[Federal Register: April 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 72)]
[Notices]
[Page 18258-18260]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap03-99]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0048).
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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we
are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information
collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 251, ``Geological and
Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.'' This
notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the
paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.
DATES: Submit written comments by May 15, 2003.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments directly to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for
the Department of the Interior (1010-0048), 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503. Mail or hand-carry a copy of your comments to the
Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention:
Rules Processing Team; Mail Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon,
Virginia 20170-4817. If you wish to e-mail your comments to MMS, the
address is: rules.comments@MMS.gov. Reference Information Collection
1010-0048 in your subject line and mark your message for return
receipt. Include your name and return address in your message text.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlene Bajusz, Rules Processing Team,
telephone (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Arlene Bajusz to obtain
a copy, at no cost, of the regulations that require the subject
collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 18259]]
Title: 30 CFR Part 251, Geological and Geophysical (G&G)
Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to prescribe rules and
regulations to administer leasing of the OCS. Such rules and
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease.
Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and
natural gas resources in a manner that is consistent with the need to
make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as
rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development
with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure
the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and
to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition.
The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1340) also states that ``any person
authorized by the Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical
explorations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not interfere
with or endanger actual operations under any lease maintained or
granted pursuant to this OCS Lands Act, and which are not unduly
harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' The section further requires
that permits to conduct such activities may only be issued if it is
determined that the applicant is qualified; the activities are not
polluting, hazardous, or unsafe; they do not interfere with other users
of the area; and do not disturb a site, structure, or object of
historical or archaeological significance. Applicants for permits are
required to submit form MMS-327 to provide the information necessary to
evaluate their qualifications.
Regulations at 30 CFR part 251 implement these statutory
requirements. We use the information to ensure there is no
environmental degradation, personal harm or unsafe operations and
conditions, damage to historical or archaeological sites, or
interference with other uses; to analyze and evaluate preliminary or
planned drilling activities; to monitor progress and activities in the
OCS; to acquire G&G data and information collected under a Federal
permit offshore; and to determine eligibility for reimbursement from
the Government for certain costs. The information is necessary to
determine if the applicants for permits or filers of notices meet the
qualifications specified by the OCS Lands Act. The MMS uses information
collected to understand the G&G characteristics of oil- and gas-bearing
physiographic regions of the OCS. It aids the Secretary in obtaining a
proper balance among the potentials for environmental damage, the
discovery of oil and gas, and adverse impacts on affected coastal
States. Information from permittees is necessary to determine the
propriety and amount of reimbursement.
We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30
CFR parts 250, 251, and 252. No items of a sensitive nature are
collected. Responses are mandatory or required to obtain or retain a
benefit.
Frequency: On occasion, annually, or as specified in permits.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 150
Federal OCS permittees or notice filers.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a
total of 8,272 hours. The following chart details the individual
components and estimated hour burdens. 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.
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Annual
Citation 30 CFR 251 Reporting and Hour Average number annual burden
recordkeeping requirement burden responses hours
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251.4(a), (b); 251.5(a), (b), (d); Apply for permits (form 6 148 Applications........ 888
251.6; Permit Forms. MMS-327) to conduct G&G
exploration, including
deep stratigraphic tests.
251.4(b); 251.5(c), (d); 251.6....... File notices to conduct 6 2 Notices............... 12
scientific research
activities, including
notice to MMS prior to
beginning and after
concluding activities.
251.6(b); 251.7(b)(5)(iii)........... Notify MMS if specific 1 1 Notice................ 1
actions should occur;
report archaeological
resources. (No instances
reported since 1982.)
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251.7................................ Submit information on Burden included under 30 CFR 0
test drilling activities 250.201, 250.203 and Form MMS-123
under a permit, (1010-0049 and 1010-0044)
including form MMS-123.
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251.7(c)............................. Enter into agreement for 1 1 Agreement............. 1
group participation in
test drilling, including
publishing summary
statement; provide MMS
copy of notice/list of
participants. (No
agreements submitted
since 1989.)
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251.7(d)............................. Submit bond on deep Burden included under 30 CFR part 0
stratigraphic test. 256 (1010-0006)
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251.8(a)............................. Request reimbursement for 1 1 Request............... 1
certain costs associated
with MMS inspections.
(No requests in many
years. OCS Lands Act
requires Government
reimbursement.)
251.8(b), (c)........................ Submit modifications to, 8 150 x 4 Reports = 600... 4,800
and status/final reports
on, activities conducted
under a permit.
251.9(c)............................. Notify MMS to relinquish \1/2\ 8 Notices............... 4
a permit.
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251.10(c)............................ File appeals............. Burden included under 1010-0121 0
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[[Page 18260]]
251.11; 251.12....................... Notify MMS and submit G&G 4 50 Respondents x 2 400
data/information Submissions = 100.
collected under a permit
and/or processed by
permittees or 3rd
parties, including
reports, logs or charts,
results, analyses,
descriptions, etc.
251.13............................... Request reimbursement for 20 50 Respondents x 2 2,000
certain costs associated Submissions = 100.
with reproducing data/
information.
251.14(a)............................ Submit comments on MMS 1 1 Comment............... 1
intent to disclose data/
info. to the public.
251.14(c)(2)......................... Submit comments on MMS 1 1 Comment............... 1
intent to disclose data/
info. to an independent
contractor/agent.
251.14(c)(4)......................... Contractor/agent submit 1 1 Commitment............ 1
written commitment not
to sell, trade, license,
or disclose data/info.
without MMS consent.
251.1 to 251.14...................... General departure and 2 1 Request............... 2
alternative compliance
requests not
specifically covered
elsewhere in part 251
regulations.
Permit Forms (Form MMS-327).......... Request extension of 1 10 Extensions........... 10
permit time period.
Permit Forms (Form MMS-327).......... Retain G&G data/ 1 150 Recordkeepers....... 150
information for 10 years
and make available to
MMS upon request.
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Total Hour Burden................ ......................... ......... 1,125 Responses......... 8,272
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Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We
have identified no paperwork ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with
the collection of information.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.)
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated
to respond.
Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et
seq.) requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies
concerning each proposed collection of information * * *.'' Agencies
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b)
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d)
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
To comply with the public consultation process, on November 6,
2002, we published a Federal Register notice (67 FR 67643) announcing
that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided
the required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec. 250.199 provides
the OMB control number for the information collection requirements
imposed by the 30 CFR part 251 regulations and forms. The regulation
also informs the public that they may comment at any time on the
collections of information and provides the address to which they
should send comments. We have received no comments in response to these
efforts.
If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send
your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this
notice. OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information
collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to ensure maximum
consideration, OMB should receive public comments by May 15, 2003.
Public Comment Policy: Our practice is to make comments, including
names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review
during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that
we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to
the extent allowable by the law. There may be circumstances in which we
would withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by
the law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must
state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we
will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach,
(202) 208-7744.
Dated: March 4, 2003.
E. P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 03-9139 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]