[Federal Register: February 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 27)]
[Notices]
[Page 6758-6759]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe03-96]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO-310-1310-PB-24 1A]
Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Control Number
1004-0132
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect certain
information from entities interested in the development of geothermal
steam resources on lands BLM manages. BLM uses Form 3260-2, Geothermal
Drilling Permit; Form 3260-3, Geothermal Sundry Notice; Form 3260-4,
Geothermal Well Completion Report; Form 3260-5, Monthly Report of
Geothermal Operations; to collect this information. This information
allows BLM to approve proposed operations and to ensure compliance with
terms and conditions of approved operations.
DATES: You must submit comments to BLM at the address below on or
before April 11, 2003. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments
received after the above date.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Bureau of Land Management, (WO-
630), Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Blvd., Springfield, Virginia
22153.
You may send comments via Internet to: WOComment@blm.gov. Please
include ``ATTN: 1004-0132'' and your name and return address in your
Internet message.
You may deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management,
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
All comments will be available for public review at the L Street
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday
through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Barbara Gamble, Fluids
Minerals Group, (202) 452-0338 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who use a
telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) on 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, to contact Ms. Gamble.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires BLM to provide a
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of
information to solicit comments on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for
the proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information
will have practical utility;
(b) The accuracy of our estimates of the information collection
burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we
use;
(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; and
(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.)
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue leases and prescribe
regulations so that geothermal resources on certain Federal lands may
be developed and used. Tribal lands under the Indian Mineral
Development Act (25 U.S.C. 2101-2108) also allow geothermal leasing
operations. The BLM supervises operations of the leases granted under
this authority by the regulations in 43 CFR part 3260. The regulations
contain information collection requirements that we need to grant the
lessees permits to perform specific operations and to report the
completion and progress of such work. Specifically, the regulations
require operators to submit a Geothermal Drilling Permit (Form 3260-2);
a Geothermal Sundry Notice (Form 3260-3); a Geothermal Well Completion
Report (Form 3260-4); and a Monthly Report of Geothermal Operations
(Form 3260-5).
The information the lessee of record, a designated operator, or an
approved agent acting on behalf of the lessee or
[[Page 6759]]
operator provides, allows BLM to conduct or modify operations under the
terms and conditions of a Federal geothermal lease or an Indian
geothermal contract. The information enables BLM to approve both
geothermal explorations and modifications to existing wells.
Form 3260-2, Geothermal Drilling Permit
This is a permit to drill, redrill, deepen or plug back a well on
Federal lands. It provides a basis for evaluating the proposed well's
feasibility and to determine whether we should disapprove or approve
the application; and, if we approve, whether any special conditions of
approval are made part of the permit. Without the information, there
would be no assurance that drilling and associated activities, when and
if authorized, are technically and environmentally feasible and ensure
proper conservation of the resources.
Form 3260-3, Geothermal Sundry Notice
We require the sundry notice for planned well work or change of
plans previously approved, road site and facilities construction and
miscellaneous activities related to other previously approved
operations. The lessee must also file a subsequent report of the work
performed. Without this information, BLM cannot adequately evaluate the
feasibility and environmental impacts of the proposed activity.
Form 3260-4, Geothermal Well Completion Report
We use the well completion report to obtain information on a
complete and accurate log and history, in chronological order, of all
operations conducted on the well. The logs are kept by lessees as
normal, routine procedures and are not imposed as an additional
requirement by BLM. We use this information to facilitate future
operations, protect water supplies and Federal geothermal resources,
and to allow accurate appraisal of down-hole conditions related to
proper management of the resource.
Form 3260-5, Monthly Report of Geothermal Operations
We use the form to obtain information for monthly production for
royalty reporting and production verification from geothermal wells.
BLM uses the report to monitor the technical aspects of drilling,
production, and injection activities for each well. We require the
information on a monthly basis because of a direct link to royalty
payments due from the lessee on a monthly basis and the associated
production verifications. Without this information, BLM could not
adequately evaluate activity and performance of non-abandoned wells and
production facilities for individual leases. This includes drilling and
other well operations and engineering data for individual well
production and injection. The lessee also reports any environmental
monitoring conducted.
Based on our experience administering the activities described
above, we estimate it takes from 1 to 10 hours per response to complete
the required information, depending on which form the respondent
submits. Respondents are lessees and operators of Federal geothermal
leases and Indian geothermal contracts subject to BLM oversight. We
estimate 760 responses per year and a total annual burden of 1,700
hours. The estimates are summarized in the table below.
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Hours per
Information collection (43 CFR) Form number/title Responses response Burden hours Frequency
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3264.2.................................. 3260-2; Geothermal Drilling 60 10 600 Nonrecurring.
Permit.
3264.2-2................................ 3260-3; Geothermal Sundry 100 1 100 On occasion.
Notice.
3262.5-1;............................... 3260-4; Geothermal Well 200 2 400 On occasion.
3264.2-3................................ Completion Report. 40 6 240
3264.2-4;............................... 3260-5; Monthly Report of 360 1 360 Monthly.
3265.2-5................................ Geothermal Operations.
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Totals.............................. .............................. 760 .............. 1,700 ..............................
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BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Dated: February 4, 2003.
Michael H. Schwartz,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-3259 Filed 2-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M