provide this contact information if the 
designee is a company.
    Though the current form ONRR-4425 contains fields for a lessee to 
specify whether it is the lessee of record or operating rights owner, 
it does not contain a place to provide its percentage of operating 
rights ownership in the lease, as required by Sec.  1218.52(a)(4). ONRR 
therefore is modifying the form ONRR 4425 to include a field for a 
lessee to provide its percentage of operating rights ownership.
    Section 1218.52(a)(10) requires a lessee to provide a copy of the 
written designation with the form ONRR-4425, reflecting the designee's 
acceptance of the designation. ONRR is modifying the form ONRR-4425 to 
remind the lessee of this requirement. ONRR also is modifying the form 
ONRR-4425 instructions to specify that a lessee may use this written 
designation to (i) add additional leases to the designation, (ii) 
specify product types for the designation, and (iii) specify its 
operating rights percentages in different areas covered by the lease if 
its operating rights ownership is not uniform throughout the lease. 
Finally, ONRR is removing any requirement to provide fax information.
    (3) Tribal Permission for Recoupment on Indian Oil and Gas Leases: 
Pursuant to 30 CFR 1218.53(b), a payor may, with written permission 
authorized by tribal statute or resolution, recoup an overpayment 
against royalties or other revenues owed for the same production month 
under other leases for which that tribe is the lessor. See 30 CFR 
1218.53(b). The payor must provide ONRR with a copy of that written 
permission. Id.
    (4) Processing Refund Requests: FORGMA authorizes a Federal oil and 
gas lessee to request a refund for an overpayment in certain 
situations. See 30 U.S.C. 1721a(b). FOGRMA requires the lessee to 
supply information to support its refund request. Id. Additionally, 
ONRR collects banking information from the refund recipient in order to 
disburse the overpaid amount to the correct account if a refund is 
warranted.
    Title: Collection of Monies Due the Federal Government; and 
Processing Refund Requests Related to Overpayments Made to ONRR.
    OMB Control Number: 1012-0008.
    Bureau Form Number: Form ONRR-4425.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Federal and Indian lessees.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 170.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 170.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 93 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: We have identified no 
``non-hour cost'' burden associated with this collection of 
information.
    An agency may not conduct, or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information

[[Page 17878]]

unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the PRA.

Howard Cantor,
Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
[FR Doc. 2024-05212 Filed 3-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4335-30-P