[Federal Register: January 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 9)] [Notices] [Page 2500-2501] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr14ja99-76] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of extension of a currently approved information collection (OMB Control Number 1010-0068). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, MMS invites the public and other Federal agencies to comment on a proposal to extend the currently approved collection of information discussed below. The Paperwork [[Page 2501]] Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) provides that 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. DATE: Submit written comments by March 15, 1999. ADDRESSES: Mail or hand carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; attention: Rules Processing Team; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Rules Processing Team, telephone (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Alexis London to obtain a copy of the collection of information at no cost. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart M, Unitization (1010-0068). Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., gives the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) the responsibility to preserve, protect, and develop oil and gas resources in the OCS consistent with the need to make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. 43 U.S.C. 1334(a) specifies that the Secretary will establish rules and regulations to provide for the ``prevention of waste and conservation of the natural resources of the outer Continental Shelf, and the protection of correlative rights therein'' and include provisions ``for unitization, pooling, and drilling agreements.'' We have established these regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart M, ``Unitization.'' The MMS OCS Regions use the information required by 30 CFR part 250, subpart M, to determine whether to approve a proposal to enter into an agreement to unitize operations under two or more leases or to approve modifications when circumstances change. The information is necessary to ensure that operations will result in preventing waste, conserving natural resources, and protecting correlative rights, including the Government's interests. We also use information submitted to determine competitiveness of a reservoir or to decide that compelling unitization will achieve these results. The MMS will protect proprietary information submitted with the plans according to the Freedom of Information Act; 30 CFR 250.118, ``Data and information to be made available to the public'; and 30 CFR part 252, ``OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.'' No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are required to obtain or retain a benefit. Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 Federal OCS sulphur or oil and gas lessees. Frequency: The frequency of reporting is on occasion and varies by subpart M regulatory section. Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The currently approved hour burden for this collection is 2,424 hours. The estimated average annual burden per respondent is approximately 19 hours. Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Cost'' Burden: We have identified no information collection cost burdens for this collection of information. Comments: We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them in our submission for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. As a result of your comments and our consultations with a representative sample of respondents, we will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to OMB. In calculating the burden, we assumed that respondents perform many of the requirements and maintain records in the normal course of their activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that into account in estimating the burden. (1) We specifically solicit your comments on the following questions: (a) Is the proposed collection of information necessary for us to properly perform our functions, and will it be useful? (b) Are the estimates of the burden hours of the proposed collection reasonable? (c) Do you have any suggestions that would enhance the quality, clarity, or usefulness of the information to be collected? (d) Is there a way to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology? (2) In addition, the PRA requires agencies to estimate the total annual reporting and recordkeeping ``cost'' burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. We need to know if you have costs associated with the collection of this information for either total capital and startup cost components or annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of service components. Your estimates should consider the costs to generate, maintain, and disclose or provide the information. You should describe the methods you use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase to prepare for collecting information; monitoring, sampling, drilling, and testing equipment; and record storage facilities. Generally, your estimates should not include equipment or services purchased: (i) Before October 1, 1995; (ii) to comply with requirements not associated with the information collection; (iii) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (iv) as part of customary and usual business or private practices. MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, (202) 208-7744. Dated: January 6, 1999. E.P. Danenberger, Chief, Engineering and Operations Division. [FR Doc. 99-877 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P